LOVE, NATURALLY by Author Sophie Sullivan is a heartwarming opposites attract, insta-love romance rendered through dual points of view. There's a longLOVE, NATURALLY by Author Sophie Sullivan is a heartwarming opposites attract, insta-love romance rendered through dual points of view. There's a long list of reasons why these two characters will never work as a couple, and yet the chemistry sparking between them could set the forest on fire. Does anything else really matter?
Presley surprises her boyfriend with a ten-day getaway at the Get Lost Lodge, a place where fishing, hiking and roughing it is the name of the game. While it isn't her thing, she wants to prove her commitment to their relationship and her willingness to do things he likes to do. Imagine her surprise when he says he'll invite a buddy to go with him, not her. Apparently, they're not on the same page when it comes to moving forward with their relationship, so Presley takes the reservations back and proceeds to go on the trip by herself. It'll be a good time to assess her life and figure out which direction to go in the future. Getting sick on the boat crossing to the island is not a good sign, but she steps out of her comfort zone and tries new activities with Beckett, a hunky, willing teacher and the lodge guide, who's helping his brother get the lodge up and running. Readers quickly learn Beckett has issues of his own. He's set aside his own dreams to commit to helping family. Presley and Beckett couldn't be more different. She's a city girl who loves shopping, champagne and caviar and he's a country boy who catches, cleans and cooks his own dinner. There're too many miles, differences and entanglements for them to consider a future together . . . even though the sexual tension between them is off the charts. They'll enjoy each other's company and at the end of ten days, both go their separate ways. Right?
LOVE, NATURALLY is a sweet, opposites attract romance with great secondary characters helping carry the story. The rustic setting and evolving relationship between these two characters is intriguing and fun to watch as they both grow into their own and make life altering decisions. While the couple go from zero to sixty in ten days, the narrative is a bit slow in spite of the sizzling chemistry. The audio narrated by Julie Rogers brought the story to life and added to my enjoyment, engaging my senses. I highly recommend it if you enjoy audiobooks. LOVE, NATURALLY is a great choice for fans of insta-love, opposites attract and characters willing to step out of their comfort zone to find happy ever after. 3.5 Stars Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the are of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
IT TAKES A RAKE is the third installment in the Rogues to Lovers series featuring three women searching for their own chance to live happily ever afteIT TAKES A RAKE is the third installment in the Rogues to Lovers series featuring three women searching for their own chance to live happily ever after. Smart, snarky women and intelligent, gorgeous men stalk the pages of these books often antagonizing one another until they finally give in and admit they're in love. Each book stands alone, but it's fun to get to know each couple by reading the books in order as previous couples appear in subsequent books.
IT TAKES A RAKE features Kitty, a woman making her way in a man's profession. An upcoming, talented architect, Kitty breathes life into otherwise dry drawings and architectural plans with her unique visions which are not only functional, but beautiful. Kitty is disillusioned with marriage. She knows a rake when she sees one and refuses to allow herself to be charmed into giving up her dreams. However, there's one man she can't forget - the one who left her without a word of goodbye years ago. She won't allow him back in her heart.
Leo Larkwood leaves a promising career as an architect in London to return home and claim the girl he left behind. Leo is all about the numbers and while his drawings may not be the most beautiful, they're highly functional and accurate. He's carrying a big secret that involves a secret crush, but he knows she's skittish and won't accept him back into her heart unless he does something to gain her trust again. The opportunity presents itself in the form of an architectural contest to design a new building for the town. Kitty agrees to allow Leo to help her with her project by checking her calculations, and in turn, Kitty will teach Leo how to be a rake so he can woo his secret crush. Little does she know...
Kitty and Leo are great examples of frenemies in the romance genre. They both harbor strong feelings for each other but keep them hidden for their own reasons. Bennett does a fantastic job with the snark and banter as tension and sexual chemistry rise steadily between this pair. The plot line is unique with the competition element, and the pace increases steadily. Past couples make appearances in IT TAKES A RAKE, and as always, it's great to catch up with them.
