Living in Durango, Colorado for the past eighteen years allowed Ollie Rizzo to build her own business and carve out a quiet existence for her and her teenage daughter. She’s used to going it alone. However, their new silver-haired neighbor might present a problem—not only is he handsome—he’s also Durango’s new chief of police; a complication she can’t afford.
For recently widowed Joe Benedetti, the job offer as Durango’s new chief of police came at the right time. With life, the new job, and his two young sons settling into a comfortable routine, he does his best to ignore the beautiful and intriguing woman across the street. Yet when he discovers she’s caught the attention of the FBI, there is no way he can stay away.
Their worlds collide with the appearance of FBI Special Agent Cruz Livingston. The agent has a warning to deliver, one that spins life in Durango out of control, giving Joe a crucial mission—keep Ollie alive.
COVERING OLLIE
(On Call Book 2) by Freya Barker is an exciting romantic suspense and the
second book in the On Call series. This is an emotional, suspenseful romance
with Freya Barker’s signature mature H/h characters and writing that pulls you
in, grabs your complete attention and makes you sad if you have to put the book
down before ‘The End’. This book can easily be read as a standalone romance,
but characters do crossover from the first book, “Burning for Autumn”.
Joe Benedetti has relocated with his two young sons to fill
the vacant position of Chief of Police in Durango, Colorado. After the death of
his wife from cancer, he wants a more manageable job and routine for himself and
his boys. He is lucky to find teenager, Trinity (Trinny) across the street, who
introduced herself right away for babysitting duty. He has noticed Trinny’s beautiful
mother, but he does not want to get involved.
Olivia (Ollie) Rizzo moved to Durango eighteen years ago and
has built a new life. As a freelance landscape architect Ollie has done well
and lived quietly with her daughter. She cannot help but hear about the boys
and the police chief from her daughter, but waving from a distance is the
extent of her interaction.
When Special Agent Cruz Livingston arrives at Ollie’s door,
her past collides with her quiet existence. Joe becomes involved immediately
when he is briefed on the danger Ollie and her daughter may be in. As Joe, his
officers and the FBI work to eliminate the threats to Ollie’s life, the two
begin to let down their walls and become close. Will Joe be able to keep Ollie
safe and grab hold of a future together?
Ollie and Joe, the kids and all of the secondary friends and
family could walk off the page, they feel so real to me. Ms. Barker knows how
to write about couples that have lived and have baggage, but in the end are
willing to work at building a new life together. They have lived life and are
not perfect physical specimens, but they are real and beautiful to their love
interest. The sex is explicit, hot and sexy and always builds in a realistic
way.
I have loved all of Ms. Barker’s romances and romantic
suspense books. I cannot recommend this author enough especially if you like
your H/h a little more mature and written with just the right amount of
suspense and sex to spice up the romance. I highly recommend this book and
series!
***
About Freya:
Freya Barker inspires with her stories about ‘real’ people, perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.
She is the author of the Cedar Tree and Portland, ME Series, the Northern Lights Collection and the Rock Point Series. She is also co-author of the SnapShot Series.
To see Freya’s complete backlist, or to find out what is coming down the pipe, visit freyabarker.com.
This is the Feature Post for Christi Caldwell and her new title THE BLUESTOCKING (Wicked Wallflowers Book 4). Below you will find a guest post from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I am a proud Bluestocking, are you?
As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
You Might Be a Bluestocking If… with Author
Christi Caldwell
In my newest novel, The Bluestocking,
Gertrude, the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being
underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a
kitten, but given the chance she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted
brother Stephen has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be
damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the
Mad Marquess.
Still haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him
publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds only hatred for the Killorans—the people he
believes kidnapped his son. And not one of them will ever see the boy again.
But when Gertrude forces her way into the household and stubbornly insists that
she remain as Stephen’s governess, Edwin believes he may have found someone
madder than himself.
With every moment he shares with the
tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration . . . and more.
It is possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal
his broken soul?
Gertrude was such a wonderful character to
write. She’s the eldest of her siblings and firmly on the shelf. She’s
incredibly diverse in her strengths and in her interests and in the knowledge
she possesses: it’s a knowledge that really is all-encompassing, spanning
furniture-making to the care of animals to skills for surviving on the streets.
