Tag Archives: Mystery/Thriller

Unhinged (The Amado Brothers #3)

By Natasha Knight

Synopsis

Eve

Two years ago, I made a deal with the devil. That night, I lost everything. That night, I thought he died.

But he’s back. Risen, like Lazarus, from the dead. And he’s dark. Darker than he was before. More dangerous. Unhinged. A scarred, tattooed savage.

The way he looks at me should terrify me, but I’m drawn to him, to his intensity. Consumed by it. By him. Even though I know if I’m not careful, his obsession will destroy me.

Zach

I should have died that night two years ago. My mistake cost my men their lives. It should have cost me mine. But I survived. And the day I learned she did too, I made it my mission to find her.

I sought her out. Tracked her. Shadowed her every move. I’ve been inside her home. Eaten her food. Drank her liquor.

I’ve stood beside her bed and watched her sleep.

She has so many secrets, and I know one of them. It’s the one where our pasts collided. The one that destroyed me.

And it’s the reason I’ve come for her.

I never intended to touch her, but I did. And now that I’ve had a taste, I want more. I want her. But that won’t change why I’m here. It won’t change why I came for her.

Review

Unhinged had me hooked from the first few pages, upon finishing the Prequel I immediately wanted to know how Eve and Zach survived. Personally, the Prequel gives you the background to the deception that Zach believes and explains the isolation for Eve.

I love the cover of this book, it is easy to imagine Zach and believe the tension and his need for answers and revenge.

There were so many secrets in this story and questions that are all answered, I never guessed or saw the double-crossing. This is definitely standalone within the series, I could easily follow the entire story and have no questions at the conclusion. There are some dark and violent moments but they are relevant to the story, nothing is unnecessary.

Eve was strong and Zach was very conflicted. Their passionate scenes were well placed within the flow of the fast-paced story. Their moments were frantic at times in line with the story but also sensual and romantic and healing for them both.

Unhinged is another dark and dangerous read. This author knows how to give us a tortured alpha with whom we follow their path to finding that strongwilled woman to heal their heart.

Unhinged (The Amado Brothers #3)

My Rating:

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Sweet Redemption (Sweet Duet #2)

By Ellie Jean

Synopsis

Powerfully romantic, sexually charged and full of emotional angst, the sequel to Sweet Deception will enrapture your heart.

Dreaming of a future with Alex Raven was foolish and dangerous… For us both.

My past defined who I was until Alex Raven found me that fateful night. The hot chemistry, passion and protective love he showed me made me want things I could never have. Risking everything, purging my sins, determined to free myself from the clutches of Dimitri Sokolov, I had to accept the ultimate consequence: my life without Alex.

But no one saw what was coming.

How could I have known?

Will I be able to save myself from my past errors? Will redemption ever happen for me with the one man who made me want to risk everything?

Review

Sweet Redemption was a frantic and soul-destroying yet also stunning completion of this riveting mob suspense romance duet. My heart was shattered for Isla but I also held such hope that Alex would be her savior and we are given a wonderful ending, it was so worth the journey.

Their story picks up right where Sweep Deception ended and I found it very easy to immerse myself back into this sinister world. Isla is so fragile yet incredibly strong and in the first few chapters has to find her inner strength again as she battles for freedom.

Alex and his friends again provided so many favourite moments for me. The story flows well, family secrets are revealed and plot twists change that will leave you relieved and also distraught at points in time.

Alex and Isla’s connection is beautiful and passionate however I would have loved more tender moments especially as we reached the end of this story. There is one moment where I personally believe a more soft and sensual interaction would have healed both their hearts and injuries.

All in all, I love this mafia romance, it had drama, deceit, secrets and ultimately unsuspecting hero’s who returns to save the day.

Sweet Redemption (Sweet Duet #2)

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Siren Enslaved (Texas Sirens #3)

By Lexi Blake/Sophie Oak

Synopsis

Julian Lodge has everything a man could want. He’s rich, successful and owns the most exclusive club in Dallas. But something is missing.

Finn Taylor has worked his way up in the world from humble beginnings in Willow Fork, Texas. The only thing he still loves in his hometown is Danielle Bay. He never told her he was actually bisexual, and he never confessed his love for her. Now she’s getting married, and Finn is sure he’s lost his chance with the only person he’ll ever love.