Author Anna Bennett excels at delivering strong heroes and heroines who are likeable and easy to pull for. The sexy banter will have you salivating one minute and laughing out loud the next. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance with a punch. Special thanks to St. Martins Press for an advanced reader's copy of this title. It is scheduled for release Jan. 23, 2024. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This review is posted on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
I'm always excited to receive another thriller from Author Stacy Willingham! I became a fan after reading A FLICKER IN THE DARK and ALL THE DANGEROUS I'm always excited to receive another thriller from Author Stacy Willingham! I became a fan after reading A FLICKER IN THE DARK and ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS. Like previous thrillers, ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY is twisty and gutsy with a last-minute shocker sure to leave readers reeling.
Margot attends a liberal arts college in South Carolina and is like a fish out of water. She isn't part of the in-crowd, standing on the sidelines instead wondering what would have been different if her best high school friend Eliza hadn't passed away. As Margot battles depression, she quietly watches a mysterious transfer student, Lucy - a bright, vibrant girl everyone theorizes about but wants to be around. Imagine Margot's shock when Lucy chooses her to be one of her roommates instantly raising her status on campus. The girls rent a house from a fraternity group of boys who live next door. Margot's life is good until the day a boy from her past joins the fraternity. Levi was Eliza's boyfriend, and Lucy blames him for her friend's death. As the story unfolds, things escalate and two people disappear. Are they dead? Are they alive? Is there a murderer living among them?
ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY is narrated by Karissa Vackar who delivers an outstanding performance. I love the way she brought each character to life. I highly recommend the audio book if you're a fan of listening to stories.
Through alternating timelines, readers learn about Margot's past and the events that tore her life apart. A steady pace is driven by an ominous tone that keeps readers burning through pages. Taut, concise chapters keep the story flowing as twists and turns drive the intriguing plot line in this well-crafted story. With themes of loyalty, betrayal, belonging and the true meaning of friendship, ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY is a highly atmospheric, intense suspense thriller that I highly recommend to fans of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for an audio arc of this title and the awesome Winter Survival Kit. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is published on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
THE EXCITEMENTS is a delightfully charming tale of two elderly sisters who are forever in search of their next "excitement" aka adventure. The ladies THE EXCITEMENTS is a delightfully charming tale of two elderly sisters who are forever in search of their next "excitement" aka adventure. The ladies are well-preserved, ninety plus year old WWII veterans chock-full of life and dark secrets with a knack for finding trouble . . . or does it find them? The sisters depend on their gay nephew Archie to plan their excitements and get them where they need to be on time. The odd trio travels the world where the sisters are in demand to make appearances at festivals and fundraisers, often giving speeches and receiving recognition and awards for their service. Now, they're off to Paris, France to receive the revered Légion d’honneur medal awarded for their heroism in liberating France. At least that's why Archie believes they're going; however, as they often do, these ladies have a secret agenda to right some wrongs, and this may be their last shot at doing so.
Author CJ Wray has penned a witty tale featuring two eccentric characters unlike any others you've ever met. Penny and Josephine Williams are Britan's war treasures, adored and loved by the masses as war heroes who were part of the famous WREN's and FANY's, working for the Royal Navy and the nursing corps. At least that's the official word; however, what the world doesn't know is that Josephine was an undercover intelligence operative and Penny a spy in their younger days, and they developed several interesting skills rumored to involve grand larceny and hand-to-hand combat. With the trip to France, they have one last chance to settle old scores and pull one last heist. It may be their last big hurrah, so they intend to make it a memorable one and go out with a bang.