In addition, she’s been responsible for educating the children in her family’s
care, and what I found so fascinating is that she knows the value of education
and what she’s been providing has been so important, and yet so many have
failed to appreciate the power of her contributions.
In honor of Gertrude, an intelligent, interesting,
and ultimately irresistible heroine, I have written a short game of “You
Might Be A Bluestocking If…” so you can test yourself to see what you
have in common with Gertrude.
You might be a bluestocking if…you have
more than one cat.
You might be a bluestocking if…your hands
are permanently ink stained from your writing.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you have an in-depth knowledge of ancient
furniture design.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you prefer lectures to balls.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you would rather have a book in your
hands than needlework.
The Bluestocking Excerpt
Who was this . . .
daughter of Diggory? The one few spoke of and about whom little was known.
Edwin pushed himself away
from the door, and folding his arms at his chest, he took slow, predatory steps
closer, walking a path around her. His earlier assessment in the darkened foyer
of the woman had proven correct. Drab brown hair. Nondescript brown eyes. Of
medium height, and in possession of a slender frame that left her cloak hanging
unflatteringly upon her, there was nothing extraordinary about the last unwed
Killoran. Which was no doubt why she’d not snagged herself a wealthy or
powerful husband as her sisters had already done. At his lengthy scrutiny, she
dared him with her eyes. And yet for her . . . ordinariness, there was a
strength of spirit that radiated, casting a soft blush upon cream-white cheeks,
that marked her as . . . interesting. She was interesting. He
stopped abruptly. Seeing this woman in any light except the darkened one was a
betrayal to his late wife and his children, both living and dead . . . and
himself.
“I was clear with my
demands. Get out now, Miss Diggory.”
The stubborn chit pursed
her slightly too-full lips. “As I said earlier, you were less clear than you
give yourself credit for,” she challenged, ignoring the latter part of his
directive. My God, she is an insolent bit of baggage. “And my name
is Killoran.”
The names were synonymous
and interchangeable.
Edwin stopped before her
so only a pace divided them. “And tell me, where was I not clear?” he purred.
“Was it the part about making sure Broderick Diggory hangs, as he deserves,
that was not clear?” The color bled from her cheeks. “Or was it my stated
intentions for your sisters . . . what are their names? Ophelia? Cleopatra?”
he asked, mocking that Shakespearean queen’s name, and the woman in front of
him frowned deeper. “How . . . unfortunate it would be if their business
ventures were both to fail.”
The young woman curled and
uncurled her coarse hands at her sides. “Do not threaten my
family,” she said coolly.
He’d hand it to her. She
remained undaunted.
“Or what, Miss
Diggory?” A muscle ticked at the corner of her right eye, but she did not rise
to the bait, either. “Will you set my townhouse afire and attempt to steal my
son . . . again?”
Her features leached even
more of their color, leaving those previously blushing cheeks a ghastly
grey-white. And for her earlier brave show, it was her turn to falter. “I
didn’t . . .” And he celebrated that triumph over his enemy.
“What was that?” he
barked, cupping a hand around his ear. “You didn’t what?” Destroy my
life? Shatter my family? “Kidnap my son?” he settled for, refusing to
voice aloud his greatest agonies before this of all women.
She flinched.
“Now leave, and tell
your real brother if he violates our arrangement once more,
using you or another one of your . . . sisters or his henchmen to do his work
for him, I’ll take you all down.” His in-laws’ earlier recriminations flooded
forward. It was just something else they’d been right about.
Edwin had stomped over to
his desk when he registered the absolute silence—more specifically, the lack of
retreating footfalls.
He turned back.
Miss Diggory jutted her
chin up defiantly. “No one sent me, my lord. I am here of my
own volition.”
He chuckled, that rusty,
ill-used laugh more a growl than anything that could ever be confused with a
real expression of mirth. No one came here of their own volition. As a rule,
the world avoided him.
Shifting direction, he
returned to the stubborn chit’s side, and leaning down, he placed his mouth
close to her temple once more and fought the maddening pull of whatever damned
perfume she dabbed behind her ears. “Do you think I’m foolish enough all these
years later to believe a lie dripping off a Diggory’s lips?”