Julian’s vacation to the Barnes-Fleetwood ranch brings them all together. After Dani jumps into Julian’s car while fleeing her wedding, Julian knows he has to have her. But nothing is easy in Willow Fork. A danger from Julian’s past threatens them all. Julian will have to convince both Dani and Finn that being his will be the best decision they ever made.

Review

The original Siren Enslaved was my introduction to Sophie Oak. I instantly fell for the characters. The added scenes made the re-release even better. I mean who doesn’t love a runaway bride jumping into a Dom’s car to escape what would have been a complete mistake. While the man that has been her best friend and secretly pining for her watches her drive off with another man.

Julian is the ultimate Dom. He needs to have everything under control at all times. When two subs step into Julian’s life, he can’t resist taking over. He will do everything in his power to keep his life the way it has always been but it takes the right people to change everything he thought he ever wanted.

Dani is a fun character. She is oblivious to how special she really is. It’s not until Julian and Finn help her accept that she deserves more from life that she really thinks about what she desires. But she also helps Julian and Finn realize what they desire.

I adore Finn. He has pined for Dani for forever and when he might have a chance to win her she jumps into another man’s car, wedding dress and all.

Siren Enslaved is one of my favorites from this series. I love the Masters and Mercenaries additions to the story. Jack, Sam, Abby, Alex and Ian all gave advice to Julian, Dani and Finn when they needed it. I can’t wait to see how each story evolves now from the original.

Siren Enslaved

My Rating:

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Justify Me

By J. Kenner

Synopsis

McKay-Taggart operative Riley Blade has no intention of returning to Los Angeles after his brief stint as a consultant on mega-star Lyle Tarpin’s latest action flick. Not even for Natasha Black, Tarpin’s sexy personal assistant who’d gotten under his skin. Why would he, when Tasha made it absolutely clear that—attraction or not—she wasn’t interested in a fling, much less a relationship.

But when Riley learns that someone is stalking her, he races to her side. Determined to not only protect her, but to convince her that—no matter what has hurt her in the past—he’s not only going to fight for her, he’s going to win her heart. Forever.

Review

J. Kenner really made me fall for Riley in Justify Me. He is a fun character to get to know.

This was a HOT read. As soon as Riley found out that Natasha was in trouble he went right to her no matter how much she feels like she doesn’t need a bodyguard. Natasha is perfect for Riley. They had amazing chemistry. Plus it had all the elements that stayed true to the Masters and Mercenaries series. I haven’t read the Stark International series yet but I’m sure that it also stayed true to that series as well.

This story was so much fun to read. The only thing that I would say about it would be that it was too short. I felt like I didn’t have enough time with the characters.

Justify me

My Rating:

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His to Protect: A Masters and Mercenaries Crossover #5

By Carly Phillips

Synopsis

Talia Shaw has spent her adult life working as a scientist for a big pharmaceutical company. She’s focused on saving lives, not living life. When her lab is broken into and it’s clear someone is after the top secret formula she’s working on, she turns to the one man she can trust. The same irresistible man she turned away years earlier because she was too young and naive to believe a sexy guy like Shane Landon could want her.

Shane Landon’s bodyguard work for McKay-Taggart is the one thing that brings him satisfaction in his life. Relationships come in second to the job. Always. Then little brainiac Talia Shaw shows up in his backyard, frightened and on the run, and his world is turned upside down. And not just because she’s found him naked in his outdoor shower, either.

With Talia’s life in danger, Shane has to get her out of town and to her eccentric, hermit mentor who has the final piece of the formula she’s been working on, while keeping her safe from the men who are after her. Guarding Talia’s body certainly isn’t any hardship, but he never expects to fall hard and fast for his best friend’s little sister and the only woman who’s ever really gotten under his skin.

Review

I loved Shane in Nobody Does It Better by Lexi Blake and he is a great main character. Bodyguards romances are probably one of my favorite types of action packed romances to read.

Talia Shaw is a scientist trying to protect her formula and is on the run from people who want to destroy it. She is advised to go to an old friend/crush Shane Landon. Shane is a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart. They find out that the people that are after her are always right behind them.

I love Talia’s ability to adapt and not freak out at every turn. And the way Shane is quickly seeing that not all women are like his ex-wife. This is a second chance romance that if I had any criticism to say is that it was too short. I needed more time with Shane Landon.

