Cut & Run series by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux

I have been hearing wonderful things about this series for a few years now. And every time I read a review of a book in the series, I’m always intrigued. It’s been on my TBR list for a couple years now. I finally bit the bullet last week, and oh, how I’m glad I did. I was so pulled into this series that the second I finished one book, I immediately went and bought the next one. I read the entire series in 4 days. And now I’m thinking I might reread it. Now. Yes, it was that good. So good I can't even express it. But of course, I'll try.

Ty and Zane are FBI agents who are partnered up, albeit very unhappily. Ty looks unkempt, has a laissez-faire attitude, and talks back. Zane appears the complete opposite. He is buttoned up, he’s a “yes, sir” man, and hates everything Ty seems to stand for on sight.

I’m not really going to go into much of the cases they are assigned, except when it helps to show examples.

As buttoned up as Zane is, it’s all a front. He has gotten in trouble in the past, and is putting on a front to convince himself and the SAIC that he’s worthy of better assignments. Zane’s wife passed away while he was away on an assignment, and he’s been an alcoholic, drug-addicted mess ever since. There is just the right amount of focus on Zane’s addictions, his efforts to get and stay clean, and Ty’s efforts to support him without enabling.

Ty is a former Recon Marine, a POW, and an all-around smart-ass. But there’s oh-so much more going on under the surface. He's hiding a lot under that crazy exterior.

In the past, they each considered themselves bisexual, although Zane’s encounters were mostly of the alley outside a bar nature. However, the sparks between them are too much, and in one moment of heated anger, Ty lays a big ol hard kiss on Zane. Thus begins their journey together.

What I love so much about this series is that these guys act like men. Big, strong, dopey men. Just like any alpha in any romantic suspense book does. They are tough. They talk like men. They fight, verbally and physically, constantly. And their physical fights? Yeah. Brutal. Yet these guys can be tender, too. I loved it.

I’ve always hated gratuitous sex, and there is none in these books. None. Every single sex scene (and there are just the perfect amount) forwards their relationship. Usually in a huge meaningful way. Ty has always been a top, but with Zane, he discovers how amazing it feels to be a bottom. These guys trade off being top and bottom, and it’s always because of their particular situation at the time. Which I loved. Sometimes Ty needed to be held, and at others, Zane did. Other times their emotions running high, they had rough, brutal sex. But it always, always fit exactly the mood at the time.

I loved how protective they were of each other. Although they were terrified of being outed at the FBI (and as the relationship progresses, they note it’s not so much because of being gay, but because of the fraternization policy), they each stood up when the other was under duress and protected the other. Ahhh. Two seriously alpha males on the attack. *happy sigh*

There is a lot of humor in these books, both subtle and running jokes (usually at Ty’s expense). While all the books were just amazing, Armed & Dangerous (book 5) is where I noted how they had evolved to such tenderness between them. Yet, they move between tenderness and roughness effortlessly at the snap of a finger.

They both have family issues, and in book 6, they come out to their families. Well, they’re outed, first by Ty’s grandfather in a funny and touching scene. A great mix of humor and angst. And when they come out, Ty’s grandfather’s surprising response is this:

“Love isn’t a gentle thing. I’ve found it carries a club and a bullwhip and doesn’t care when or who it strikes.”

Zane’s father is just as accepting:

Ty isn’t just my partner at work. He’s my boyfriend. I love him.” “Oh.” Harrison sounded thoughtful. “Well, that explains it.” He went back to cutting the churro on Sadie’s plate, and Zane and Ty both stared at him, incredulous. “That’s it?” Ty blurted. Harrison shrugged and chewed a piece of the sweet bread Sadie had stuffed into his mouth. “Had a gay bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don’t cost me nothing.”

Lest you think that it’s all sunshine and rainbows, Zane’s mother is brutal in her disapproval, of the relationship, of Ty, and truly, of Zane as well.

Roux & Urban’s prose is perfect – it moves between slapstick, subtlety, angst, and humor without missing a beat. I absolutely love this passage from Stars & Stripes (book 6, written solo by Roux), where Ty discovers that Zane used to paint and is looking at one of his paintings:

He studied the painting again. Careful strokes, meticulous details that still somehow formed a sloppy likeness of the sun setting over the desert. There was calm beneath the vibrant surface, like Zane in reverse.

So perfect. And so true in its description of Zane.

And this – for some reason it spoke to me.

“I love you,” Ty said out of the blue, his voice almost sing-song. Zane laughed. “You’re drunk.” “I loved you before I was drunk.”

See? Subtle, humorous, but oh so deep. The books are full of this stuff.

Also wonderful is the supporting cast. Ty's family is wonderful, and in the last book, we meet Zane's as well. The interaction of their FBI team and their SAIC is superb as well. The give and take, the crazy talk, and the mundane paperwork that drives them all crazy. The books show not only the outlandish undercover assignments we’re all used to seeing in romantic suspense, but also the torturous hours of research, paperwork, and public relations that accompany an FBI assignment.

Where these books shine, though, is in any interaction between Zane & Ty. They talk. They avoid. They reveal. They fight. And reveal so much during lovemaking.

If there was one thing that I didn’t care for, it was in the last couple books, written alone by Abigail Roux, and it’s much more of an editing issue. I did notice that the series moved from Dreamspinner to Riptide, so obviously a different editor had at it. But all their kisses were either sloppy or messy in the last couple books. Enough so that I noticed and began to envision slobbery kisses, which? Ewwww.

That little niggle aside, these are amazing books. Isn’t it obvious how much I loved this series? All 6 books are a 5 out of 5 rating on Goodreads for me. Seriously. go buy it now.

I will say one last thing. They need to be read in order. And y’all KNOW I hardly ever care about reading in order. But this series demands it. The relationship progression is so perfect, that to skip a book might ruin it all. Think about Eve & Roarke in the first 5 books, and how their relationship progresses. Those needed to be read in order. The later books, not so much, but the early ones? Oh yes.

Here is the order:
Cut & Run
Sticks & Stones
Fish & Chips
Divide & Conquer
Armed & Dangerous (by Abigail Roux alone)
Stars & Stripes (by Abigail Roux alone)

Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann

Blurb via suzannebrockmann.com:
Dishonorably discharged, former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin is down to his last ten bucks when he finally finds work as a test subject at the Obermeyer Institute, a little-known and believed-to-be-fringe scientific research facility. When he enters the OI compound, he is plunged into a strange world where seemingly mild-mannered scientists--including women half his size--can kick his highly skilled ass.

Shane soon discovers that there are certain individuals who possess the unique ability to access untapped regions of the brain with extraordinary results-including telekinesis, super strength, and reversal of the aging process. Known as "Greater-Thans," this rare breed is recruited by OI, where they are rigorously trained using ancient techniques to cultivatetheir powers and wield them responsibly.

But in the depths of America's second Great Depression, where the divide between the haves and the have-nots has grown even wider, those who are rich--and reckless--enough have a quick, seductive alternative: Destiny, a highly addictive designer drug that that can make anyone a Greater-Than, with the power of eternal youth. The sinister cartel known as The Organization has begun mass-producing Destiny, and the demand is growing. But few realize the drug's true danger, and fewer still know the dirty secret of Destiny's crucial ingredient.