The young woman’s back
moved up and down, an indication of her rapid breath. Of her fear. A lifetime
ago, he’d have sooner chopped off his left hand than deliberately taunt a woman
and take pleasure in her fear. No longer. That pathetic excuse of a man who’d
gotten his wife and babe killed, and the other son snatched, reveled in this
woman’s unease. “Hmm?” he prodded, and she jumped.
“I have no reason to lie
to you, my lord,” she said calmly, and as she spoke, her breath, containing a
whispery trace of honey, filtered from her lips and fanned his mouth. Another
unexpectedly sweet scent, at odds with her past and name and sins. It enticed,
drawing his gaze to her mouth and holding his focus there, mesmerized. “There
is nothing I want, need, or desire.” She darted her tongue out and traced the
plump seam of her lips. And God forgive him, his gut clenched. For even as
self-loathing spiraled through him, something far worse, far more perilous and
viler and more treacherous, held him in its snare: desire. “The
only reason I’ve come . . . the only worry I had . . . was for Stephen.”
Stephen.
That single name, spoken
aloud, snapped whatever siren’s trap she’d sucked him momentarily into.
“August.” Had there ever been a doubt as to his insanity, this quixotic
fascination with the woman’s slightly too-full mouth as she spoke was evidence
enough of it.
She tipped her head, and
one of the few brown strands that had managed a curl bounced at her shoulder.
Edwin flared his nostrils.
“His name is August Rudolph Thadeus Stephen Warren, the Earl of Greyley.” He
flicked a stare over her face. “You’ve no relation to him. He is His Lordship
to you.” Stalking over to the front of the room, he pulled the door open. “Now
that you’ve seen him”—he peeled his lip in a mocking sneer—“safely delivered to
his rightful home, you are dismissed. You may leave now.”
Gertrude Killoran drew in
a breath. “I am afraid I cannot do that.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And
whyever not?”
“I’m not leaving.”
“I beg your pardon?” What
more could she possibly want or expect of him?
The young woman clasped
her palms before her, like a nun at the abbey. “I’m staying.”
Confusion rooted around
his mind. “Staying?” he repeated. “Staying where?”
“Here.” She settled her
features into a serene expression he’d have believed impossible for a Diggory.
“Indefinitely,” she clarified.
Edwin rocked back on his
heels.
My God, I’ve finally found someone madder than myself.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE BLUESTOCKING (Wicked Wallflowers Book 4) by Christi
Caldwell is the historical romance I have been waiting for in this series. The
Mad Marquess is about to meet his match in more ways than one and it comes from
an unlikely source. This romance is a part of the Wallflowers series and the
romance plot can standalone, but there is a background storyline in all of the
books that I feel makes these books even more enjoyable if they are read in
order of publication.
Lord Edwin Warwick is known as the Mad Marquess to all in
the ton. He is accused in whispers of having started the fire that killed his
wife, son and unborn child. He discovers his son, Stephen was not killed in the
fire, but kidnapped.
Stephen is taken in by Broderick Killoran and his band of ‘siblings’
that have survived as a gang in the worst part of London. They were all abused
by the man, MacDiggory who ran the family and had Stephen kidnapped. MacDiggory
is now dead and Stephen is about to be returned to his true father and returned
to his place in refined society. Edwin demands that none of Stephen’s current ‘family’
may come with him to his new home or ever visit him again.
Gertrude Killoran has taken care of Stephen since he joined
the family. She refuses to follow the orders of the Marquess and send Stephen to
a new, unfamiliar place and life without her supervision. She pushes her way
into the Marquess’ home and refuses to let him bully her. She will be Stephen’s
governess no matter Edwin’s dislike.
As the days progress, both Gertrude and Edwin learn about
the misconceptions both harbor in regards to the other. Can these two find a
way to deal with their mistrust and pain and learn to trust the other with
their hearts?
Gertrude and Edwin come alive in this book! Ms. Caldwell’s
writing once again had me feeling every emotion on each page of this romance. Gertrude
came out of the shadows and blossomed in this book as she found her own strength
and found the power to help Edwin and Stephen heal as well. I loved Edwin’s
love for his son and cried during the scenes from their pasts. This is one of
those books and series that immerse you in the past and characters so that when
you put the book down, you have to take a minute to reorient yourself.
