K-9 DEFENSE (A K-9 Alaska Novel Book #1) by Elizabeth Heiter is the first book in a new series in the Harlequin Intrigue line of romantic suspense stories set in the scenic wilds of Alaska.
Kensie Morgan flies from Chicago to the wilds of Alaska after a mysterious note appears that could solve the fourteen year old kidnapping of her, at the time, five-year-old sister, Alanna. Kensie was only thirteen at the time, but she feels responsible for not keeping her sister closer while she was reading. She finds she is out of her depths in this remote Alaskan town where outsiders are all looked at with suspicion.
Colter Hayes has been recovering and hiding with his service dog companion, Rebel in a remote Alaskan cabin. Kensie discovers his past and wants his help finding her sister. Colter does not want to reenter the world and yet he cannot let Kensie go on this mission alone.
Kensie is stirring up the locals as well as emotions Colter does not want to feel. Will she and Colter be able to find Kensie’s sister before she is harmed herself or are they on a wild goose chase?
This is a fast read and yet Ms. Heiter is able to make both the “instant like” romance and the mystery/suspense plot feel fully developed and satisfying. Kensie is a strong female heroine even though she was out of her comfort zone. Colter was the perfect wounded alpha hero and his companion Rebel was a great addition to the story for this dog lover. The Alaskan territory added beauty and harshness to the story. Ms. Heiter was also able to bring to life the types of people who inhabit this wilderness, good and bad.
I recommend this emotional and intense romantic suspense and this author!
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About the Author
Publishers Weekly bestselling author ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range. Her novels have been published in more than a dozen countries and eight languages; they’ve also been shortlisted for the HOLT Medallion, National Readers’ Choice, Daphne Du Maurier and Booksellers’ Best awards and won the RT Reviewers’ Choice award.
Elizabeth graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. She’s a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.
I am very excited to be sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for this enchanting YA fiction book. Normally I do not review YA books, but I love books revolving around the ballet. KISSES AND CROISSANTS by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is well worth any readers time.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!
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Book Description
Mia Jenrow has always known she’s destined to be a professional ballerina. In fact, it’s in her blood—according to family legend, her too-many-greats-to-count-grandmother once danced for the Paris Opera and was painted by Degas himself! Her parents say it’s just a fantasy, but to Mia it’s so much more than that. It’s her fate.
Mia is planning to spend a magical summer in France pursuing her dream, but as she pirouettes into Paris, she soon realizes it may be a bit more complicated than she hoped. For starters, there’s her rival, Audrey, who will stop at nothing to show her up. There’s her ballet instructor, whose impossibly high standards push her to the breaking point. And then . . . there’s Louis. Devastatingly, distractingly charming Louis. He’s eager to show Mia his city—and Mia is more than happy to hop on his Vespa and wrap her arms around him as they pass the gleaming lights of the Eiffel Tower.
Mia’s summer was supposed to be about ballet—but there’s a reason Paris is called the City of Love. . . .
KISSES AND CROISSANTS by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is an enchanting and heartwarming standalone YA fiction book about a seventeen-year-old American following her dream of becoming a professional ballerina one summer in Paris. I do not usually read and review YA books, but I love books about the ballet and I gave it a chance and I am so happy I did.
Mia has been accepted into the elite summer ballet program in Paris. She has worked single mindedly for this chance to learn and hopefully be asked to addition at the end of this summer for a position in a major ballet program preferably ABT in New York.
Mia has two challenges to her dream, her “nemesis” throughout her career, Audrey, who has always been perfect in her form and her major competition and a cute French boy, Louis, who makes her heart beat wildly for the first time in her life.
It is summer in Paris and Mia has many decisions to make.
I really loved this book! Ms. Jouhanneau brought the city of Paris in summer to vivid life on the pages with descriptions of the food and locations that make you feel like you are right there. She depicts not only the tourist locals, but also secret hidden gems to be discovered all over the city.
I believe Mia is a realistic depiction of a seventeen-year-old following her dream and some of the obstacles or distractions that can appear. While ballerinas seem so professional and composed, we sometimes forget just how young they are and what the demands are on their bodies and emotions and what they give up for their dreams of a professional life in their craft. I enjoyed the growth of Mia and Audrey’s relationship, both personal and professional. The first love interest, Louis was portrayed in a believable way with its ups and downs. The search for Mia’s family ties to the Paris ballet from the time of Degas added an interesting and inspiring subplot to the story.
I highly recommend this story for any reader!
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About the Author
Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is a bilingual French author of young adult fiction and nonfiction. Her books have been translated into seven languages. Kisses and Croissants (Delacorte Press, 2021) is her U.S. debut. After graduating university in France, she moved to Amsterdam to begin a career in advertising. She then spent a few years in Melbourne before settling in New York City, where she lives with her Australian husband.
Today I am excited to be on the Buoni Amici Release Blitz and sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for THE PERFECT HERO (The Themis Series Book #1) by Anna Bishop Barker.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!
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Book Description:
Themis, the Titan goddess of justice. The purveyor of divine law and order.
The men and women of The Themis Group have a singular cause – to bring justice and closure to those who have lost hope.
