With a death squad in pursuit… A fugitive needs the help of a wounded warrior.
An elite CIA kill squad has located hacker Zenobia Hanley’s Alaska wilderness hideout. With commandos hot on Zee’s heels, she’s saved from capture by her neighbor John Lowry. Zee has kept her yearning for the SEAL, who has a disability, in check to shield him. But, despite her secrets, John’s determined to protect Zee regardless of the risks. Because there’s more at stake this Christmas than just their lives.
ALASKAN CHRISTMAS ESCAPE (Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit Book #2) by Juno Rushdan is the second fast-paced romantic suspense in this series and it is another edge-of-your-seat read. I start these books and I cannot put them down. Even though this book is set during the Christmas holiday season, it could be set in any time of the year.
Zenobia “Zee” Hanley was the tech/hacker wizard for the elite CIA Topaz Unit and has been trying to find information on the mission that went bad and scattered the unit into hiding as she hides in the Alaskan frontier. Even with her amazing skills, she has been detected and a kill squad is on the way. One of Zoe’s darkest secrets is about to show up as the leader of the kill squad.
John Lowry is a medically retired SEAL with shrapnel in his leg and PTSD living in the Alaskan wild when a beautiful and mysterious neighbor moves into the closest cabin in the area. Regardless of Zee’s secrets, when the kill squad arrives, John is determined to protect Zee at all costs.
Will Zee put her trust in John with not only her life, but all her secrets?
I love this book, the H/h and this whole Fugitive Heroes world. Ms. Rushdan knows how to keep me turning the pages and keep me invested in the characters. Zee is an intelligent. kick-butt heroine with a huge secret besides the Topaz Unit secrets. John is the alpha SEAL with physical and mental disabilities that he refuses to let stop him from helping Zee. As Zee tries to protect John by pushing him away, I loved how he brought in the SEAL philosophy of two always being better/stronger than one. When they finally come together it is smokin’ hot. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous. This is a fast-paced suspense plot with a villain leading the kill squad with a personal interest in taking out Zee which was a surprise, and he is relentless. This is an excellent Harlequin Intrigue series!
I highly recommend this romantic suspense, this series and this author. Ms. Rushdan knows how to write exciting romantic suspense with great characters, and I cannot wait for the next Topaz Unit book!
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About the Author
Juno Rushdan draws from real-life inspiration as a former U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer to craft sizzling romantic thrillers. However, you won’t find any classified leaks here. Her stories are pure fiction about kick-ass heroes and strong heroines fighting for their lives as well as their happily-ever-after.
Although Juno is a native New Yorker, wanderlust has taken her across the globe. Fortunately, she is blessed with a husband who shares her passion for travel, movies, and fantastic food. She’s visited more than twenty different countries and has lived in England and Germany. Her favorite destination for relaxation is the Amalfi Coast, Italy for its stunning seascape, cliffside lemon groves, terraced vineyards, amazing pasta, and to-die-for vino.
When she’s not writing, Juno loves spending time with her family. Exercise is not her favorite thing to do, but she squeezes some in since chocolate and red wine aren’t calorie-free.
She currently resides in Virginia with her supportive hubby, two dynamic children, and spoiled rescue dogs. Check her out on Instagram, Facebookor follow her on Twitter or BookBub. She loves to connect with readers!
Family secrets and fresh romance collide in this heart-pounding Richter series installment by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee.
Jacqueline “Jax” Simon knows how to expose secrets: she’s a skilled operative with MacBain Security and Solutions. When Jax hears her parents are divorcing, she races to London to find out why. She’s determined to learn the truth, especially when her investigation uncovers why her parents sent her to Richter, the German military school that made her a fighter.
Andrew Craig collects Jax at Heathrow Airport as a favor. He’s heard she’s a handful, but he didn’t know she’s dangerously gorgeous too. His instant attraction could change his life…or end it.
Jax doesn’t want to fall for Andrew, but soon he’s worming his way into her life. Together, they infiltrate Richter to discover if it has returned to its covert purpose: training children to be spies and assassins and blackmailing parents to look the other way. As the attraction between the two intensifies, so do the secrets exploding all around them. How deadly are those secrets—and who will survive?
