Archives for August 1, 2023

* Review * THEIR ANGEL’S CRY by Shannon Hollinger

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THEIR ANGEL’S CRY by Shannon Hollinger

Their Angel's Cry by Shannon Hollinger
Series: Chief Maggie Riley #2
Published by Bookouture on August 2, 2023
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The little dog trembles and whimpers, but refuses to move. Maggie reaches further into the undergrowth, trying to tempt it out. But as she moves closer, she sees something that stops her heart—a tiny, shivering baby, wrapped in a thin, pink blanket, saved only by its loyal protector.

There’s a ferocious storm heading toward the isolated town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley gets the call every cop dreads. Three bodies have been found on Rattlesnake Mountain, half a day’s hike from civilization. And when Maggie finally reaches the site, exhausted and freezing, she discovers something even more terrifying—a tiny baby girl, kept alive only by the warmth of a small dog who refuses to leave her side.

As Maggie races the baby to safety, she wonders, why on earth the family risked hiking the mountain in this weather? Who were they and who could possibly have killed them?

A former detective, Maggie may be an experienced investigator, but she’s still an unwelcome newcomer. Battling town prejudice, her fears for the orphaned baby, and the increasingly dangerous weather, Maggie soon discovers the case is far more complicated than she could have imagined. The family is not who they seemed. The mother has never had a baby, there’s no link between them at all. So whose baby is it, and where are they now?

With Coyote Cove cut off by the storm, Maggie knows that wherever the killer is, they won’t be able to leave. Stuck in town with a murderer on the loose, Maggie must race to find them before anyone else gets hurt. But she hasn’t counted on the killer taking matters into their own hands, and going after Maggie first…

Addictive characters keep you coming back for more! The second book in the Chief Maggie Riley series showcases Maggie and her detective skills once again as danger comes to her snow covered town in Maine and tries to reign terror down on them all. I still am not fully sold on the writing style, but the characters are holding my interest enough for now to bring me back to see what happens to Maggie, Steve and the townsfolk.

Chief Maggie is once again knee deep in intrigue as a crime occurs that has the whole system racing against time to figure out whodunnit and who the next victim might be.

I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone that likes a thriller that has relatable main characters who are working crime after crime as life passes them by.

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* Review * CONFESSIONS OF A CANINE DRAMA QUEEN by Stefanie London

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CONFESSIONS OF A CANINE DRAMA QUEEN by Stefanie London

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
Series: Paws in the City #3
Published by Canary Street Press on August 1, 2023
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Can you ever really forget the one who got away?

August Merriweather has always been good with animals. In fact, she’s known as Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. Men, on the other hand? Not so much. She’s been falling for the wrong guys ever since her regrettable crush on Keaton Sax, older brother of her best friend, Leah, and the biggest jerkface this side of the Hudson.

Now an emotionally closed off widower, Keaton has become one of the most formidable men on Wall Street, but August knows his secret. He’s not driven by sales targets and bonus checks—Keaton just wants to give his family the security they never had. So when Leah asks Keaton to wrangle her over-the-top, dramatic husky at a weekend talent competition, Keaton says yes…and begs August to help him win the event for Leah.

Between obstacle courses, Molly’s husky temper tantrums and a cabin with just one bed, August is having a blast. Away from the pressure to have a “perfect life” with the “right guy,” she finds herself relaxing and getting to see the softer side of the man she once loved. Is this just a temporary truce? Or could Keaton finally be the right guy at the right time?

Just enough drama to counterbalance the laugh out loud humor! The final book in Stefanie London’s Paws in the City series is sure to please rom-com fans when a diva husky puts her paw down and hilarity ensues. I felt like there was a bit of a plot hole surrounding Keaton’s late wife that could have used some better back story building, but other than that the storyline flowed well with lots of humor, romance and affection. I really enjoyed this series!

August is an easy character to like. Her friendship with Leah is heartfelt and a powerful stability in her life. I enjoyed watching her keep Keaton on his toes even while falling under his spell.

Keaton is a sweetheart who will do just about anything for the sister he adores. I loved watching him fall hard and have to admit that he could love again.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that enjoys a slap stick rom-com with lots of pet hijinx stealing the show. Sincere characters and satisfying happily ever afters.