I can highly recommend this addition to the series. Keep the tissues handy and get ready to go on an emotional roller coaster ride to this HEA!
***
About the Book
Title: The Bluestocking
Author: Christi Caldwell
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Gertrude,
the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being
underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a
kitten, but given the chance, she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted
brother, Stephen, has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be
damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the
Mad Marquess.
Still
haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds
only hatred for the Killorans—the people he believes kidnapped his son. And not
one of them will ever see the boy again. But when Gertrude forces her way into
the household and stubbornly insists that she remain as Stephen’s governess,
Edwin believes he may have found someone madder than himself.
With every moment he shares with the tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration . . . and more. Is it possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal his broken soul?
***
Author Bio
USA
Today bestselling,
RITA-nominated author Christi Caldwell blames authors Julie Garwood and Judith
McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. When Christi was
at the University of Connecticut, she began writing her own tales of love. She
believes that the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she
rather enjoys torturing her couples before crafting them a well-deserved
happily ever after.
The
author of the Wicked Wallflowers series, which includes The Governess,
The Hellion, and The Vixen, Christi lives in southern
Connecticut, where she spends her time writing, chasing after her son, and
taking care of her twin princesses-in-training. Fans who want to keep up with
the latest news and information can sign up for Christi’s newsletter at www.ChristiCaldwell.com or
follow her on Facebook (AuthorChristiCaldwell) or Twitter (@ChristiCaldwell).
I am so excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for Meghan Quinn’s new book release THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1). Below is an interview from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and info about the author. I loved this romance and all of the characters!
At the end of this post, you will see a Rafflecopter giveaway. Take a chance and good luck!
***
Get To Know Author Meghan Quinn
1. In the past few
years you have written dozens of novels! First off, how do you find the time?
And second, how has becoming a bestselling author changed your life?
I have the best partner in life ever that helps out with
everything around the house, including the kids. I also have a very overactive
imagination so when I get into a scene, my fingers fly, giving me high word
counts in a short amount of time. Even though it looks like I’m working all the
time, I make sure to make time for my family, ending every day at five at
night. And hitting the USA Today bestselling list was a huge goal of mine I had
ever since I started writing. It meant everything to me.
2. What can you
tell us about the first time you sat down to write with the goal of completing
a novel?
I was a maniac. I wrote the book in a week. Yes, a week. It
was insane. I had so much to say because I was thinking about it consistently
while commuting an hour and twenty minutes one way to work. When my fingers hit
the keyboard, it al flew out of me.
3. What is the
best part about being a romance author? What is the most difficult part?
The best part is constantly being able to create, break it
up, and then find it again. It’s such an old, classic formula, but it’s my
favorite of all time. The most difficult is trying not to gross people out with
terminology during sex scenes. There are only so many words that are on the
OKAY list. Sometimes it can be restricting.
4. What draws you
to writing romance novels? Specifically why is it important that your
characters have happily-ever-afters?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved love. Instead of going
out in high school, I would stay at home and watch romantic comedies. I was
fascinated with falling in love and the heartbreak, and then the make up. I
love everything about it. I think we all deserve a HEA, why not give it to our
characters too?
5. Even though you
include realism and heartbreak in your books, the thing readers really takeaway
is sense of fun you pack into the novels. How is it you (and your characters)
are able to find humor in everyday things?
I’ve always found myself to live in the clouds, in a land of
cupcakes and fun, it’s just my personality so whenever I’m in a situation, I
usually can find the fun in it and of course, I’m really good at
embellishing.
6. Give us a quick
snapshot of your newest novel That Second Chance.
Four brothers, small town romance, all single, all cursed.
Will they be able to find love, even though they’re the most eligible yet
untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine?
7. What makes Ren
and Griff’s story special to you?
Their meet cute is probably one of my most favorite of all
time. Wayward moose, volunteer firefighter, a crazed woman new to town, looking
for help. It’s all charming, funny, and perfect.
8. What’s next for
this series?
Rogan!!! AND OH MY GOD!!! His story is . . . gah! I can’t even tell you how in love with it I am. There is mystery, intrigue, questions that need to be answered and so much swoon you might just fall off your chair while reading.
***
That Second Chance Excerpt
I’m counting out our register drawer,
trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s
difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the
paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.