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Elise’s Thoughts
An Unexpected Distraction by Catherine Bybee shows why she is a master storyteller who writes formidable characters. Readers get to catch up with her past heroes and heroines: Claire, Cooper, Sasha, Neil, and Gwen. But anyone who has not read her should considering the great mix of suspenseful drama, action, and romance. With each new installment the series gets better and better.
As with the other heroines in the series, Jacqueline (Jax) Simon is a badass woman. They all are put in dangerous undercover situations by the private investigation security company they work for. Having overcome the corrupt boarding school that basically raised them these women, Sasha, Olivia, Claire, and Jax have skills that would make James Bond jealous.
In this story, Jax returns to her native England after receiving a call from her brother. He needs help figuring out why their parents split up and their dad has moved in with him. The parents are being very secretive about their marital problems. Through her own investigation, Jax discovers that her being sent off to the German military school, Richter, has something to do with her parents’ marital problems. With the help of her current boyfriend, Andrew Craig, Jax’s brother’s best friend, they infiltrate Richter hoping to find if it’s returned to its bad ways, training the children there to be spies and assassins while blackmailing the parents to look the other way.
Along with the action are relationship stories. Jax must overcome her feelings of abandonment by her parents. Because she has never had a close relationship with her mother, they both must have heart-to-heart chats about their feelings. In fact, many times throughout the book Jax says to her mother, “you did not know, because you never asked.” Jax also has come to realize she has feelings and is attracted to Andrew. He is not intimated by her skills with guns and spy technology and is very supportive.
When finished, readers will be disappointed because the gripping story has ended and at this time there is not another book in the making. Anyone who enjoyed this book should contact Catherine to continue the storyline, especially since it appears that the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. Let Catherine know if there should be more books in the series by contacting her at https://catherinebybee.com/contact/.
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Elise’s Author Interview
Elise Cooper: How did you go about finding the idea for this story?
Catherine Bybee: Overall, the previous books, “The Bride Series” prompted the espionage writing for this series. Neil, the head of McBain Security and Solutions is a character I kept alive in all the books. The challenge of any series is making sure each character has a different focus; although, there are similarities between them. My heroine, Jax, highlights the other side of what happened at the Richter School. She was not being groomed to be an assassin and was there because her parents wanted to keep some secrets. They wanted to keep her isolated. By the way, sending children off to a boarding school happens a lot in Europe even though it is a foreign concept to Americans. Jax seemed to avoid the controversy and focused on receiving an exceptional education.
EC: In the beginning this book highlighted Claire versus Sasha?
CB: Claire is Sasha’s “Mini-Me.” She is not as hard, jaded, and worldly as Sasha. To find out about Sasha’s life people might want to read the whole “First Wives Series.” It explains the reason Sasha turned out the way she did. She is more reserved and more of a loner than Claire. She cannot sit still and even in this book works solo. Both Claire and Sasha are very competitive, which is seen in the books when they participate in obstacle courses.
EC: You are speaking about the Camp Pendleton Mud Run and skydiving out of an airplane?
CB: Yes. The Mud Run used to be open to the public, before Covid. I did dive out of an airplane when I was in Hawaii a couple of years back. My friend and I did it tandemly with a professional. I checked it off my bucket list so it is not something I will do again.
EC: Are Neil and Sasha co-equals?
CB: Even though it is Neil’s team he never treats anyone as an employee. Claire becomes a daughter to him with Jax as his stepdaughter. Throughout this series, as well as all my series, the family is those chosen not the ones born into. For example, Jax and Claire are sisters of choice and are close.
EC: How would you describe Jax?
CB: She did not have a very good actual family life although she does redeem her relationship with her mother. She is wounded and feels neglected. She is the epitome of the poor little rich girl, very aware of how privileged she is. She was never a troublemaker but made sure while at school the skills were learned. She is sassy, loyal, daring, witty, traditionally English, and resourceful.
EC: How would you describe Andrew?
CB: He is a different type of hero than the others in the series. Andrew is a pencil pusher. Upper crust British, determined, traditionalist, thoughtful, and a good listener.
EC: How about the relationship between Andrew and Jax?