But while they are united in mission, they all have their reasons for being with the mysterious private investigation firm that straddles the converging lines of crime scene science, traditional investigation, and mainstream law enforcement. Some do it for the thrill. Some do it for the satisfaction. Some do it because they are compelled.
But each member of the team is looking for something they will never find in the work they have chosen.
The Perfect Hero – Book 1 of The Themis Series
Hired to follow a trail of blood, bodies, and madness, Logan Pressley and the Themis Group are looking for a killer. Not just a killer—The Slayer.
He is not looking for a woman. At 45 years old, he has had enough of humanity, and wants no part of the myth that people call love.
Starting a new life, Maggie Robertson is not looking for a hero. Hell, she’s not even looking for a watered-down version of one. Romance, she has found, is a wasted phenomenon for the young, and the days for being swept off her feet are long past.
Then there was that one-night stand. The night Logan and Maggie lost themselves in each other. In that single night, all the carefully laid rules were broken.
THE PERFECT HERO (A Themis Series Book #1) by Anna Bishop Barker is the first book in a new romantic suspense series featuring the men and women of The Themis Group. The Themis Group is a private investigation firm in Tampa, Florida with all the capabilities of public law enforcement and more. They also have the willingness to help law enforcement and the hopeless when called.
One night out when neither was looking for anything, but a drink with friends, Maggie Robertson and Logan Pressley are thrown together and the sparks fly straight into a night of unexpected passion. While both would like to see the other again, it does not happen as expected.
The Themis Group has been hired by the FBI task force to assist in the chase of a vicious serial killer called The Slayer. Logan has been recovering the victims of The Slayer from bodies of water all around Florida. Co-owner of Themis with his brother and a former Army Ranger, Logan strives for perfection to make up for one terrible mistake from his past.
Maggie is a mature woman on the verge of a new career. Her son is in his last year at West Point and she decides to accept the offer from The Themis Group to put her new Criminal Psychology Degree to use. She is surprised to find her new boss is Logan’s brother. She is intelligent, smart and mature and willing to give the situation a chance and see where it leads.
As Themis searches for a serial killer, Logan and Maggie each find they have events from their pasts that have shaped them, but can they get past them and share their vulnerabilities to find happiness with each other?
This is my kind of romance with mature characters that have mature issues and work to solve them without games or lack of communication. Maggie and Logan are both in their forties and know what they want and do not want and are surprised by the instant connection they find. The sex scenes are explicit and smokin’ hot throughout the story. The suspense plot was not as intricately integrated into the romance as I would have preferred. The crossover was not brought to light until close to the end of the book and it is not one you can guess. There is a glimpse of one of the antagonists crossing over into the next book. This book also sets up many of the characters we are likely to follow into future books in The Themis Group.
I can recommend this romantic suspense for a great mature romance read and I am looking forward to many more books to come from this author.
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About the Author
I was born in Kentucky and raised in Florida, so I am a southerner through and through. Since I was old enough to pick up a book, I have been a voracious reader. I wrote the usual poetry and short stories in high school, and I kept the dream of writing in the back of my heart until opportunity and encouragement helped me to realize that dream.
I live in Tampa with my kids, grandkids, dogs, various other livestock, and way more books than is strictly healthy.
Hot Romance.
Suspense.
Humor & heart.
Grown up stories for grown up people. This is what I write. There’s also food, music, dogs, the occasional geek reference, and quite possibly an inappropriate joke. There will likely be dead bodies as well.
Three random facts about me: 1. I was bitten by a shark when I was 14. 2. I have read War and Peace. (When I get to the afterlife, I am demanding that week of my life back. Sorry, Tolstoy.) 3. It is my sincere belief that any situation can be improved by eating some cheese.
My life philosophy is guard your inner peace and read dirty kissing books.
DEADLY LIES (Detective David Grant Book #3) by Ann Girdharry is the newest addition to this outstanding British police procedural/mystery series featuring DCI David Grant and his team. While the crime in this book is self-contained and the book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this series in order due to the progression of the main characters personal stories.
In the early morning hours, six-year-old Emily and four-year-old Lisa are kidnapped from their grandparent’s home.
Detective Grant and his team are called to the scene. The grandfather has been taken to the hospital and dies of a heart attack while the grandmother tells the officers everything she can remember. When the parents of the little girls show up, it is immediately apparent to the team that there are problems in this family. Grant once again asks criminal psychologist Ruby Silver to assist on the case.
A ransom is demanded and in the proof of life video it becomes apparent that Emily is seriously ill. The clock is ticking to find and save the little girls as Grant and his team deal with family secrets, lies and possible treachery within their own team.
I have been anxiously waiting for this third book in the Detective Grant series and I was not disappointed! This is a great group of characters. The plot is full of realistic police work detecting clues and sifting through the red herrings and lies. As the stakes rise, so does the pace and tight timeline. The ending surprised me with the twist in the kidnapping accomplice and I always love when that happens. This third book ends almost like a trilogy, by bringing together all the dangling threads from the previous books, but it also opens a new pathway for more books with some of this team in a new setting.