“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks,
sounding annoyed.
“No. I’m counting.”
“Well, I’m talking about you, so you
might want to lend me your ear for a second.”
Huffing, I set the cash on the
counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my
full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”
Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask
her out.”
“Ask who out?”
“Ren.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
“No.”
I go back to counting, but Reid starts
snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him,
not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was
looking at you today. I think she likes you.”
“You’re confused. She was probably
just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car
after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s
no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”
“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the
same time.
Christ. My two most nagging siblings
are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.
“Can we not make this into a
dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get
this done so I can go home.”
“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and
she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says
just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in,
grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.
Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why
he’d be smirking at me that way.
“What are we talking about?” He rubs
his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s
about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”
“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask
her out.”
Brig slow claps his appreciation.
“Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”
“I’m not asking her out,” I huff,
giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed.
There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are
yapping in my ear.
“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for
you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no,
you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow
your truck while her car is in the shop.”
I count to five before answering,
tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t
tamp it down enough.
“Uh, because she lives three houses
down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this
conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help
out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a
feel; get some for once.”
“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going
back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.
“And why not?” Jen asks.
“Because I’m not interested in
starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now,
and I don’t need anything complicating it.”
“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig
says like a jackass.
“Don’t worry; there are plenty of
Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.
“Come on, Griff, how fun can going
home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in
her voice.
I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I
like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Silence falls between us, an awkward
air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.
“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid
finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes
on me, waiting for an answer.
Why is this a thing whenever we talk
about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I
don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my
future.
Claire was the love of my life, and I
lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again.
Not ever.
Shaking my head, I turn away from my
family. This conversation is over.
And with that, I take the cash to the
back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.
Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not
going to happen.
And she’s not going to drive my truck
either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between
two trees.
Can’t blame a guy there.
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1) by Meghan Quinn is
a new contemporary romance set in quaint, small town Port Snow, Maine. This is
the first book, hopefully of four, featuring the Knightly brothers and their
search for true love after being cursed by a fortune teller in NOLA.
Ren Winters is lucky to be alive. After surviving a chain
reaction crash on an L.A. freeway and a year of recovery, she is ready to move
on with her life and out from under the constant excessive worry from her
mother. She accepts a new job teaching algebra clear across the country in a small
town in Maine. A moose vs. car encounter on her first day is not what she was
expecting, but it puts her right where she needs to be, in the arms of a
handsome volunteer firefighter.
Griffin Knightly has always been the responsible oldest
brother of the four Knightly brothers. They are four of the hottest bachelors
in town, but small town gossip has left them untouchable. Coming home with a
curse from New Orleans, Griffin suffers a loss that makes him a believer and
women stay away. He fills his life with the family business, volunteering on
the fire department and many other civic groups. When called out for a car
crash, he rescues a hysterical Ren.
Ren cannot believe that this handsome man lives right down the street from her new home and is willing to introduce her to her new hometown. Griffin is trying to stay away from the new teacher, who is funny, quirky and sweet, but his family keeps throwing them together. The chemistry between Ren and Griffin is strong, but is it strong enough to defeat Griffin’s fears?
I absolutely loved this romance and all of the Knightly boys! Ms. Quinn captured my heart with this family and small town. The dialogue is spot on between the siblings with just the right amount of love and snark. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and believable. The sex in this romance is explicit and hot and the slow build-up to it made me as anxious as the characters. This is one of those books that you read quickly to get to the HEA and are completely engrossed in the romance and yet when it is over, you want more.
I highly recommend this romance and I cannot wait to read
the other Knightly boys’ stories!
***
About the Book
Title: That Second Chance
Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
It
was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday.
Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after
all . . .
But
it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One
unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed
relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love
curse. Ha!”
Boy,
was I wrong.
Word
spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the
most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of
endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It
would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed
into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh
start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?
***
Author Biography
USA Today bestselling
author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. An author of romantic
comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect
combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
The last thing MI6 agent Eli Morgan expected was Pleiades witch Avery Donovan showing up to “rescue” him. Turns out she’s his biggest threat when an unexpected love spell hits them. Now he can’t keep his hands off the woman he vowed never to touch.