CB: He is the perfect man who her parents would have picked for her, but the opposite of what she thinks she needs. I made sure he did not have a life in her world. I wanted to show how men can be supportive of women who are like Jax. He never felt emasculated and was willing to be a part of her life. At first, Jax is standoffish because her parents wanted someone like him for her. Sometimes children need to come to grips that their parents are not always wrong. As they get to know each other she is surprised that she is attracted to him. The challenge for me was to have them fall in love without it feeling forced. He is good at making her think it is her idea and then gets what he wants from her.
EC: What role do Jax’s parents play?
CB: They are the type that had children because that is what was expected. They are reserved, uppity, and never appreciated or understood her. They always underestimated her. I based it on a personal level for me because my parents underestimated me my whole life.
EC: The ending was up in the air?
CB: I did not look at it as a cliff hanger but that the series came full circle. If there is a next book, I could explore how the school groomed these children and taught them to be assassins. Because most of my readers thought the ending was a cliff hanger, I guess I will have to write another book. I do not want to reinvent the wheel with a new espionage series when I have so many rich characters to play with. I would love to hear from people as to what they think about a fourth book in this series, https://catherinebybee.com/contact/.
EC: What about your next book?
CB: In June 2022, will be a kind of a women’s fiction book. The new series is called “The D’Angelo’s” and is titled When It Falls Apart. It takes place in Little Italy, San Diego. It is based on my real life where I had to deal with an aging father, while at the same time piecemealing my life back together because of my own tragedies and issues. The heroine, Brooke Turner, has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy. She will have a romance with Luca, a single father.
THANK YOU!!
BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.
Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for a new addition to the Richter Series AN UNEXPECTED DISTRACTION (Richter Book #3) by Catherine Bybee.
Below you will find a book description, my book review and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!
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Book Description
Family secrets and fresh romance collide in this heart-pounding Richter series installment by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee.
Jacqueline “Jax” Simon knows how to expose secrets: she’s a skilled operative with MacBain Security and Solutions. When Jax hears her parents are divorcing, she races to London to find out why. She’s determined to learn the truth, especially when her investigation uncovers why her parents sent her to Richter, the German military school that made her a fighter.
Andrew Craig collects Jax at Heathrow Airport as a favor. He’s heard she’s a handful, but he didn’t know she’s dangerously gorgeous too. His instant attraction could change his life…or end it.
Jax doesn’t want to fall for Andrew, but soon he’s worming his way into her life. Together, they infiltrate Richter to discover if it has returned to its covert purpose: training children to be spies and assassins and blackmailing parents to look the other way. As the attraction between the two intensifies, so do the secrets exploding all around them. How deadly are those secrets—and who will survive?
AN UNEXPECTED DISTRACTION (Richter Series Book #3) by Catherine Bybee is an exciting, fast-paced romantic suspense featuring another of the elite, highly trained women from Richter Academy who now works for McBain Security. While each book has a unique romance and subplot at that point in time, I feel it is better to read these books in order for maximum understanding.
Jacqueline “Jax” Simon’s world is changing. Her best friend through Richter Academy, Claire is getting married. As they begin their wedding plans, Jax receives a mysterious call from her brother to return home to London. Her parents have separated and since neither will talk about why, Jax begins to investigate. What she may discover as she investigates their separation and pasts may also be the reason why they sent her to Richter.
Andrew Craig is doing Jax’s brother a favor by picking her up at Heathrow Airport. He is instantly taken with this blonde beauty who is frank about her family and who believes Andrew is just her driver and not a family friend. He knows Jax wants to return to California, but he is on a mission to make her want to stay in England. This man of finance does not know the full extent of Jax’s life, but he is about to learn some truths quickly.
As the attraction between Jax and Andrew grows, so does the threat of secrets unknown.
I really love this series. It is fun to read all the suspense and intrigue involved in the McBain Security investigations. Unlimited money and gadgets, world travel and always a kick-butt female Richter graduate right in in the middle of the action. Jax’s world on the surface is familiar to Andrew, but as he learns more, he realizes that there is much more to discover and when he does, he does not run the other way. There are sex scenes, but they are not explicit. I was glad Jax was able to connect with her family on a more personal level. I also enjoy catching up with all the other characters in this series from previous books. The men and women of McBain Security are always there for each other. I am very happy there will be at least one more book in this series foreshadowed by the slight cliff-hanger ending regarding Richter.