Michelle "Mac" Mackenzie knows the ugly truth. And as one of the Obermeyer Institute's crack team of operatives, she's determined to end the scourge of Destiny. But her kick-ass attitude gets knocked for a loop when she discovers one of the new test subjects is the same smoldering stranger who just rocked her world in a one-night stand. And although Shane quickly discovers he isn't a Greater-Than like Mac, as an ex-SEAL, he's got talents of his own. But Mac's got powerful reasons to keep her distance from Shane-and reasons to want him close. She's used to risking her life, but now she faces sacrificing her heart in the ultimate war on drugs.
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I didn't care for the prequel novella, Shane's Last Stand. I thought the worldbuilding was poor, and it was too short to accomplish anything that couldn't be done in a prologue, and so I resented paying the measley $0.99 for it. Given a full-length novel, Brockmann had a much greater canvas upon which to paint her story. I thought the world that she created here was well done given the greater page count. It is a bleak picture of an America where unemployment is high, poverty reigns, and society has been completely corporatized. The gap between rich and poor (or haves and have-nots, as Brockmann calls it) has gotten larger. I found it a very interesting contrast to the world that JD Robb creates in the In Death series. My thoughts on JD Robb's worldbuilding in Naked in Death is here and overall is here.

Brockmann's story takes place in the same time period as the In Death series. Yet Robb's mostly optimistic and progressive view of the future is vastly different than Brockmann's bleak world dominated by corporatized government, high unemployment, poverty, illegal birth control, lack of belief in science, big-brother surveillance, and more. Yes, both of their political views come through and while it's easy to infer that they have similar world views, their individual visions of the future as portrayed in their futuristic worlds are vastly different.

I found this contrast to be the most mesmerizing part of the book, because I could easily see either one becoming a reality, given how our country is becoming increasingly polarized.

What else can I comment on? Oh... the characters. Right. In true Brockmann form, there are several threads woven together, and each character plays a role in bringing the entire fabric together.


I'm not going to get too into the characters or even the plot, because what held me was the bleak view Brockmann gives of the future. And the sadness I felt that I could actually foresee a world where this could happen.


Anyway... just a little bit

I liked Shane. But have I ever not liked a Brockmann hero (Danny Gilman notwithstanding)? She writes awesome men. He's resourceful, alpha, and yet he completely believes in Mac. I also liked Mac, but their romance didn't grab and hold me. It's not that I didn't believe in it, but it just felt almost secondary to all the rest of the action.

I really liked the relationship between Joseph and Anna. I loved how Brockmann nursed them along, letting me believe in a future for them only to yank it out from under them. I'm very interested to see how that progresses. Of course, being Brockmann, she left an unresolved relationship here for a future book.

I also liked Stephen and Elliot's romance, though I thought it progressed very quickly from wishful thinking to I love you, to marriage proposal. I would have liked to have seen it be nurtured over the course of another book before it progressed that far. And I'm very interested to see how Nika grows and matures. I'm guessing that hers will be the final book, since she needs years to age.

Brockmann hooked me into this world enough that I will definitely be reading the next one, but it definitely wasn't as riveting as her early Team 16 books, which held me spellbound.

When She Wasn't Looking by HelenKay Dimon

No woman could deny the appeal of the sexy deputy sheriff Jonas Porter. But to Courtney Allen, Jonas has one major flaw—his badge. Years ago, Courtney's father was wrongfully convicted of a crime and she vowed to never trust a cop again. But when Jonas becomes the only man to believe in her father's innocence, Courtney begins seeing the brooding lawman in a whole new way.

Jonas knows in his gut that the real killer is still out there and determined to finish what he started long ago. To protect Courtney and bring the criminal to justice will require all the skills he can muster. And that means focusing on the job. Not the woman who makes him forget his troublesome past and arouses in him a passion that is anything but professional.
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Written in the truly engaging style that is HelenKay Dimon. I really like her romantic suspense books, all for Harlequin Intrigue.

When Jonas is sent to do a "wellness check" on a citizen, he knows immediately that something is wrong. Courtney is hiding something and despite his exhaustion, Jonas wants to know what it is. He gets more than he bargained for when Courtney takes off in an obviously well planned escape.

I did wonder why he threatened to take her in for questioning, when he came for a check and she said she was fine. Yes, he was suspicious, but is that legally enough to threaten someone to haul them in for questioning? Beats me. *shrugs*

As always, I like that Dimon's characters communicate - something so sorely missing from too many books. They talk to each other. Wow. Courtney trusts Jonas enough early on that she shares her heartbreaking backstory with him. And I liked that he believed her, but also that he wanted to check things out on his own as well.

Because this is an Intrigue, the action is nonstop. You barely have time to catch your breath before Jonas and Courtney are off and running. I liked Jonas' internal dialogue about how much he wanted Courtney. I also liked the way that he boosted her confidence when it was waning, telling her that he thought she was strong and smart and resourceful.

In many ways, this is Courtney's story, but it is Jonas' thoughts, actions, and POV that stuck with me the most. Like in her other Intrigues, Dimon leaves her hero exhausted and injured. I thought that he recovered more quickly in this one than in some of her other books, and he also had a bit of a hero complex (always wanting to protect Courtney), but overall, he was great. I also liked that he didn't wait til the very end of the book to continue to work through his own issues, and that he let Courtney in to help him with it.

Because it's an Intrigue, we never really know who the villain is, and there are lots of red herrings thrown in to make you wonder, including an FBI agent who is really an old foe and a family friend.

Total sidenote: I think Intrigue does themselves a disservice by using the "cast of characters" because it gives preconceived notions about the characters and 9 times out of 10 I can guess the villain just from the cast listing. I was right with my guess before even heading in to page 1 with this book, and that irritates me. Harlequin, you listening?  

Thankfully, that didn't deter my enjoyment of the book, and that is mostly thanks to DImon and her witty, engaging writing.

While there were a few "whyyyyy would you do that!" moments, for the most part, it's smart, fast paced, interesting, and exciting.

Anyway, I liked the smart characters, the romance was great if incredibly fast, and I adore Dimon's writing style, her voice, and the fact that her heroes come across as real. They are exhausted, they get hurt, and they manage to rely on their women, knowing that they are also super smart & capable.

This releases May 1, but it's already available for shipping and downloading on the Harlequin website. Which is how I got it because I'm impatient like that.

Romantic Suspense Authors/Readers - I need your help!

Hey all. I've hit a snag once again. My son's girlfriend is asking for more book recommendations. She loves the grisly and wants some romance in there as well. Is it any wonder I love this girl? She's perfect for me! ...errrrr...... him.

The problem is that I am not that comfortable recommending most of the awesomely amazing rom-susp books I read to her because of all the S.E.X. Somehow giving my son's 17 year old girlfriend a book full of explicit sex, including oral, and very open bedroom doors just seems wrong. So very wrong. And OMG, what if her mother found out that she got the books from me? Noooooo. And yes, I'm totally aware of how dorky I sound.

She's a voracious reader and would easily read a book or two a week (did I mention I love this girl?), so the few things I've come up with should hold her for a while, but I just know there's something perfect that has completely slipped my mind.