For the most part, THE EXCITEMENTS is narrated by Pennie and Archie with the timeline constantly shifting between past and present. The dialogue is entertaining with several tales shared by the sisters about their past adventures. The constant shifting of time may be problematic for some readers as it isn't always in chronological order, often swinging forward and back. While I found myself having to back up on occasion and reread passages to ground myself again before proceeding, it was easy to settle back in quickly. The story relayed in present time is often humorous with the banter between Archie and his aunts a delight to read. Readers will enjoy joining the two spry nonagenarians as they scheme and plot with poor Archie working double-time to stop their shenanigans from landing them in trouble yet again. While the story flows at a nice pace and the tone is overall light, there's a dark undercurrent of suspense ebbing throughout as readers wait for the other shoe to drop to discover what really happened to the sisters in Paris all those years ago that led to the score they're dead set on settling. Sometimes, a plot line is so convoluted, pulling readers in so many directions that the focus tends to get lost in the shuffle, and the story suffers. To a lesser degree, this is what happens in THE EXCITEMENTS in my opinion. At times, it's a comedy - hilarious and fun, other times it's a super spy mystery - intriguing and mysterious. It's most certainly a historical fiction story brimming with interesting information from the time period with a brief side of romance. One thing's for sure . . . it's a smorgasbord of reading pleasure if readers take their time and consume it in small bites, enjoying each part.
THE EXCITEMENTS is a tale of two resourceful nonagenarians with a secret agenda traveling the world, leaving havoc in their wake. The characterizations are pure gold even though the plot line is occasionally a bit muddled. Author CJ Wray excels at incorporating pertinent WWII history into this tale of two elderly, highly decorated veterans gone wild. Prepare to laugh aloud as the Williamson sisters attempt to pull off one final heist. Recommended to history buffs as well as fans of mystery and comedy. 3.5 Stars Many thanks to William Morrow for an advanced readers copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This title is set for release on Jan. 30, 2024. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
J.D. Robb is a prolific writer whose amazing talent is never more evident than when gifting readers another thrilling episode featuring Lt. Eve DallasJ.D. Robb is a prolific writer whose amazing talent is never more evident than when gifting readers another thrilling episode featuring Lt. Eve Dallas and comrades in a series so many readers have come to know and love. It's mind boggling to think that RANDOM IN DEATH is the fifty-eighth book in the In Death series, a futuristic police procedural series set in New York City around 2061. Books in the series are character driven featuring outstanding writing with intriguing murder cases to be solved in each book. The character development and intricate investigations carry the stories with a sprinkling of humor woven throughout elevating an otherwise dire tone.
Eve and husband Roarke are enjoying a rare weekend evening at home when Eve's link signals, calling her to the scene of a murder at a music concert. The young age of the victim makes this case particularly disturbing as does the fact that she's a smart, dedicated sixteen-year-old girl with no apparent vices or enemies. Even worse is the fact she was randomly stabbed with a dirty needle injecting her with a vicious cocktail of pure drugs and contagious viruses. Jenna’s death comes within minutes of being injected as she collapses in the arms of her idol, musician Jake Kincaide whose girlfriend reporter Nadine calls Lt. Eve Dallas to the scene. A day later at another public venue another young teen with no apparent connection to the first victim is targeted, leaving no doubt that a psychopath is randomly targeting young girls. Lt. Eve Dallas and her team are in a race against time to identify a needle in a haystack before another young person loses their life.
RANDOM IN DEATH explores the dark mind of a young, highly intelligent, enraged psychopath with an exaggerated sense of entitlement and superiority. Per her signature style, Eve works the case meticulously, leaving no stone unturned, combing through evidence, uncovering clues where there appear to be none. By her side is husband Roarke and partner Peabody along with several reoccurring characters fans will enjoy catching up with. As always, character and relationship development are in the driver’s seat, one of my favorite aspects of the series. Robb's vivid character descriptions transport individuals off the pages into readers' living rooms, bringing them to life like long, lost friends . . . or your worse enemy. A sense of urgency and malice drive a fast pace through the many twists and turns as the case unfolds before exploding in the shocking climax with Eve and the accused in the interrogation room.