I highly recommend this book, the entire series and anything written by this author!
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About the Author
Ann Girdharry is a British, crime thriller author.
She is a trained psychotherapist and worked as a manager in the not-for-profit sector.
Her debut novel, Good Girl Bad Girl, is an ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD Finalist and two of her novels are READERS’ FAVOURITE Five Star Books.
Here are a few fun facts from Ann Girdharry –
I love to travel and visit different cultures and I’ve lived in the USA, Norway, UK and France.
Today is my turn on the Damppebbles Blog Tour to share my Feature Post and Book Review for THE RIFT by Rachel Lynch.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!
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Book Blurb
To save one life, she risks many others.
Working for the Royal Military Police, Major Helen Scott is used to rapid change. On a posting to Paris she oversees security for a NATO summit in the city, yet has barely begun before her presence is demanded at Interpol headquarters in Lyon.
Helen’s orders are to locate a kidnapping victim – the eldest son of oil magnate Khalil Dalmani. The main suspect is Fawaz bin Nabil, whose fortune has been made from illegal trade familiar to the intelligence agencies.
Helen knows the pain of loss and won’t rest until Khalil’s child is found. Along the way, she crosses paths with old faces and forms new alliances. But who will betray her trust?
A stunning new thriller from the author of the acclaimed DI Kelly Porter novels and a rising star in British crime fiction.
THE RIFT by Rachel Lynch is a new standalone political crime thriller by a new-to-me author featuring a strong female career military protagonist.
Major Helen Scott, UK Royal Military Police has dedicated her life to her career and is known for getting the tough jobs done. She is tasked to liaison with the US security team in charge of the NATO summit to be held in the Palace of Versailles with Afghanistan representatives.
Helen finds everything secure, but she is pulled from that job by the British ambassador to work with Interpol on the kidnapping of the son of an international businessman.
As Helen and a former military colleague, Grant Tennyson work to save the young kidnapping victim, they uncover a web of historical family interactions that have led to lies, deceit and an assassination plot which could tie back to members of the NATO summit.
I enjoyed protagonist Major Helen Scott. She is intelligent and tough and very human as you learn about her personal life. Ms. Lynch does a great job of writing Grant Tennyson into the story as a male counterpart to Helen who does not take over as a savior or diminish Helen’s strength and talent. The past and current family interactions between Khalil and Fawaz add a depth to the story and to the international intrigue.
The plot is tightly written with many threads that all get woven together throughout the story. My only disappointment was in how long the set-up of the plot and the introduction of all the characters took to get moving into the action. Once everything does get moving though, it took off at an increasing pace to a very exciting climax and satisfying conclusion.
I can recommend this standalone thriller and I will be looking for more from this author.
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About the Author
Rachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years. A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.
Today is my turn on the Blackthorn Book Tour to share my Feature Post and Book Review for MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU (An Eidola Project Novel Book #2) by Robert Herold.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media link. Enjoy!
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Book Description
The Eidola Project travels to Petersburg, Virginia, to investigate a series of murders in the Black community—rumored to be caused by a werewolf. Once there, danger comes from all quarters. Not only do they face threats from the supernatural, the KKK objects to the team’s activities, and the group is falling apart.
Can they overcome their human frailties to defeat the evil that surrounds them?
Suitable for young adults? This is an adult book but suitable for mature teenagers 16+
Trigger warnings: Some sexual scenes. Supernatural violence. Recollected murder of a child.
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My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU (An Eidola Project Novel Book #2) by Robert Herold is an intriguing and entertaining historical paranormal horror story set in rural Virginia twenty years after the Civil War. The Eidola Project team come together in Book #1 “The Eidola Project” and while each book has a complete paranormal investigation, I feel it is best to read these books in order due to the continued character revelations and interactions.
Dr. William James and the other paranormal investigators on the Eidola team have been asked to investigate a series of mutilation murders within a small black community in Petersburg, Virginia. The team does not know at first if they are dealing with human monsters riding as the KKK or a true werewolf. It soon becomes apparent they are dealing with both.
This book is such a wonderful mix of paranormal horror and historical reality. The author does an amazing job of mixing and balancing both throughout the entire story. The Eidola Project team is an eclectic group that take their research seriously, but also each have their own very human foibles and weaknesses. All the team members and secondary characters are fully fleshed and time-period appropriate. This book kept me captivated from start to finish even though it is not your typical paranormal werewolf story.
I highly recommend this historical paranormal horror story, series and author!
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About the Author
The supernatural always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since Robert Herold’s mother refused to allow him, as a boy, to watch creature features on late night TV. She caved in. (Well, not literally.)
As a child, fresh snow provided him the opportunity to walk out onto neighbors’ lawns halfway and then make paw prints with his fingers as far as he could stretch. He would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn. (They were skeptical.)
He has pursued many interests over the years (among them being a history teacher and a musician), but the supernatural always called to him. You could say he was haunted. Finally, following the siren’s call, he wrote The Eidola Project, based on a germ of an idea he had as a teenager.
Ultimately, he hopes the book gives you the creeps, and he means that in the best way possible.