I've been wracking my brain, and I've come up with a few books/authors I'm fairly comfortable with recommending to her. Here's what I've got:

Mariah Stewart's FBI series (I've reviewed most of them here)
Lisa Jackson's rom-susp
Some Karen Rose (the stuff from the last few years, where she's gotten more thriller-y and less romance-y.)

And.... then I'm done. Everyone else I was thinking about has just a little more sex than I'm comfortable with, although I'm thinking Allison Brennan's books might likely work, since I lent her Mary Burton's Breathless and  Senseless and she loved them both. Some of the other Burtons had a little more sex than I was comfortable with sharing, though, so I stopped giving them to her.

Yes, I know I must sound silly, and in a few more years I won't care, but now? Does it sound really prudishly mommy of me to say I really don't want to give these kids any more ideas than they already have? I know that they're teenagers, getting ready to head off to college, they've been together for a year and a half, so they've likely done some of the things I'm trying to shield them from (nooooo!!!!!!!!!!), but I kind of feel like it's not really my job to be giving her books with very explicit sex in them.

And then I think back to reading books like Forever by Judy Blume. I read it in junior high, and though I would have to reread it to be sure (BTW, her books are all coming in e!!), but I recall that their first sex scene was fairly explicit, although not erotic by any stretch. Bear in mind, that's my 35 year old recollection, so I may be way off base.

So... can you all recommend any romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense and light on the open door sex?

Addicted to Love by CJ West

Via Goodreads.com: Wes Holiday sells his landscaping business and retreats to a quaint mountain town to heal after ending a ten year relationship with a woman he couldn't bring himself to marry. In three weeks he is so captivated by a hair stylist that he deprives himself of food and sleep to be near her. When the local sheriff is murdered, Wes is recruited to keep the peace in the town his parents built, but he knows nothing about law enforcement and he's struggling to understand how a woman he just met can dominate his every waking thought. Soon the idyllic town with a penchant for romance is rocked by a bizarre series of murders that defy explanation and it is up to Wes to stop a raging epidemic of violence.
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This was a freebie from Amazon. My first real dud of the year. I gave it a generous 1.5/5 stars on Goodreads, since I don't grade books here.

Spoilers abound.

The original premise intrigued me - a town full of Stepfordy-type couples, so in love that the flower shop and chocolate shop are inundated at 5 every night with all the men getting stuff to take home to their wives. If I hadn't been intrigued, my 1.5 stars would have been even less. While the premise had potential, the execution left something to be desired.

Wes is a summer visitor whose rich dad spent a ton in the town. When it seems he is the smartest one to take over for the murdered sheriff, he is puzzled (he just sold his landscaping company - not exactly the best qualifications for a sheriff). Especially when his best buddy works for the sheriff and is standing right next to him.

I got the creeps early on, and not the good kind, when Wes' girlfriend was irritated that he was solving a murder rather than boinking her. And that it was more important for him to schtup her nonstop than to get any rest when he was obviously exhausted.

It was quickly obvious that the town was being drugged. The book then became predictable, as a 'mad scientist' was trying out his evil-building drug at the same time as his love-building one. I was even more squicked out at the thought of all the old men drugging these young women to fall in love with them than I was at the thought that he deliberately turned the wives into murdering machines against their own husbands. At least that idea had a little promise.

The end is so awful. Once the murders are solved and the suspense resolved, Wes keeps a ton of the drug so that he can ensure his honey stays in love with him for evah. And she knows all about it. So the main couple doesn't have enough faith in their love to survive that they keep the drug and continue using it for their *cough* HEA.

I became confused often, as there was almost no transition between scenes in many places. The writing felt stilted to me, and the characters very one-dimensional.

So many bad messages in this book. The town council knew all about the scheme, and decided to play along because they all wanted to hang on to their young wives. And gee, since we can't be sure we'll stay in love, it's ok to take drugs to be able to boink like bunnies and stay in love. And gee, if you can't catch a lady the real way, why not just drug her so she'll do you over & over and act like you're a god? Perfectly acceptable, right?

Just. ick.

ARC: If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker

A SHADOW IN THE WINDOW

Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. Come hell or high water, she intends to find her cousin’s killer. She returns to Ash, Kentucky, for answers. What she doesn’t expect is to ache with desire every time she sees Law Reilly. If any man can help her escape the nightmares for a while, it’s him. But can she allow herself to take comfort in those strong arms when a murderer still roams free?

Unknown to Nia, as she quietly slips into Law Reilly’s home, is that she’s being watched—by someone who is waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Timing is everything, though he can’t wait forever. If she’s not frightened, she soon will be. Nia has made a vow to find her cousin’s killer. She should be careful what she wishes for.
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This is the third and final book in the Ash trilogy from Walker. The suspense arcs over the course of all three books. And hello! I guessed the killer correctly. It was just a feeling I got early on in the series, but I kept coming back to it. Hooray for me, LOL.

I do have to admit that I found the killer's unraveling even more interesting than the romance. For some reason, I didn't love this couple. I liked both Law and Nia, but didn't love them. And I totally wanted to love them the same way I loved the previous two couples. I think I just didn't feel the deep emotional response that I usually do when reading a Walker book. They were both likable, they were both strong. They did well together. I just wan't that invested in their HEA, unfortunately.

The suspense is where the book rocked for me. After two books of waiting, wondering, and freaking out, the town of Ash finally catches the killer. And all three couples play a big part in this. I liked the way that Walker never forgets that Lena's blindness needs special consideration whilwe they are in danger, but that she lets Lena's character be strong in her own right. I loved that Hope supported Remy, helping to show more of her evolution. And I liked the way that Law constantly had to talk Nia down, but that he did it with respect for her position and understanding of her needs.

The killer's identity has severe consequences for one of the citizens of Ash (well, ok, more than one), and it's great to watch the evolution of that character's journey as they discover the identity and go from denial to acceptance. I adored watching the killer become unglued and lose all sense of reality, really. Yeah, I'm freaky like that. The killer's journey in a RS is one of my favorite things to watch. It's why I love authors that show the killer's POV. I know some hate it but I adore it. In this series, we get a bit of the killer's perspective, but not too much.

Anyway, this was a good ending to the series. It wrapped up the suspense and all the romances, and really made you root for continued HEAs for all three couples. If you haven't read the series, I recommend you do so. It's got the emotional depth all Walker's books carry, and a terrific suspense plot to boot.

The first two, If You Hear Her and If You See Her are available now. If You Know Her is available on Tuesday 28 February.

A few quickies... and who doesn't love a quickie?

Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard

Special operative Joe Green has gone vigilante. His mission: avenge his Black Ops, Inc., brother’s death during a bloody ambush years ago in Sierra Leone. He refuses to drag the BOI team or his lover, Stephanie Tompkins, into the hunt for the man responsible, so when he finds himself beaten, starving, and alone after being falsely imprisoned for the murder of a Freetown priest, he knows he’s as good as dead. Joe meant to protect Stephanie when he walked out on their relationship, but he can’t stop her now from executing his escape. Breaking him out of prison is the easy part. After Joe’s explosive theory pans out and his cunning enemy emerges as the front runner for a high-level presidential appointment, he and Stephanie must race to derail the traitor’s conspiracy if they are to save their loved ones, the nation, and each other.