RANDOM IN DEATH is one of many books in a long series; however, each title stands alone with a satisfying conclusion. Having said that, I highly recommend the series be read in order of publication for the character introductions and development as main characters appear in each book in an ongoing story arc. Unique plotlines, taut pacing and strong characters are always evident in the In Death series books, and RANDOM IN DEATH is another prime example of excellence in the crime and police procedural genre. Highly recommended to fans of the series as well as fans of police procedurals. So many thanks to the amazing folks at St. Martins Press for an advanced readers copy of this title. It is scheduled for release on Jan. 23, 2024. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
THE HEIRESS is a deliciously wicked, bone chilling, highly addictive gothic suspense thriller masterfully crafted by author Rachel Hawkins. The story THE HEIRESS is a deliciously wicked, bone chilling, highly addictive gothic suspense thriller masterfully crafted by author Rachel Hawkins. The story is utterly captivating, meticulously plotted and nigh on impossible to put down. Clear your schedule for this one, and above all else, remember it's not over until it's over.
THE HEIRESS centers around the infamous McTavish family, a rich, prestigious, multi-generational family living in Ashby House high in the Blue Ridge Mountains reigning over the town of Tavistock, North Carolina. At the heart of the family is the now deceased, notorious Ruby McTavish, the larger-than-life matriarch who rules the estate and the town in life and death. Once suspected of having murdered four husbands, sharp witted, beautiful Ruby has been surrounded by dark secrets, gossip, and suspense her entire life, starting when she was kidnapped as a toddler from the forest surrounding Ashby House only to be discovered eight months later residing with a family in a nearby town and returned home. Over the years, Ruby ignored the rumors and innuendos that persisted, relishing in the fame, power and protection the family wealth afforded her. Having remained childless, she eventually adopted a son, Cam who was shocked and dismayed to learn he inherited everything including the ominous house and nine figure income upon her death. Turning his back on his inheritance and aunt and cousins who have a lifetime right to reside in the mansion, Cam escaped to Colorado choosing to spend the next ten years etching out a living teaching while truly happy with his wife Jude. It's only under extreme duress that he returns to Ashby House after his uncle's death to settle affairs of the house and family once and for all. While Jude is immediately smitten with the house and obvious wealth that is rightfully theirs, Cam struggles to hold it together as the dark secrets and skeletons he left behind when he fled the premises are waiting, and it's clear they aren't finished with him yet. The story that unfolds is insanely intense, mysterious, sinister and absolutely riveting.
THE HEIRESS is hands down one of the best domestic/gothic thrillers I've read in some time, skillfully intertwining two timelines together over generations to tell a story of greed, entitlement, power, love and hate. Alternating chapters and timelines are brought together with Ruby's letters affording readers access to the appalling true story of the life of the scandalous widow. The story is narrated from three points of view - that of Cam and Jude in the present and Ruby in the past via chilling, remorseless letters left behind telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the sordid truth. Her story is stupefying, heartbreaking and outrageous. Hawkins has an amazing gift for creating empathy for characters with questionable actions by allowing readers to get a peek at the motivations driving them. Be prepared to be shocked when character's scandalous actions and secrets surface clueing readers into their malevolent intent while setting a tone dripping with malice and bad vibes. Unfolding at a fast pace, the story is driven by the unsettling, highly atmospheric setting of a house with secrets and skeletons hidden within its claustrophobic walls, leading readers to wonder if anyone will survive.
Rachel Hawkins has penned what I believe to be her finest work yet in THE HEIRESS. Meticulously plotted with brilliant characterizations, this story never stops shocking readers even in the final pages when you think you've finally learned the whole ugly truth only to realize this author isn't quite finished astounding you yet. From the first page to the last, THE HEIRESS is a stunning, gripping tale of suspense that ranks among my favorite reads of 2023 thus far. Highly recommended to fans of domestic and/or gothic suspense thrillers. Do not miss this one! Many thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This book is scheduled for release Jan. 9, 2024. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
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