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* Review * OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown

Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown
Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 1, 2023
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At a Texas county fair, amidst carousels and a bustling midway, children’s book author Elle Portman is enjoying a rare night out with her favorite cowboy: her two-year-old son, Charlie. But just as they’re about to head home, the unthinkable happens: a shooter opens fire into the crowd, causing widespread panic to erupt all around them.

Also caught in the melee was corporate consultant Calder Hudson. Arrogant, self-centered, and high off his latest career win, he’s frustrated and confused when he wakes up in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery on his arm. The doctor tells him that he was lucky—that as far as gunshot wounds go, he pulled through remarkably well. Others weren’t so lucky, which instills in Calder a furious determination to get justice . . . a goal shared by Elle.

Their chance encounter at the police station leads to a surprising and inexplicable gravitation to one another, but even as the attraction grows, Elle and Calder can’t help but wonder if the unimaginable tragedy that brought them together is too painful and too complicated to sustain—especially while the shooter remains at large.

An emotional rollercoaster filled with turmoil, determination and non-stop drama! Unputdownable says it all when it comes to how quickly the plot of this story draws you in and has you unable to stop turning page after page to see what’s going to happen and what could possibly come next in this chaotic whodunnit filled with pain, loss and healing. Great story telling of a really hard subject matter.

Elle Portman is a kindhearted character who loves hard and wears her heart on her sleeve when dealing with empathy for others. I felt deeply for her quandary and wanted to see her receive whatever comfort would aid her most.

Calder Hudson is a changed man after living through the destruction they suffered and watching him grow into a more empathetic man was a wonderous thing to witness. He turned out to be one of my favorite characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful read that will keep you guessing even when you think you might have it figured out. The camaraderie throughout is comforting, and the bits of romance woven throughout help brighten the gloom of the circumstances well.

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* Review * CAMDEN by Sawyer Bennett

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Camden by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #8
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on August 1, 2023
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Camden Poe is the last of The Lucky Three, the surviving Pittsburgh Titans who weren’t on the team plane the night it went down. By all outward appearances, he’s adjusted to post-crash life well but inside he’s wrestling with the guilt of living.

The catastrophe that killed the Pittsburgh Titans changed my entire world. My teammates were more than my friends—they were my brothers. I mourned their loss with the rest of the nation but then I did as I’ve been taught… I moved on. I focused on returning to the ice with the newly rebuilt team and put the tragedy behind me. Considering the circumstances, I adjusted well. Or so I thought. Now I’m plagued by nightmares of the crash and my play has suffered as a result. Facing the possibility of losing my place on the team, I need to pull myself together and fast.

My buddy and linemate, Mitch Brandt died in the crash, leaving his wife Danica and son Travis behind to pick up the pieces of their shattered family. After reconnecting with Danica at a support group meeting, I find myself inexplicably drawn to helping her and her son move forward. What starts as two friends finding solace in one another following a tragedy becomes something more, leaving us both wondering if we deserve this chance.

I feel as if I’m walking a precarious line between a man falling for an incredible woman and a man moving in on his dead friend’s wife. But one thing is crystal clear—I’ve found a peace with Danica that I wasn’t sure I’d ever have again. Now I need to find the confidence within myself to push past the insecurities and make sure she knows how important she is to me because if I don’t, I’ll lose the one thing that makes me truly complete.

Emotional, sweet and sexy all rolled into one addictive read! The eighth book in the Pittsburgh Titans series brings us the final guy of the Lucky 3, Camden Poe. This series has brought a lot of emotion to the forefront of dealing with loss, overcoming obstacles and healing as a team and I have to say I think this particular book is one of the best ones of the three players who were left behind because it deals heavily with the survivors guilt that he suffers. I enjoyed Camden and Dani a lot and felt like their story portrayed them well.

Camden is well-adjusted on the outside, but the guilt he feels subconsciously is starting to weigh heavily on his mind and his game.

Danica is a complex character. She’s healing as well as can be expected and is doing a great job raising her little boy after her world collapsed around her. I like seeing her find love again and allowing herself to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves hockey romance with lots of feels and a great group of teammates who are all one big family.