I really liked the last installment of the BOIs. I'm so sad to see it end. Joe and Stephanie have quietly been establishing themselves as a couple over the series. So subtly that you could miss it if you blink. What kept this from being a 5-star read was that even though reference was made to Joe being exhausted, he still seemed to recover if not all his strength & stamina, certainly far more than I found believable so quickly. Within a week of being rescued he was running around in the snow. It just seemed too quick for me.

Having said that, I absolutely loved his vulnerability. And thought Stephanie was a great heroine.

Gerard is an auto-buy for me, and this book is the perfect reason why. Strong, believable characters, fast-paced action, great camaraderie, and a hot romance to boot? Count me in. A lovely end to the series.

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Guardian Agent by Dana Marton
When Gabe Cannon's commando team is tasked with bringing down a rogue solider, he doesn't expect to come face-to-face with the target's sister at the showdown instead of the man himself.

Jasmine is trying to lead the team away from her injured brother. Recognizing one of the hunters as her teenage crush is definitely a shock to her system. To save her family, she must convince Gabe that her brother was framed. But can she stop from falling in love with him all over again?

A decent story, and the suspense plot intrigued me. But it was so short that the romance (over a few hours) was not believable. Sure, Jasmine had loved Gabe when she was a teenager, but there was no basis for an adult love there. Especially on Gabe's part, since he hadn't had any romantic feelings for his friend Jake's sister back in the day. If the next book (Jake's) is a full-length, I would be willing to read it. I'd like to see if Marton can deliver a good romance with a higher page count. And I'm interested in how the suspense arc plays out.

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Edge of Midnight by Leslie Tentler
The writer becomes the story when crime reporter Mia Hale is discovered on a Jacksonville beach—bloodied and disoriented, but alive. She remembers nothing, but her wounds bear the signature of a sadistic serial killer. After years lying dormant, The Collector has resumed his grim hobby: abducting women and taking gruesome souvenirs before dumping their bodies. But none of his victims has ever escaped—and he wants Mia back, more than he ever wanted any of the others.

FBI agent Eric MacFarlane has pursued The Collector for a long time. The case runs deep in his veins, bordering on obsession…and Mia holds the key. She'll risk everything to recover her memory and bring the madman to justice, and Eric swears to protect this fierce, fragile survivor. But The Collector will not be denied. In his mind, he knows just how their story ends.

4.5/5 stars. Each book gets better than the one before it. Eric is an FBI agent investigating a serial killer, and Mia is a reporter investigating the same set of crimes when she becomes a victim. The suspense was tight, the backstory was great, and the romance that was as believable as it was inappropriate. A terrificly evil villain. Vicious murders. Cops & FBI that actually work, and work long hours (this is a pet peeve of mine when it doesn't happen). Well done. I'll definitely be on the lookout for another release from Tentler.

If You See Her by Shiloh Walker

A FACE IN THE MIRROR
Hope Carson may not look like a survivor, but she has escaped an abusive ex-husband and recovered from a vicious assault. Now she endures the painful memories and suspicious rumors surrounding her involvement in the attack. Her ex is a cop, so the last people she trusts are law enforcement officials—and she certainly doesn’t trust how the local DA makes her feel inside.

Remy Jennings should know better. He has no business falling for a woman who he suspects may have a deeply troubled mind. And even if he did make a move, she’d bolt like a frightened rabbit. But how can he deny a burning desire that threatens to consume him? As Hope’s past catches up with her in the worst way, Remy is determined to break through her defenses, earn her trust, and keep her safe in his arms—before it’s too late.

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Thank you to Shiloh Walker for sending me an advance copy of this book. At the end of If You Hear Her, Hope and Law had been attacked and Hope was thought to have done it as an attempted murder-suicide. Remy feels terrible pursuing this, but as the DA, he has to. Once Hope is exonerated, the action truly begins.

I liked Hope and Remy. They were both put in untenable situations. I really wanted to hate Remy at first for simply believing Hope's ex-husband without any corroboration, but he redeemed himself when as soon as evidence appears to clear Hope, he immediately accepts it, clears her, and moves on. He defended her as well, against the townsfolk who wouldn't/couldn't accept her innocence. I liked Remy's protective streak, and that he kept it in check as much as he possibly could, knowing that Hope had to move forward and do some things on her own. Even though it about killed him, LOL.

I liked that while Hope was a battered woman, over the curse of the past two books she learned how to be independent and make decisions that were good for her. The haircut scene was particularly well done. I liked that she pushed herself to stand up for herself, and to try new things on her own. She had an inner strength that she needed to discover for herself, and did.

The suspense. Very well done, as in the previous book. Tight. And I still haven't figured it out, although I have my suspicions.

The emotions. One place where Walker excels, no matter what genre she's writing, is conveying the emotions f her characters. A Walker book is always highly emotional. Though this one did veer toward angsty, I didn't feel that it was overdone. Just strong, heartfelt emotion.

I like that we get to see the previous couple, and that they in no way overshadow the main romance, but are still integral to the story. This is a tight-knit group of friends living in a small town – it stands to reason they would be featured.

And Law. Hmmm… I really can't wait for his story. Watching him try to rationalize to Hope his reaction to Nia, when it simply couldn't be done, was rather amusing. Except when he put Nia above Hope, his best friend. And then I wanted to kick his ass. The next book is his story, and I know he'll get a good come-uppance. The redeeming piece of this was that he was destroyed over hurting his best friend, and the idea that they may not get back to where they were was killing him.

One other note, and that is that Walker conveyed the Kentucky accent of the characters without stereotyping it or making it irritating. She nailed it. As she lives in Kentucky, I would have expected her to, and was gratified to be able to feel the local flavor and not have it detract from the story at all as ocerdone. Accents are my pet peeve, and Walker very subtly lets the dialect come through without hitting the reader over the head with accents.

The one thing I didn't care for, really, was that Hope's ex-husband seemed to be a bit overblown. Although as an abuser, the things he did to Hope seemed in line, and scary to boot, but as he went on, he seemed to get over the top. Perhaps it was because he simply knew there was nothing left to lose, but I was definitely waiting for his character to lose face time. That's for sure.

Anyway, to sum it up, this 2nd in the Ash trilogy was a wonderfully written, tightly drawn suspense thriller. The romance balances out the suspense beautifully, and vice-versa. I really do adore Walker's suspense. Can't wait to read #3, If You Know Her.

If You Hear Her by Shiloh Walker

A CRY IN THE WOODS
The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration.

Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close?

When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.


It's no secret that I think Shiloh Walker writes some of the very best emotionally heartrending suspense and contemporaries out there. If You Hear Her is no different. Lena is blind, but it only means she cannot see visually. She leads a full, rich life among friends and her job as a chef. She's a smart, sassy, woman and takes no guff from anyone. When she hears a woman scream in the woods outside her house, she immediately goes to the police, only to be pooh-poohed. This kicks off a series of murders and events in the town of Ash that change everyone's lives forever.

What I liked:
Seriously. Lena is a fantastic heroine. And if you know me, that's saying something. She's kind, smart, self-sufficient, sassy, has a great group of friends, and like so many blind people, can see deep into those she cares about, especially Ezra.

Ezra. He's been hurt, both physically and emotionally. Betrayed in the worst way by his lover and partner. He carries that around like a blanket wrapped around him. I love that he never treats Lena as less than she is, and how he commits himself to being her friend and her protector without smothering her.