I highly recommend this third Richter book and the entire series!
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Author Bio
Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-six beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned The Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, The Most Likely To series, and The First Wives series.
Criminal psychologist Erin Larson’s dreams of a successful career come to a screeching halt when she nearly loses her own life in a boating accident on Puget Sound and then learns that her mother tried to commit suicide. She leaves her job as a criminal psychologist to care for her mother in Montana. At least she is able to produce her podcast, which focuses on solving missing persons cold cases.
Nathan Campbell’s father was investigating such a case when he was shot, and now Nathan needs to enlist Erin’s help to solve the case. She’s good at what she does. The only problem? She’s his ex.
As the two dig deeper, it becomes clear that they, too, are being targeted–and that the answers to their questions are buried deep within the past Erin struggles to explain and longs to forget.
The race is on for the truth in this gripping and complex tale of suspense, intrigue, and murder from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard.
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Elise’s Thoughts
Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard has a suspenseful mystery with a sweet romance. This is the second book in the Rocky Mountain Courage Series. Each book highlights the life of three childhood friends with this one featuring criminal psychologist Erin Larson.
After barely surviving a kayaking incident Erin Larson receives a call from her former boyfriend that her mother attempted suicide. Dropping everything, she travels to Montana to take care of her mother, bringing her current career to a halt. She comes face to face with Nathan Campbell, a search and rescue climber and diver, who feels betrayed by her after she walks out the relationship. He is also feeling betrayed by his estranged father who has also come back into his life.
Unfortunately, their reunion is short lived. Trying to bond on a fishing expedition, Nathan’s father tells him about a cold case investigation he is working on his own. As he is talking someone shoots him in the head, rendering him unconscious. Because Nathan wants answers, he begins his own investigation into the shooting and cold case. Knowing that Erin has a podcast dealing with cold cases of missing children Nathan turns to her for help. She and Nathan begin to work together to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, and soon they find themselves caught in the target sights of someone who is trying to kill them. They also must come to grips with secrets of their past, feelings that the old flame is burning again.
This plot is fast paced with many twists and turns. There are a wide range of suspicious characters who could be the culprit. The story highlights hope, faith, and trust.
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Elise’s Author Interview
Elise Cooper: Why the different settings of Washington, Montana, and Boston?
Elizabeth Goddard: I grew up In Texas and have traveled extensively with my husband. We currently reside in Washington State. My husband is a Montanan, so I have knowledge of that area. I have ben to other locations including Boston and I do live near Puget Sound Washington.
EC: How would you describe Nathan?
EG: He is a good guy but has many disappointments in his life. He tries to take a bad situation and look for a silver lining. Because he was estranged from his father, he has daddy issues he is trying to work through. Overall, he is supportive, caring, and protection.
EC: How would you describe Erin?
EG: She is a dark character with a dark cloud hanging over her. She went into criminal psychology to understand the criminal mind. She has suffered from loss and pain and wants answers. Erin is broken with inner demons but is also a survivor, determined, and analytical. Another layer to her personality is being supportive of the police which is why she said, “Cops. They protect the rest of us from the ugliest crimes, the evil we don’t want to know exists.”
EC: What about the relationship?
EG: They have trust issues but also feel something strong between them.
EC: What would you say is the theme?
EG: The importance of family. An important part of my life is family, which is everything.
EC: What role does the Cold Case podcast play in the story?
EG: It adds a whole new layer. I listened to crime podcasts to get a feel. One brought me to tears and it took me days to get over it. I wanted to have an accurate portrayal of crime and the evils in this world. I hope readers feel what the family is going through. In her own life, Erin wants answers and to provide closure for herself and others. She is trying to understand why people commit crimes.
EC: What about your next book?
EG: It is titled Critical Alliance and comes out next July. It will feature Alex’s story. There will be suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common, a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.
THANK YOU!!
BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.
CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.
Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn’t at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It’s hard to trust a woman who’s already betrayed you.
Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning–the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.
Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn’t trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world–and their hearts–hangs in the balance.
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Elise’s Thoughts
Lights Out by Natalie Walters delves into national security, international intrigue, and inter-agency cooperation. The plot has a national security agency looking for a missing foreigner who might be connected to terrorism, murder, explosives, and poisoning.
The story opens with CIA analyst Brynn Taylor heading up a program she developed to combat terrorism. She wants to make sure no terrorist falls between the cracks considering many are not the typical looking type. To gain traction and to foster cooperation, members of other foreign intelligence agencies were invited to America. But an Egyptian spy has gone missing. Jack Hudson, who has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years, is asked to take the lead in hunting down the missing spy.
Unfortunately, Brynn is loaned out to SNAP and Jack must work closely together with her, someone who betrayed him eight years ago. Trying to set aside their hurt, they work together to find leads that will stop the terrorist plot.
To lighten the load Walters writes great conversational banter. Readers get to know the characters and can decide who they want to hang out with.
This story has a lot of suspense that keeps readers deeply engrossed. Because of the plotline there is a sense of heroism to the story.
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Elise’s Author Interview
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Natalie Walters: Because my husband is in the military, we moved all around the US. We have friends and neighbors who work for other government agencies. During a dinner conversation with a friend, they told of how a foreign counterpart disappeared in this country. They were training in the US and went missing for 16 hours. Although it was an innocent situation, they sent him back to his country after he was found. I rolled with it and thought what if that missing foreigner was committed to do harm to the US.
EC: Does the SNAP Agency exist?
NW: No, it is completely fictional. My imagination with my husband’s help is how the name came about. It stands for Strategic Neutralize And Protect against threats. The company is a private contractor like Blackwater.
EC: The heroine is a targeting analyst-does that job exist?
NW: Yes, the CIA does have these types of analysts.
EC: How would you describe Brynn?
NW: She has gone through life changes because of her family background. She needs to be in control to feel safe and has trust issues. If she can control her work, she thinks she can control her life. She does want to belong to a team who will have her back. I would say she is guarded, suspicious, a workaholic, and focused. She is also determined, independent, witty, and set in her ways.
EC: There is a quote about terrorists?
NW: Yes. You must be referring to this one, “What makes terrorists so dangerous is their ability to blend in and deceive you.” Brynn is trained to study people. Terrorists don’t always look like the typical type. The point of the quote is to not profile because they could be from any race, ethnicity, and creed. This is what makes fighting terrorism so difficult.
EC: How would you describe Jack?
NW: Loyal, dedicated, a leader, and a protector. He sometimes comes off as rigid because he wants justice.
EC: What about the relationship?
NW: Because of the betrayal, Jack doesn’t trust Brynn. He is wary of his feelings and emotions. Since Brynn is so focused with her job, she sometimes misses getting close. They are like oil and vinegar. Because of their past conflict they are confused about their feelings.
EC: What about the co-workers Lyla versus Brynn?
NW: The relationship is a little bit hostile. Lyla sees Jack as a big brother. At first, Brynn is intimidated by Lyla. She does not want to let Brynn hurt him again. But as they work together Lyla begins to admire Brynn for her skills.
EC: What about the role of September 11th in the story?
NW: It is an important part of Brynn’s backstory. The war was brought to American soil. SNAP was created to make sure another 9/11 does not happen again. Those that work there are continually on guard.
EC: There is a quote the shows family members have a different experience?
NW: You are referring to when Brynn told the US President, “For most Americans, their lives moved forward, but for me and others directly impacted by that day, we can never forget. I joined the CIA because I never want another child or family to go through what ours did.” Almost every American remembers where we were during that moment in history. Everyone around Brynn received horrific news. September 11th changed the course of her life. I think for Americans who were not affected personally, that horrific day does not hold the same weight. I looked online and found out that the events took place over a short period of time. But our world has been changed ever since.
EC: Since you are a military family how has it impacted you?
NW: We know many soldiers who joined because of 9/11. Joining the military and any of the three letter agencies means that person swears an oath to protect the people of this nation. They sacrifice time with their family. They stepped up and stepped forward.
EC: There is also a humorous quote in the book?