But something evil fights to posses Eli’s soul. The only one who can truly save him is his soulmate. Can’t be Avery. What they feel is spell-induced. Or is it?
ONE NIGHT WITH A WITCH (Keepers of the Veil Book 5) by Zoe
Forward is a new paranormal romance novella in the Keepers of the Veil series. This
is a fast, entertaining read to finally bring two soulmates together. This
novella can be read as a standalone, but I feel it is better read in order with
the other books in this series due to the character crossover and the author’s
world-building.
Avery Donovan is one of the seven Pleiades. She can see and speak
to ghosts. Avery has loved Eli her entire life, but due to a tarot reading, she
believes he is the soulmate destined for her sister. For years they have been
there for each other since the death of her parents and sister as they fight
their mutual attraction. Avery has been told that Eli is in trouble in Paris
and she has to be there to save him.
Eli Morgan is an MI6 agent and a druid protector of the Pleiades. While on a mission in Paris, Eli is shocked when Avery shows up and says she is there to save him. Believing that a love spell has been cast, Eli finally gives in and he and Avery come together physically for the first time.
When he sends Avery away to safety, an evil spirit enters
Eli’s body and fights to posse his soul. Now the only one who can save him and
stop his destruction is his true soulmate. Was it a spell that brought them together
for only one night, or is Avery truly the only one for him to save his soul?
This was the first Keepers of the Veil book that I have
read. I will definitely be going back to read them from the beginning. Even
without all of the world-building leading up to this novella, I could figure
out what was happening and not be lost, but I had questions. I would also like
to read more of Avery and Eli’s interactions prior to this story. This is a
fast read that kept me turning the pages to find out if and how Eli would be
saved. The sex is explicit but not drawn out or gratuitous. This is an exciting
witchy world that is definitely worth the read.
***
About Zoe:
Award winning author Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and contemporary romance. So, she writes both. Her novels have won numerous awards including the Prism, Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence, Golden Quill, Carolyn Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award.
When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s cheering her son on at baseball, chasing the toddler or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s a small animal veterinarian caring for a wide range of furry creatures, although there has been the occasional hermit crab.
She’s madly in love with her globe trotting conservation ecologist husband who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, and she’s happiest when he returns to their home base.
I love reading the first book in a new mystery series and finding new characters to follow. I am also always happy when the ending has a twist that I was not expecting. This book has both.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, and the author’s information and social media links. Enjoy!
***
Book Blurb:
Is someone trying to frame psychologist Pippa Durrant for the brutal murder of a woman she’s never even met?
It certainly seems that way when Pippa’s photo is found on the body of murdered lottery winner, Leanne Smith.
Pippa soon finds herself a suspect at the centre of a huge media storm. But she has an invaluable skill set – she is a human polygraph, expertly trained to spot lies and deceit. Skills she will need to help her to solve the mystery of who killed Leanne before it destroys her career – and her life.
But every cloud has a silver lining and this one arrives in the shape of DS Joe Swain. Initially suspicious of Pippa, he comes to trust her and to value her lie detection skills. Soon it’s clear there’s a definite spark between them….
Then, when another body turns up, Pippa realises her reputation isn’t the only thing in danger. Can she identify the killer before she becomes the next victim?
Fatal Fortune is the electrifying first book in the Dr. Pippa Durrant Thriller Series. If you like edge-of-your-seat action, clever sleuths, and shocking twists, then you’ll love Miranda Rijks’ gripping crime novel.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
FATAL FORTUNE (A Dr. Pippa Durrant Mystery Book 1) by
Miranda Rijks is the first book in a new mystery series featuring psychologist
Dr. Pippa Durrant.
Leanne Smith won the lottery. As she plans for her future,
Leanne is found murdered and a photo of Pippa is left on her body, but Pippa
does not know Leanne or her family. Pippa does not like being a suspect. She is
losing her private practice clients due to the notoriety so she agrees to work
with DS Swain to get her life back.
Pippa has a talent for criminal work. She was a forensic
psychologist while working on her PhD and has studied micro expressions as a
way of being able to read the truth in facial expressions. She is like a human lie
detector. She has also studied graphology. Pippa changed to more main stream
private practice after the loss of her daughter and the disintegration of her
marriage.