The suspense. Fantastic. Gripping. And it plays a huge part in the lives of the entire town, but especially the main characters and the secondary characters. It takes on a character of its own.

The villain. We get his POV. I love it when this happens in suspense books. It makes the character that much more real.

The secondary characters. Hope, Remy, Law especially. I'm dying to find out how things play out for these people. Thankfully, the next two books will give me their stories.

Gripping suspense, yet with the complete emotional throwdown you expect from Shiloh Walker. Don't miss it.

If You Hear Her was released on Tuesday, so it's available everywhere.

Seriously, I know I'm not doing this justice, but hey – it's been about 6 months since I wrote a review, FCOL. Cut me some slack.

Edge of Night by Jill Sorenson: A drive-by

To support her small daughter, April Ortiz does what she has to do—which means waiting tables in a skimpy outfit at a popular nightclub in the gang-infested area of Chula Vista. When one of her co-workers is found raped and murdered, April does what she knows she shouldn’t—she defies the neighborhood code by giving the police a hardcore gang member’s name.

Clean-cut cop Noah Young wants a shot at breaking this case more than anything in the world—that is, until he meets the unforgettable April Ortiz. When April gives Noah the tip, a spark ignites. As the fire between them threatens to blaze out of control, the two are dragged down further into the dark mysteries of the graffiti-lined streets, taunted by a crazed killer who could strike again at any time. 
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As always, a fulfilling story, though I really wanted a happy ending for Eric. Sorenson writes a love story set against the forbidden topic of gangs, and manages to make it riveting and wonderful.

I loved that Noah wasn't perfect - he tried to do his best, and that's all we can ask of him. I liked that he respected April for trying to do her best, too. And that he reacted just like a big brother, but was willing to try to give Eric some leeway.

As in past books, her secondary story revolves around teenage love, only how on earth do you make a gangbanger be a sympathetic love interest? And she does. 

I only wish I had some mojo because this book deserves a well thought out and articulate review (I gave it 5 stars on GR), but I just don't have it in me right now.

Bottom line: get it, read it, love it.

Guns and the Girl Next Door by HelenKay Dimon

Agent Holden Price didn't have to go far to find his next case—it crashed right into his living room! Not only had the beautiful blonde lost control of her car, but if she was telling the truth, someone was also trying to kill her. As a recovery agent, he had an obligation to investigate. And he couldn't deny that Mia Landers interested him more than she should.

Nothing made sense to Mia—especially not the attempt on her life. All she could do was trust Holden, the tall, dark and devastating agent who discovered that he and Mia had a common enemy…and a fierce attraction. But in order to act on it, they'd first have to come face-to-face with their darkest fears and a deadly revelation that might put their newfound love on the line.
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Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this book (although I admit that it didn't convert well at all, so I went ahead and bought a copy). Guns and the Girl Next Door is related to her earlier Intrigue, Under the Gun.

In general, Intrigues aren't my favorite.It's too hard to get a believable romance into such a short page count when there is, at the heart of the book, a fast-moving suspense. But I like the way that Dimon writes them. Her Intrigue heroes are always flawed, and always learn to rely on the strength of their heroines. This book was as much about a team working together and dealing with strengths and weaknesses of their own and each other, as it was about the romance.

Having said that, both Holden and Mia come to rely on each other and it grows slowly from a sexual to a very intimate thing. Although Mia began the sexual relationship with the emotional need to feel clean, they were both surprised with the intensity of feeling that struck. They were torn between embracing it and fighting it, since it brought out both their vulnerabilities.

Their HEA was an assured thing - after all this is a Harlequin, but I liked that Dimon went out of her way to show how safe and good Mia made Holden feel as well as the other way around. It built more believability into their quick fall into love.

I found it hard to believe that there would be no fallout from the death at the end, and so assume that Trevor will make an appearance in the next book as the team continues their hunt for their boss. This is a series, and has an overarcing plotline. We saw the couple from Under the Gun making a big appearance in this one, and it helps to seal their HEA, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of Holden and Mia in the next one, Gunning for Trouble, in Feb.

Another strong book from Dimon, with a messy hero and the heroine he relies on for so much.

Don't Cry by Beverly Barton

Nowhere To Run
The crime scenes are horrifying: the victims arranged with deliberate care, posed to appear alive despite their agonized last moments and the shocking nature of their deaths.

No Place To Hide
Chattanooga grief counselor Audrey Sherrod moonlights for the local police. It-s clear to her, and to Special Agent J.D. Cass, that the murders are the work of a deranged serial killer. At first, the only link is the victims- similar physical appearance. But then another connection emerges, tying them to a long-ago series of horrifying crimes Audrey hoped would never resurface - crimes that hit all too close to home.

No Time To Cry
Each grisly new discovery proves the past has not been forgotten, and the worst is yet to come. Audrey went looking for the truth and she's about to find it-and it will be more twisted and more terrifying than she ever imagined.
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I really liked this one. I thought the relationship between JD and his daughter was realistic and great. I liked that Audrey wasn't perfect - she judged JD and found him wanting, but I could see that it was a defense mechanism against her attraction. Even though it did come off as a bit judgmental. The relationships between Audrey and the men in her family was riveting to me. I thought Barton did a great job of showing how tragedy has long-term effects on a family.

The mystery was creepy enough to hold my interest. And although I guessed the whodunnit fairly early, it still worked for me.

Just a couple quibbles. I wasn't happy with the outcome for Audrey's brother. Although I understood why she wrote it the way she did, I didn't like the way it played out. And am I the only person who thinks that Barton is a closet Wayne's World fan? The two cop brothers-in-law, Wayne and Garth? I kept hearing "party on" in my head the whole time, LOL.

Anyway, a very solid entry from Barton. And I read she's writing another story for Audrey and JD. Hmmmm. Will be on the lookout for that one.

Fair Game by Josh Lanyon

A crippling knee injury forced Elliot Mills to trade in his FBI badge for dusty chalkboards and bored college students. Now a history professor at Puget Sound university, the former agent has put his old life behind him-but it seems his old life isn't finished with him.

A young man has gone missing from campus-and as a favor to a family friend, Elliot agrees to do a little sniffing around. His investigations bring him face-to-face with his former lover, Tucker Lance, the special agent handling the case.

Things ended badly with Tucker, and neither man is ready to back down on the fight that drove them apart. But they have to figure out a way to move beyond their past and work together as more men go missing and Elliot becomes the target in a killer's obsessive game...
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When Elliot's father asks him to look into the disappearance of a friend's son at the university where Elliot is a professor of history, Elliot finds himself back in the investigations game. Doing so puts him right in the path of his former lover, Tucker. These guys have history, and it's mostly related to Elliot's inability to come to terms with his career-ending injury and feelings of inadequacy as it related to that.

I found this to be quite a compelling read, but at first it felt like Tucker did a less than stellar job of investigating the case out of residual anger at Elliot. Also, I would have liked to have seen more from Tucker's POV, but it did fit in with Lanyon's usual style, so I knew I'd get something from Tucker eventually, and I did.