His to Protect

My Rating:

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Her Guardian Angel: A Masters and Mercenaries Crossover #2

By Larissa Ione

Synopsis

After a difficult childhood and a turbulent stint in the military, Declan Burke finally got his act together. Now he’s a battle-hardened professional bodyguard who takes his job at McKay-Taggart seriously and his playtime – and his playmates – just as seriously. One thing he never does, however, is mix business with pleasure. But when the mysterious, gorgeous Suzanne D’Angelo needs his protection from a stalker, his desire for her burns out of control, tempting him to break all the rules…even as he’s drawn into a dark, dangerous world he didn’t know existed.

Suzanne is an earthbound angel on her critical first mission: protecting Declan from an emerging supernatural threat at all costs. To keep him close, she hires him as her bodyguard. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that she’s in over her head, defenseless against this devastatingly sexy human who makes her crave his forbidden touch.

Together they’ll have to draw on every ounce of their collective training to resist each other as the enemy closes in, but soon it becomes apparent that nothing could have prepared them for the menace to their lives…or their hearts.

Review

Of all the crossover stories in this series, this one I was most curious about. It not only crosses over already established series but also genres and I wondered where Larissa Ione would take it. She brought Declan to life and stayed true to the Demonica Underworld series.

This story is action packed. Suzanne is such a great character. She dreams of a different life but knows she has responsibilities and humans that depend on her. Declan doesn’t know it but he has a destiny to fulfill. He also doesn’t know that he has a guardian angel to protect him.

Her Guardian Angel is so good. I love all the characters and it took the Masters and Mercenaries series in a completely different direction.

Her Guardian Angel

My Rating:

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Close Cover: A Masters and Mercenaries Crossover #1

By Lexi Blake

Synopsis

Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future.

Lisa Daley’s life is going in the right direction. She has graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.

There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out. Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse.

As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows—his home in the bayou. Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.

Review

Close Cover is Remy and Lisa’s story. Lisa is a great character. She could have taken the easy road and not reported her boss for his illegal accounting but she did what was honest and paid the price. No one would hire her and more than one person was after her.

Remy hurt Lisa’s feelings a long time ago and never had any intention of seeing her again. But when someone needed to protect her he stepped right up. (Maybe the money had something to do with it at first.)

Close Cover puts all the characters in this group back together and is so good. Remy and Lisa had crazy chemistry and there was no denying these two belonged together. I would say that if you don’t like spoilers or finding out the resolution to other crossover stories save this book for last or save the epilogue for last. I’m the kind of reader that skips to the end after the first chapter and then goes back to read everything in between so it didn’t bother me. And as always love Ian Taggart.

Can’t wait to see where Lexi Blake goes with Wade Rycroft!!!

Close Cover

My Rating:

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A Shameless Little Lie (Shameless #2)

By Meli Raine

Synopsis

I did it. I admit it.

I fell in love with Silas. My bodyguard. My protector.

My new informant.

We’re playing a cat-and-mouse game. I’m not sure whether I’m the cat or the mouse, but I can definitely tell I’m in a trap.

A trap with no way out.

I’m not who everyone thought I was. The truth is out there, finally turning the lie about me inside out. I am the shameless little lie. It’s finally been revealed, and now even more people want to kill me.

As a presidential campaign hangs in the balance, a delicate web of international relations and economic stability at risk, power becomes more important than anything else.

Even my life.

Especially my life. I’m a nothing. A no one. Just a tool, remember?

But tools can be used to open locks. Cracking open the truth and exposing it could change the balance of power. Tip the scales. Make a presidential campaign turn on a dime.

Too bad Silas doesn’t believe me when I tell the truth.

And that may make him the biggest tool of all.

A Shameless Little Lie is book two in the Shameless trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine

Read the whole series:

Book 1: A Shameless Little CON
Book 2: A Shameless Little LIE
Book 3: A Shameless Little BET

Review

A Shameless Little Lie is not full of little lies. It has large, blow your mind, hate all character big lies. I finished this and in all honesty, I hated all of them except Jane. I do not know who is telling the truth and who is telling a lie. One asks how is Jane not losing her mind? Jane has turned around and become my favorite character of this entire series. She really has become the pivotal character in both the Harmless and Shameless series.

Lindsay and Drew did my head in, I am not sure what their game is? Silas went from hot to cold and again I have too many questions. Duff is a character who has more questions hanging around him as does Lily.