DS Joe Swain is at first suspicious of Pippa, but as he gets
to know her and verifies her background, he starts to trust her and her skills.
As they work together, he seems interested in more than just Pippa’s
professional assistance.
Another dead body and another picture of Pippa on the body
with a threat written on the back. Will Pippa and Joe be able to identify the
killer before Pippa becomes the third victim?
I liked the fast paced murder mystery plot in this story. It kept me turning the pages. The twist at the end was not what I was expecting and that always makes me happy. The characters were realistically flawed and each has secrets that they are trying to keep. I still have questions in regards to Pippa’s professional and personal past which I hope will be answered in future books. I also will be interested to read how the author handles Pippa and Joe’s attraction.
I enjoyed this first mystery in the series and am looking
forward to reading more.
***
About Miranda
Rijks:
Miranda Rijks is a writer of suspense
novels. I WANT YOU GONE is her first psychological thriller.
Miranda has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre.
She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of
years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now
she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex,
England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.
Up next is FATAL FORTUNE, the first of three books in a mystery romance series
that will be published in May 2019. They feature Dr Pippa Durrant, a
psychologist and specialist in lie detection, who works alongside Sussex police
getting embroiled in some scary stuff!
Miranda loves connecting with her readers, so you can reach out to her at www.mirandarijks.com
Tuesday Knowls is done. Once burned, twice shy. Twice burned? Game over.
On the outside Tuesday has it all. She comes from money, she’s a beautiful runway model, her smile comes easy, and she’s quick to laugh. But looks can be deceiving. Inside, she’s lost and lonely. So when the smokin’ hot firefighter swoops in with his sweet talk and promises, she decides to be the one who uses, for once.
Jackson Clark is a man who knows what he wants. And he wants Tuesday. He sees past the beautiful façade she shows the world straight to the pain she hides. When Tuesday offers him a friends with benefits arrangement—minus the friendship—he has no choice but to accept her offer. He’s willing to do anything to get close to the elusive woman and show her he’s worth the risk.
When Tuesday starts getting presents from a secret admirer, she goes into a tailspin. She’s been down this ugly road before and she knows how it can destroy her life.
Can she really trust that Jackson is the good guy in this mess? And, if he is, will she realize in time that not only will he protect her heart, but he might just save her life?
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
I anxiously await each Next Generation series book because I
know I am going to get an honorable, sexy, alpha hero and a smart, intelligent
heroine who makes me laugh, sigh and cry. I fall right into each story and I hate
when they end.
CLAIMING TUESDAY
(The Next Generation #4) by Riley Edwards is the new romantic suspense in the
series. Like all of the other Next Generation books, I feel they are more
focused on the romance in each with the suspense as a subplot rather than equal
to the romance.
Jackson Clark knows what he wants and will not stop until he gets it. He knew at the age of five he wanted to be a fireman and he worked to make it happen. At a family barbeque, he spotted Mercy’s friend, Tuesday and knew she was the woman for him. He knows this is going to be a challenge, not just because Tuesday is older than him, but also because Tuesday does not let men get close.
Tuesday Knowls has grown-up in the modeling world. She knows
many people see only her beauty on the outside, but she has emotional baggage
that she does not want to share. After a life-changing and emotionally devastating
relationship that destroyed all of her trust in men, Tuesday does not let
people in. She finds it exasperating that Jackson refuses to believe she does
not want him for anything other than sex.
When flowers and threatening letters begin to appear at
Tuesday’s door, she breaks down as the past is starting to repeat itself.
Jackson and his family consider Tuesday one of their own and work to find and
eliminate the threat. Can Tuesday open up, share her past and rely on Jackson
to protect her body as well as her heart?
Ms. Edward’s characters always seem so real to me. I felt
sad and mad for Tuesday’s past experiences every time one was revealed. Thank
goodness she had her grandparents. Jackson was the perfect match for her with
his persistence and ability to see beyond her outer protective shell. Ms. Riley’s
dialogue is realistic, entertaining and had me laughing out loud at times. In
all of the books in this series, the sex scenes are smokin’ hot and explicit. Each
book contains a complete romance, but they also have some crossover between
them due to the closeness of the extended family.
I can highly recommend this book and series.
And now I have to wait again.
About Riley:
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.
Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley’s favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.