I liked the way Lanyon grew their relationship, even through the phone calls, where a lot got said by staying unsaid. They communicated like men. By which, I mean that there wasn't a whole lot of communicating going on, especially on issues of import. Just lots of in-your-face one-upsmanship based on emotional response and anger and uncomfortable silences rather than actual productive conversation. (no offense to any guys out there, but, c'mon!) But I also liked that Elliot recognized that Tucker made the first move to open himself up more often than not and so he also made the attempt, even though it went against his instincts and nature. There was excellent chemistry between them. I also liked that they were two strong men, but that they weren't afraid to show their vulnerabilities in bed.

And that's one thing I really like about Lanyon's books. His love scenes are very, very intimate, but not necessarily explicit. Yes, sometimes, they get harshly explicit (he shoved tab A into hole B - hello, Jake?). But in general, he creates his love scenes through the emotions elicited from his characters, through the connections developed, and though good old fashioned "leaving it up to the imagination". I think many m/f authors could learn how to convey intimacy from reading his love scenes. There are never any gratuitous love scenes in a Lanyon book. Those that are there, need to be there. And I love that.

I also really liked the dynamic between Elliot and his dad. Respectful and loving despite their obvious philosophical differences. And his dad just cracked me up. He's a throwback to the 60s radicals, calling everyone "cat" (as in, "he's a cool cat", LOL), anything that relates to the establishment is bad, etc. But he respects and loves his son even though he doesn't respect or love his son's former job.

As far as the mystery, it was well done. I had hoped for some additional evidence gathering and to see that, but that's the thriller lover in me. It wasn't lacking, although I'd have liked some further explanation on the resolution of the Baker murder.

I liked that Elliot came to terms with his change in career by the end and came to realize that he actually liked teaching. It was a very satisfying resolution. Although I get the feeling that he'll still find himself embroiled in Tucker's cases going forward.

Another stellar book from Lanyon. And he's a great author to try if you want to dip your toes into m/m and also enjoy romantic suspense/mystery.

Damaged by Pamela Callow

How far are you willing to go to forget your past?

Haunted by the death of her sister, and wounded by her ex-fiance's accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.

When the grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it's just another custody case. Until the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn't only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl's death.

How far are you willing to go to redeem yourself?

Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm's charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career, for her reputation -- and for redemption.

Unwilling to live with the damage she has caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.

Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy. Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically-skilled hands of the Body Butcher.

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Please note that this review contains some spoilers.

I received this book for review. I’m a big fan of the thriller, and especially the medical thrillers. I do believe I’ve read every Robin Cook and Michael Palmer book out there. So when I went onto Callow’s website to look for information, and she was compared to Robin Cook? I was all about it.

This is a debut novel, and it reads as such. There are a lot of really good things about it, and a lot of things that need improvement. Ethan (a police detective) and Kate (an attorney) were engaged to be married, when a coworker of Ethan’s told a very private "secret" of Kate’s in a very public forum. A coworker that Ethan had an affair with and dumped for Kate. Did Ethan stand up for Kate and get mad at the coworker? Hell no. He got pissed off at Kate and treated her like crap. Until she gave back his ring. Now they find themselves thrown together 6 months later, pulled in by a case which involves them both.

Here’s where Callow made a grave error. Throughout the book, the reader has the impression that Ethan is the hero of the book, and that he and Kate will get back together. Not a problem, except that Ethan treats Kate like shit throughout the whole book. It’s the old, “You’re such a lowlife”, “I want to get back together with you” dilemma. I would have been fine with it if I’d known that Kate and Ethan would not end up together. But I didn’t understand that, and so was ticked off at Ethan for his treatment of Kate, and was ticked off at the author for making such an asshole be Kate’s true love. This lasted until almost the last chapter.

Also appearing is Kate’s boss, Randall. They give each other the looks and it’s obvious that Randall wants her, but although she gets little tingles all over, she resists. Making me think that since Kate was supposed to end up with Ethan, she was also slutty.

For her part, Kate was about as wishy-washy as could be. She felt strongly in her convictions, but the second that anyone suggested alternate outcomes to her on her case, she bought into them. She questioned all her assumptions about each person she encountered if anyone made an opposing remark. I have no problem with people looking deep and changing their core assumptions, but it wasn’t presented that way. Not only was she wishy-washy in her professional life, but she came across as wishy-washy in her personal life as well; unable to choose between Ethan and Randall.

Now, on to the actual story. When a grandmother comes to her seeking custody of her granddaughter, Kate brushes her off thinking that she has no grounds. Then the granddaughter is murdered. Turns out that she was the daughter of a prominent judge. So Kate starts digging. The lead detective? Yup. Ethan. Along the way, they lead 2 completely parallel investigations, very rarely intersecting unless Ethan wants something from Kate. At which point, he insults her and then asks her to break attorney-client privilege, or unethically slip him notes from her case files. And she’s willing to do it! Kate's investigation into the death of this young girl coincides with a case that she is co-defending for her firm involving a tissue bank.

OK. I’ve said there were things I did like, and let me spell those out. First, the setting. It’s set in Halifax – an interesting place, and an unusual one for a book. Callow brings aspects of the city into the book and it definitely worked for me. Also, the legal investigation (as opposed to the police one) was done well, I thought. Kate seemed to be doing the right things (until she went off on her own in a dangerous situation: TSTL Alert!). She did manage to avoid the TSTL, but just barely. Several times she should have contacted Ethan, but because he’d just treated her like crap, she decided against it. I can understand and appreciate that. So why didn’t she contact a member of his investigative team?

The police procedural is not as well done as I would have liked. I never truly got a sense of a team working on serial murders. The police procedural came across as very superficial to me. I couldn’t see how they came to some of the conclusions that they did. It felt like, “Hey that dude is a blonde and we’re looking for a blonde! Must be him!” They jumped to conclusions about everyone they investigated. I could feel Callow trying so hard to bring this team to life for me, but it lost something in the translation.

As for the actual whodunit and why? That was the medical thriller part, and it was a sound premise. As a former medical professional, I liked how she incorporated an actual disease into the story, and actual medical research rather than completely far-fetched ideas. I thought that was the best part of the book. Unfortunately, the threads of all the stories ran parallel without intersecting for too long, so I didn’t really care how they meshed by the time they did. I’m hopeful that since this is a debut novel, Callow can fix some of these plot twists and mesh her storylines a little more intricately in her subsequent books.

Anyway, by the end of the book, when Ethan declares his love for Kate and she turns him down, I was annoyed that I’d been led on for the whole book. Even though I didn’t care for Ethan, I’d been waiting for him to redeem himself, but he just came off as a somewhat ineffective cop who was a major asshole.

Kate is the lead in what is to be a series of books, and her boss Randall seems to be the next choice for hero material. Even though there were a number of holes in this book, I think there is enough good stuff here and enough room for growth that I’ll be willing to give her one more try.

Night Moves by HelenKay Dimon - quickie

Noticing suspicious activity at her lab, Maura Lindsey used her smarts to dig into the actions of her boss. But when an explosion rocked their offices, the brainy beauty realized she was in over her head. Luckily, she knew just the man—a handsome, tough and extremely qualified man—who could help. All she had to do was convince him to take the case.

Former undercover police officer Liam Anderson never had much time for his best friend's baby sister, but when Maura showed up at his door claiming to be in trouble, he couldn't just turn her away. And he couldn't ignore the intriguing woman she had become. Liam intended to make sure that she stayed out of the line of fire…and stayed safe in his bed.