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* Review * HERO UNBOUND by Janie Crouch

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Hero Unbound by Janie Crouch
Series: Heroes of Oak Creek #1
Published by Calamittie Jane Publishing on August 1, 2023
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Eva Dempsey is out of options.

She’s made it to Oak Creek, Wyoming with two traumatized dogs, twenty dollars, and a fear of damned near everything.

Things that didn’t make it with her? Her self-esteem, confidence, or any way of supporting herself.

Theo Lindstrom knows how to survive. He proved it as a child when he had to keep himself and sister alive in the wilderness. Now he runs Linear Tactical, the company his adoptive father helped create, and teaches survival skills to others.

So he recognizes the desperation in the eyes of the petite beauty who’s pulled into town, and knows there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.

He normally keeps to himself—for very good reasons—but he can’t this time. Something about Eva draws him in a way he can’t resist, even knowing she’s got secrets. The deadly kind.

When the danger she's running from shows up, Theo’s not going to let her fight it alone.

This is his town.
This is his woman.

And he’ll protect both to his last breath.

The second generation of Linear Tactical is alive and well in Oak Creek! Janie Crouch is delighting her readers by taking us back to the town we love so hard and having the children of the original gang now be in charge of the company and surrounding the key players. I think if you are a die hard fan of Crouch’s original Linear Tactical series you will pick up the characters fairly well, but if you’re new to the town, there could have been a bit more back story filled in to make for a smoother transition of who is who. Overall a powerful story that is rich with intrigue and romance that stole my heart quickly and has me wanting more very soon!

Theo is all we could ever have expected him to grow up to be and more! He’s sincere and steadfast and as protective as ever of those he loves. I loved seeing him come into his own and also the snippets of him with mom and dad.

Eva is really sweet and easily gained my loyalty from the start with her story and with the sad situation she found herself in. I really enjoyed seeing her get to thrive under what love should truly be.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an action packed intrigue filled with great characters, lots of heart and more danger than you know what to do with. I can’t wait for more in the series!

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* Review * CRASH COURSE by Adrienne Giordano

August 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CRASH COURSE by Adrienne Giordano

Crash Course by Adrienne Giordano
Series: Steele Ridge: The Blackwells #4
Published by Steele Ridge Publishing on July 31, 2023
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In the thrilling fourth installment of the Steele Ridge: The Blackwells romantic suspense series, an ambitious attorney and a cunning recovery agent join forces to expose a dangerous web of corruption and deceit, risking everything for justice and love.

Hotshot defense attorney Priscilla Randolph has a reputation for winning the toughest of cases. When she stumbles upon a disturbing toxicology report for land her father's company intends to buy, she realizes her latest challenge might be her most personal. Confused by her father’s indifference to the report, Cilla is determined to uncover the truth.

And she knows just the man to help her.

Enter Cruz Blackwell, a hunky recovery agent adept at finding the unfindable. Ever since his chance meeting with the sexy-as-hell lawyer, he’s wanted to know her better. A whole lot better. When she enlists his help for a simple research assignment, he accepts—gladly—not realizing the storm he’s about to fly into.

Sparks ignite between Cilla and Cruz as they dig deeper, discovering a dangerous web of corruption and deceit. Someone will stop at nothing to prevent them from exposing the truth. Their fight for justice—and love—might cost them everything. Including their lives.

It’s a toss up on which is more riveting, the non-stop intrigue or the pulse-pounding sexual tension! The fourth book in the Steele Ridge: The Blackwells series is fast paced and exciting and centers around Cruz Blackwell and hotshot defense attorney Cilla Randolph. The characters were quick to catch my attention and keep me hooked throughout and the mystery and danger swirling around kept it exciting.

Cruz is addictively sensual! He’s tight with his family but suddenly feeling on the outskirts but his instant attraction to Priscilla has him setting his sights on more before he knows it. He’s a fun character for sure.

Cilla is accomplished and direct and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to go head to head with her father and his flunkies to get answers she needed to help the town folk.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that enjoys action and suspense as well as a close knit buttinsky family always good for some drama and romance.

Filed Under: Book Reviews