Meli Raine is amazing how she manipulates the secrets. As a result, there are so many moments leaving you lost and second-guessing characters motives. Interesting was finding out more about Jane’s upbringing and how the Senator played a silent part.

The pace of the story and suspense is woven perfectly for me and I had a feeling a major change in the game would occur. Did I suspect the final move, no I did not?

Silas and Jane’s sexual moments were intense, emotional and passionate. At times I felt teary for Jane as I knew her happiness would be short-lived.

As a reader, I really need Jane to find peace as I feel as exhausted.

A Shameless Little Lie (Shameless #2)

My Rating:

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Retaliate (Vigilante Justice #2)

By Kristin Harte

Synopsis

The second book in the Vigilante Justice series features a dangerous second chance romance…

He loved her…and lost her
Justice is still under attack, but it’s been quiet. At least, until I get a phone call saying a resident needs help. Not just any resident either. The grandmother of the woman who ripped my heart out of my chest over a decade before. One trip up the mountain, and my worst fears—and biggest hopes—are realized. Anabeth’s back and just as captivating as she’d always been. But when she faces off against a Soul Suckers rider, I’ll have to do more than protect her. I’ll have to figure out a way to win her back. Because there’s no way I’ll ever let her go again.

She’s never gotten over him
Fourteen years after leaving Justice for what I thought would be the last time, I’m forced back to say goodbye to the only family I’ve ever known. The town’s as small as ever, and being there is just as painful as I remember. The memories of big hurts and bigger mistakes won’t leave me alone…and neither will my ex. I’m still attracted to Bishop Kennard—even more than I was as a lovesick teenager—but he’s a man now. A tough, brutal man who will stop at nothing to protect me.

Too bad he’s the one who needs protecting…from the things I did that caused me to leave him behind in the first place.

Review

Retaliate is book 2 of this series and I had not read the first book Payback. As a reader, I could easily follow the family connections and story of the town. There are some strong and impressive characters in this series that will keep you addicted.

The second half of this story I enjoyed more as I became frustrated wanting to know what event had caused her to flee the town 14 years ago. Feeling pleasantly surprised when all was revealed that I did not guess the big reveal.

Bishop and Anabeth had great chemistry. Moments of lovemaking were well written with such angst, passion and just so much heart.

One couple I really want to read their story is Gage and Katie, I really enjoyed their inclusion in Bishop and Anabeth’s second chance together. Bishop was a great character in this story along with his brothers.

Concluding at a wonderful point for this couple, I am definitely looking forward to reading next installment called Justify.

Retaliate (Vigilante Justice #2)

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Unexpected Allies (The Tokhan Brava Book 1)

By Peyton Banks

Synopsis

She was a bad b*tch—Her name sparked fear in those that had the nerve to run from her. Mila Petrovna was a soldier in the Tokhan Bratva, the most powerful crime family in New York City, run by her brother. She collected debts on behalf of her brother and the Bratva. It was Mila who ensured that the Bratva had deadly soldiers to fight. But who would be there to ensure that she was protected?

He’d had his eyes on her for a while. He knew that he shouldn’t want her but he was drawn to her. She was the sister of his rival and that should have meant that she would be off limits. Kole Bozovic was a man who knew what he wanted and went after it. After a brief meeting, he made the decision—she would be his.

The two were thrown together in the middle of a war and lines would be drawn. He’d laid a claim on her and no one would take what was his, even if they tried. War made one realize that some things were best left in the past. If they were to survive, they would have to work together.

Review

Firstly, I love the cover of Unexpected Allies, upon reading the first few chapters you can image both Mila and Kole. Both these characters had amazing chemistry and I had simply devoured their intense and fast-paced journey together.

This Mafia mystery story was well paced and the author wove it really well in amongst the love story that was growing between Mila and Kole. Kole showed such respect towards Mila and her strength as a woman but he gave her the emotional support she was yearning for. Mila and Kole’s lovemaking upon the pages is a balanced mix of passion, domination but also had those soft emotional and nurturing moments.

Mila’s brother Pasha was a great supporting character and I will be interested to read his story which is next and called Unexpected Chaos. Providing humour and friendship, I really enjoyed the loyal soldiers in this story.

This was my first book by the author and I really enjoyed her style and flow. Whilst reading, the story did not get bogged down in the Mafia history and she allowed the characters to be strong yet also have a great family connection.

Unexpected Allies (The Tokhan Bratva Book 1)

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