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I think I liked this even more than Dimon's first Intrigue, Under the Gun. Liam and Maura were equals, with different but complimentary strengths. One thing that strikes me about both Dimon's Intrigues is that both heroes come across as human, rather than superhuman. They feel beat up, tired, achy, and not just on the last page. But they summon up the strength to keep going, because to do otherwise would mean sure death for their women (ok, and themselves). They make mistakes, too. But always manage to squeak it out, with help from their heroines.

One scene made me laugh but also struck me as so sweet. Here's a part of it: "She probably thought her running commentary on ther location was helpful. It was driving him nuts." (and it goes on to mention how it's giving him a headache, etc). Yet he doesn't tell her to be quiet because he knows she's been through a lot and he is so grateful that she's ok. So he lets her ramble on, knowing she needs something to do. It reminded me a little of how my husband will let me ramble on about something that I know I've mentioned before, simply because it amuses him and he likes to humor me. While Liam definitely wasn't amused, he tolerates what other heroes wouldn't, just because his woman wants/needs/gets something from it.

For her part, Maura isn't afflicted with TSTL. She asks for help and isn't afraid to let Liam protect her when she thought she needed it. Yet, she was firm about how to proceed when she was sure of herself. She's a smart woman, who never really saw herself as valuable in her own right. She wanted to be just like her boss. She didn't date much. She had no life other than validating someone else's worth. She grew during the book; learned to value her worth and to feel like a strong person.

I also liked that Spanner wasn't typed. I thought he might have been going down that path near the beginning, but Dimon clearly gives him a brain, too. And lets him use it.

I can't imagine how hard it is to write nonstop action (check +), keep a decent plot going (check +), and build a romance at the same time (check), all in a very short page count. Dimon does a good job of it. While the romance is always the hardest part for me to buy in an Intrigue, I definitely felt here that Maura and Liam were headed down the road to HEA. They understood each other and accepted each other's quirks. Maura helps Liam to see that the incident in his past wasn't his fault and that he is extremely worthy, and he helps her to see that there ismore to life than science - she's a beautiful, vibrant, smart woman. I emphasize smart, because although she frequently confuses him, he loves that she is smart.

Another pitfall that Dimon avoids like the plague (and did in her last Intrigue as well) is sex on the run, which while some agree it's fast, furtive, and hot, is simply implausible in most instances. Dimon deftly handles these feelings here on both sides with a gentle hand to the face, a brush of the lips, tender glances.

If there is one thing I would change, it was that Liam proposed and Maura accepted in such a short span. I have no issue with the I love yous, but a proposal seemed rash, given the short time frame of the book.

Looking forward to more.

Silent Scream by Karen Rose

He knows your secrets.

When a teenage girl dies in a suspicious fire, Detective Olivia Sutherland is assigned to track down the arsonist. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation. Making her work even harder is sexy firefighter David Hunter. He's not only sharing the case, but sparking memories of their long-ago night of passion, when feelings were left unsaid and hearts were broken.

He hears your pain.

David has his own ghosts, and a million regrets. But while he and Olivia try to face the wall of pain between them, a diabolical puppet master is pulling strings to make a group of twentysomethings do his bidding. Soon Olivia and David are scouring the city for a calculating criminal who seems tantalizingly close--and is moving in for the kill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like so many others, I couldn't wait to read David Hunter's story. It was beautifully done. I loved how honest David was, and how he and Olivia fought for their relationship. Suspense aside, the rest of the story was a beautiful romance and also a great friend story. Rose excels at that, in the midst of spine-tingling suspense.

David and Olivia spent a night together back in Chicago 2 years ago. Unknowingly, David called out someone else's name (the heroine from Nothing To Fear, with whom he fancied himself in love at the time). Understandably upset, Olivia left without a word while David was sleeping it off. The experience had a huge impact on them both.

I liked that once Olivia told him what he'd done, he owned up to it and apologized and worked his butt off to make her see how much she meant to him. And that Olivia, after some time and space, was willing to let him back in.

I liked that Olivia and David had friends, and they were woven into the story seamlessly; not to highlight anything in particular in the story or to forward any plotline, but just as one would expect: these two characters have a life. Have friends. And yes, given that they work in similar careers, and come from families that have close ties, they know some of the same people.

As for the suspense: Rose uses certainly one of my biggest fears in order to propel her villain. While, as she frequently does, the villain is revealed to us somewhat early on (maybe halfway through?), his motives certainly are not. You come to care about most of the teenagers in this story, and what happens to them is shocking as they become unwitting villains enmeshed in something far bigger than themselves. Definitely another winner from Rose.

If I had one niggle, it was with something that I doubt anyone else would catch unless they are Jewish. One of the characters is an Orthodox Jew, and when he dies, his family speaks about how he was a good boy, he worked for charities, and he went to Temple. I've never heard an Orthodox Jew refer to Temple as 'Temple'. It's either 'going to synagogue' or 'going to shul'. The reference was made only twice, but the first time, it really knocked me back. Also, a bit of space in that chapter was dedicated to Olivia telling the family that Joel would want to do teshuvah; which is a word that essentially means repentence. Which isn't quite the way I'd say it anyway, and it's a term I've really only used in association with the High Holy Days and Yom Kippur. I could be wrong, but while sitting shiva may be an experience a homicide detective may be familiar with (dealing with the aftermath of a death), I had a hard time believing that a police officer in Minneapolis would be familiar with teshuvah. New York City, maybe, but certainly not Minnesota. However, it wasn't a huge part of the book, and likely nobody else would catch that. Otherwise, I thought Rose handled the religious aspects of the character very well, and those little bits didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.

ETA: OK, I stand corrected. Apparently there is a large Orthodox community in Minnesota. Hubby's co-worker mentioned that he's from Minnesota, and he happens to be an Orthodox Jew. He noted there was a really large community there. So my apologies to Ms. Rose. But really, Minnesota? Who'da thunk it?!

So now, I wait for Tom to finish growing up. Because his story? Bound to be freaking fantastic!

Seduction and Reunion in Death

Seduction In Death (#13)

Not a whole lot to say about this one, other than some random thoughts…

This one is very case-focused, but no less engrossing. The thing that struck me in Seduction in Death was how incredibly supportive of Eve that Roarke is. He’s enjoying himself as a 'temporary consultant, civilian'. And a bit appalled that he is working so closely with the police. Where in Betrayal, Eve supported Roarke, in Seduction, although still shaky from Mick’s death, Roarke takes on the caretaker role. I love watching the two of them support and care for one another. Their relationship has really grown over the course of the series; matured into a true marriage – one of compromise (in two people who don’t care to compromise), affection (that’s becoming a much more easy and loving affection than an all-out lusting love), support and humor.

Reunion in Death (#14)

Somehow, this one didn't grab me as much as the others have. However, the interactions are so good, as always, and the secondary characters interesting. I'm having a tough time seeing how Louise doesn't mind Charles having sex w/other women ("it's just his job"). I wasn't sure why Peabody's parents seemed to have so much more interaction with Eve and Roarke than with Peabody, except to offer insight into their pasts.