NW: Yes, about cell phones. My youngest is going to be 21. The earliest age my children got a phone was in late middle school. Everyone is always on their phone, all generations. The phone seems to be a part of someone’s body.
EC: What about your next book?
NW: It is title Fatal Code and comes out the summer of 2022. It will be Kekoa and Eleanor’s story. They must monitor a neighbor who might be trying to develop a nuclear weapon. There will be an update on Jack and Brynn’s life.
THANK YOU!!
BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.
Today I am excited to be included on the blog tour for GUILD BOSS (A Harmony Novel Book #15) by Jayne Castle. I have been reading this amazing paranormal/urban fantasy/romantic suspense mash-up since book #1 and I have never been disappointed!
Below you will find a book description, my book review and the author’s bio and social media link. Enjoy!
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Otis and his favorite pizza.
Book Description
Welcome to Illusion Town on the colony world of Harmony—like Las Vegas on Earth, but way more weird.
Living in this new, alien world doesn’t stop the settlers from trying to re-create what they’ve left behind. Case in point—weddings are still the highlight of any social calendar. But it’s the after-party that turns disastrous for Lucy Bell. Kidnapped and drugged as she leaves the party, she manages to escape—only to find herself lost in the mysterious, alien underground maze of glowing green tunnels beneath Illusion Town. She’s been surviving on determination and cold pizza, scavenged for her by a special dust bunny, when help finally shows up.
Gabriel Jones is the Guild Hunter sent to rescue her, but escaping the underground ruins isn’t the end of her troubles—it’s only the beginning. With no rational reason for her abduction, and her sole witness gone on another assignment for the Guild, whispers start circulating that Lucy made it all up. Soon her life unravels until she has nothing left but her pride. The last thing she expects is for Gabriel Jones to come back to town for her.
The Lucy that Gabriel finds is not the same woman he rescued, the one who looked at him as if he were her hero. This Lucy is sharp, angry, and more than a little cynical—instead of awe, she treats him with extreme caution. But a killer is still hunting her, and there aren’t a lot of options when it comes to heroes. Despite her wariness, Gabriel is also the one person who believes Lucy—after all, he was there. He’s determined to help clear her reputation, no matter what it takes. And as the new Guild Boss, his word is law, even in the lawlessness of Illusion Town.
GUILD BOSS (A Harmony Novel Book #15) by Jayne Castle is another action-packed adventure on the colony world of Harmony which is a mash-up of paranormal/urban fantasy/romantic suspense genres. I have been reading this series from book #1 and have never been disappointed! This book can easily be read as a standalone, but I can guarantee once you finish, you are going to want to go back and read all the rest in the series.
Lucy Bell is an exceptionally talented independent weather channeler in Illusion Town. Lucy disappears after a friend’s wedding reception and is found by a dust bunny and rescued from the underground by the dust bunny and a hunky Guild Hunter. Everyone believes she has had a psychic break rather than believing her story of being kidnapped.
Two months later and Gabriel Jones is back in Illusion Town as the new Guild Boss and looking for Lucy once again, but for an entirely different reason. There is something about this weather channeler that he has been unable to forget, but their reunion does not go as Gabriel planned. He offers Lucy a contract to get back into her good graces and as they work together Gabriel learns there is more going on in town than simply recovering a stolen Arcane item.
Lucy and Gabriel discover a conspiracy that threatens the power source of all Harmony besides the truth behind Lucy’s kidnapping. Will they be able to discover all the players and stop the conspiracy?
I always love my return trips to Harmony and the dust bunnies. Lucy and Gabriel are both wonderful characters with very different backgrounds, but perfect for each other. Lucy is resilient and strong, and Gabriel is driven not only in his pursuit to rebrand the Guild’s image, but to get the woman he wants even as he is not always able to communicate his true feelings. Otis, the latest dust bunny to befriend his humans is a fun addition to this story as well as an integral player. The suspense/mystery plot in this story has many threads and kept me turning the pages. There is an overall conspiracy thread that leaves an opening for future stories but does not leave you feeling cheated in this book.
I highly recommend this latest Harmony book and the entire series!
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Author Bio
Jayne Castle is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick. Learn more online at jayneannkrentz.com.