However, this book was a real step forward in Eve coming to terms with her past. She finally revisits Dallas, and remembers some more of what happened to her, but is still left shaken and confused. And Roarke is so supportive, while inside his heart is absolutely breaking for her. As Eve recounts and remembers what her father had done to her, Roarke has the following reaction:

“Good Christ.” He barely breathed the oath, had to jam his fists into his pockets for there was nothing and no one to fight, to punish for terrorizing the child that was now his wife.

And later…

He left her alone as much for himself as for her. The rage he’d managed to clamp down was threatening to snap free. He wanted to use his fists on something. Pound them until his arms screamed for rest.

She’d shower, he thought, with water that was brutally hot, because she’d once been forced to wash in cold. He never wanted her to be cold again, to shiver as she had shivered in that room where the ghosts, the viciousness of them, had been so tangible he’d seen them himself.

Watching her relive that night, as she too often did in dreams, had ripped him in two. It had left him helpless, useless, and with a violence borne of the fury he had nowhere to vent.

To have birthed and bred her, beaten and raped her all for selling her to other scum. What god had made such creatures as that and set them to prey on innocents?

Riding on rage, he stripped off his shirt as he strode into the small workout area. He yanked the speed bag into place. And attacked it, bare-fisted.

With each punch his anger grew, spreading through him like a cancer. The bag was a face he didn’t know. Her father’s. Then his own father’s. He battered at it with a concentrated rage that bloomed into hate. Pounded, pounded, as the black haze of that hate narrowed his vision. Pounded, pounded, as his knuckles wen raw and bloomed with blood.

And still he couldn’t kill it.

Wow. Robb’s portrayal of Roarke’s impotence in the face of Eve’s recollection is remarkable. And the rest of the scene is equally as powerful.It's just too long to quote here, but I so wanted to!

The juxtaposition of Eve’s growing relationships and expanding personal life against the revelations of her past are interesting to note, and make perfect sense. As her personal life becomes more rich and fulfilling, she has the support system in place to begin to loosen her block on the past.

On a lighter note, I loved how, when in Texas, she can’t fathom the open space and the lack of people, traffic, and noise. She proclaims herself a city girl, and just can’t see the appeal of living anywhere there is open space. It was pretty amusing, actually.

I noted almost directly after I finished this one that I hadn’t enjoyed it as much as the others. I’m not quite sure why now, as I go back to find bits and pieces to share. There is plenty here to really love, and looking back, I think I did enjoy it.

Oh, if only I could appreciate Nora Roberts in the same way that I do JD Robb.

Betrayal In Death (#13) by JD Robb

Note that this review does contain spoilers, but nothing that I think would ruin the book altogether for you.

In this one, Eve has to track down a hitman. Different because we know from the start who the villain is, the reader follows Eve as she figures out the “why” and who hired him. I was immediately suspicious as soon as Roarke’s old friend Mick appears. I just knew he was tied into the mystery somehow.

I love this one so much because it's so rare that we see Roarke as vulnerable as he was and Eve so forthcoming with her affections... her love. She initiates the "I love yous" several times not only with Roarke, but with Mavis, too. She listened and offered advice to Peabody. She takes great strides in her relationships.

Someone is killing Roarke’s employees, and he takes it personally. They have to figure out why, but in the meantime, he is devastated, angry, and hurt. Eve has to initiate the caretaking for once, and she is uncharacteristically liberal with her affection.

“I can take care of myself.”

She expected to feel anger, resentment, or at the least, impatience. Instead, there was only concern. He, a man who rarely lost control, was on the edge of rage. And mired in grief.

She did something she had never done in public, never done while on the job with other cops looking on. She put her arms around him, drew him close, and held him with her cheek pressed gently to his.

“I’m sorry.” She murmured it, wishing she knew more of the art of comforting. “I’m so damn sorry.”

The rage that had been spitting into his throat, the burn scorching the rim of his heart eased. He closed his eyes and let himself lean.

Through all the miseries in his life, there’d been no one to offer him the simple soothing of understanding. It swamped him, washed away the worst edge of grief, and left him steadier for it.

Later, when Roarke lets Mick go, he reveals the following, and we see a bit of how Roarke sees himself, as he shares more of his past:

He wasn’t sure he himself knew or understood the all. But he could give her another part of it. “Your past comes to you in nightmares that try to eat you up from the inside. Mine, it lives in me. In corners of me. Do you know how many years it was before I ever went back to Ireland after I left? I don’t. And it was sometime after that before I ever stepped on a Dublin street. It wasn’t until you went back with me to bury my friend that I went again to that part of Dublin that birthed me.”

He looked down at his hands. “I used these, and my brain, and whatever else I could find to claw and steal and cheat my way out of that. And I left behind those who’d come through it all with me just as much as I left behind the dead bastard who’d made my life a misery. He damaged me, Eve, and might have made me what he was.”

“No.” She came forward then.

“Oh yes. He could have. Without the friends I made, and those pockets of escape I had with them, he would have. I was able to go my own way because there were those I could count on in the worst of times. When I took you with me to Dublin last year so I could wake and bury Jenny, I realized I’d never paid that back. I couldn’t have turned him [Mick] over, Eve, not even to you, and lived with it.”

When Mick dies, Roarke once again turns to Eve.

“Ah God.” Helpless sorrow flooded over him, into him. He could do nothing but rock, his bloody hand clinging to Mick’s while the sorrow drowned him. His eyes were stark, naked with it when they lifted to Eve’s.

While the business of law went on around them, she rose, signaled her men and the MTs who rushed into the room back. And went to her husband. Kneeling with him, she put her arms around him, drew him in.

Roarke laid his head on his wife’s breast, and grieved.
…...
He was alone with his thoughts when dawn broke., From the window of his bedroom, he watched day tremble into life and whisk away the dark, layer by thin layer.

He’d hoped for rage, had searched for it. But he hadn’t found it. He didn’t turn when Eve came in, but the worst of the ache eased because she was home.

OMG. The way that Robb pulls you into their relationship is just outstanding. When I read that, it was as if my arms were closing around Roarke as well. And how far these two have come in their relationship, where Eve can publicly show her love for him – while on the job, no less – and he can so publicly show his weakness and lean on her. And her paragraph breaks. Perfectly placed. Fucking sighworthy right there.

Eve’s friendship with Peabody moves to a new level in this one as well, as she listens to Peabody’s McNab woes and very reluctantly offers advice. McNab’s jealousy of Charles comes to a head n this one, and Peabody is forced to man up and move on – neither of which she is very good at. So she turns to Eve, who actually steps up to the plate. Their working relationship and their friendship take huge strides.

Just a freaking fantastic entry.

Has Anyone Read...

Christy Reece? She has three books--two of them out: No Chance, Second Chance and Last Chance (comes out April 27). If you've read her books, did you like them? Hate them? Details! I'm wondering if I should get them.

BTW--WAVES! I've missed you guys :)

Book Alert: Vicki Hinze!!!

OK, so I posted the previous Squires bookwatch before I saw this. Vicki Hinze has a new book out!! I'm a huge fan. Her backlist is notoriously difficult to find, but I've read almost all of it. I'm a little torn, because this is released from Random House Religious. That makes me wary. But I know I'll give the first one a try and see how I feel about it. She just writes amazing suspense. I'm hopeful that the "religious" part is simply spirituality rather than anything too deep. I'll let y'all know!

THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He'd failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben's deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan's necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman's situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?