Review of Cindy Kirk's The One I Need, The One I Want & The One I Love--Silver Creek Series 4-6

The One I Need

An ocean and a secret just as deep separated them. Will a reunion in the Mile High City provide a second chance at love?

June Parker needs answers. Her sister Aubrey was killed by a hit and run driver 10 years ago. June and her mother cannot accept that no one saw Aubrey or offered to help her when her car broke down. In an effort to bring peace and closure, June has hired a private detective to help her solve the mystery.

June was introduced to Cameron Driskill while working abroad and wants to reconnect with him as he may have information regarding Aubrey's death—he could be the key to solving the mystery.

I loved the attraction between June and Cameron -- it was undeniable! June and Cameron held fast to their beliefs and supported each other during the investigation. I enjoyed how the couple faced the challenges in their relationship and the element of mystery in this novella.

The One I Want

She’s the love of his life, but is he the man she believes him to be?

June is continuing her quest to find out the identity of who left the scene of the hit and run. June and Cameron attend a fund raiser for Anson Hawkins. Anson is connected to both the Driskill family and to June. Anson and Cameron’s sister Eve are best friends who are attracted to each other. Anson’s name appears on June’s interview list—could he have been the hit and run driver?

Anson is passionate about helping others and he is admired for his integrity. On the surface, he’s the perfect fit for a seat on the City Council. But, does he remember the events of the party that he, Cameron, Aubrey and the others attended? This is the core element of the storyline. Cindy Kirk explores Anson’s character – something about the party haunts him and how will it impact his political career. Eve goes all on to help Anson—she has them re- create the night of Aubrey’s death—what will he remember? And what will be the cost to his relationship with Eve? And to Cameron and June’s second chance love story? I liked the combination of mystery, intrigue and romance in this novella.


The One I Love
Will four minutes from her past lead to a lifetime of heart break?

Eve Driskill’s world is turned upside down. A former boyfriend has betrayed her and suddenly she is a media sensation. I loved that Anson stood by Eve –he never faltered or hesitated in his love and support for her. The impact of the betrayal impacts Eve’s business and well as Anson’s political career. Loved that Eve and Anson grew closer as the scandal played out in the media.

Several people are eliminated from June’s list of partygoers and a surprising clue is provided to the police which helps uncover the identity of the hit and run driver. Cindy Kirk added the perfect amount of mystery and intrigue in this story. Loved following along as the suspects were crossed off the list—and I was totally surprised by the identity of the hit and run driver!

Kudos to Cindy Kirk for crafting a superb trilogy! June, Cameron, Eve and Anson were strong, dynamic characters! Loved Cameron and June’s second chance romance and Eve and Anson’s friends to lover’s story.

The hit and run mystery was perfectly written—each novella had a cliff hanger ending that was resolved in the next book. I loved this part of the story line because I was invested in the story and I wanted to figure out the mystery. Loved the twist and turns and the big reveal!

Cindy Kirk’s Silver Creek series is full of engaging characters, family drama, mystery and lots of heartwarming romance! Add these novellas to your summer reading list—you will enjoy them!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARCs provided by the author

Susan's Review of A Duke Worth Fight For By Christina Britton -Isle of Synne--Book #3

To protect the dukedom from an incompetent and greedy cousin, Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle, has promised to find a bride in London this season. But the idea of facing ballrooms and card parties is as intimidating as any battlefield in France, including the fight at Waterloo that left him terribly scarred. Perhaps a month on the Isle of Synne can provide him with the practice necessary to find a wife who can tolerate him enough to give him an heir.


Margery Kitteridge has been mourning her husband for four years, and while she's not ready to consider marriage again, she does miss intimacy with a partner. When Daniel asks for help navigating Synne's social scene, and they accidentally kiss, she realizes he's the perfect person with whom to have an affair. As they begin to confide in one another, Daniel discovers that he's unexpectedly connected to Margery's late husband, and she will have to decide if she can let her old love go for the promise of a new one.

Margery Kitteridge’s world is turned upside down when she receives a blackmail letter. The note implies that her late husband was a coward during the Battle of Waterloo and the sender demands 100 pounds to keep quiet. Even though her father disowned her when she married, Margery never regretted her decision to wed Aaron Kittredge. After Aaron’s death, she joined her grandmother, Lady Tesh’s household as her companion.

Daniel Hayle, the Duke of Carlisle and his mother arrive at Lady Tesh’s home for a visit. Daniel is a war hero and has the scars—both physical and emotional-to prove it. Although Daniel does not express himself well and panics in social situations, he is able to talk to Margery. The Duke agrees to pay Margery 100 pounds to assist him in finding a bride. I felt for Daniel when he narrowly missed stepping on a chicken, is introduced to a young lady who is enamored of insects and suffered through an assembly dance. He was not comfortable in social situations but, he put himself out there and accepted Margery’s assistance. Loved the candid and at times, emotional conversations that Daniel and Margery share and the attraction that develops between the couple.

Cristina Britton does a fabulous job developing the secondary characters in this novel. Daniel’s cousin, Gregory appears to be everything the Duke is not. He is charming, well dressed gentleman. Loved how Gregory’s true nature was revealed during the novel. Loved the unique characters who make up the community of Synne—each one adds to the feel and the storyline. The author’s descriptive writing style lends itself perfectly when she describes Daniel’s memories of the Battle of Waterloo. I could smell the smoke, sense the fear within the troops and visualize the battles. These words allow the reader to understand what Aaron and Daniel and the other soldiers faced during each skirmish and understand why Margery could be a target for blackmail.

Daniel and Margery’s journey is romantic, emotional and tugs at your heartstrings. The chemistry between the couple simmered and sizzled throughout the first part of the book. Loved that Margery felt jealous every time she introduced Daniel to a prospective bride. Margery’s conflicted feelings for Daniel and her late husband and Daniel’s struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the war drew me into the story. I loved how the couple gave each other strength and confidence to heal and move forward.

Christina Britton’s A Duke Worth Fighting For has all of the story elements that I adore! If you are looking for a novel filled with engaging characters, heartfelt romance and a dash of intrigue than this is the perfect book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger - Audio Version

 Confessions on the 7:45

by Lisa Unger

Audio Version

A friend of mine had posted that she wanted to 

read this one on Goodreads. The title and the short

synopsis I found sounded so interesting. I mean,

Confessions on the 7:45. Doesn't the title alone make

you want to check it out? I don't read

mysteries very often. But I just in the mood that day.

My library had the audio version with a long waiting 

list. Which isn't unusual for newer items. But I lucked

out and it was ready for me in no time.

My first time reading Lisa Unger. She certainly wowed me! 

She had a way of introducing the characters that was easy

for me to keep them straight. But I have to say, the time 

perspective changes, back and forth, often, during the story. 

I did not find it hard to follow most of the time. I made a

mental note of particular characters at the beginning. 

There is really no way to write a review with any 

information that doesn't include a  spoiler. 

The story is full of intrigue from the very start. 

You will be compelled to listen so close. You won't

want to miss a single word. 

I loved the story. I believe I will be a continued

Lisa Unger fan. It is 12 1/2 hours listening time. 

So you will for sure get your moneys worth. 
There is not a minute of down time. The story

moves right along. The narration is fabulous. 
Her name is Vivienne Leheny. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan's Review of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

An intrepid female reporter matches wits with a serious, sexy detective in award-winning author Manda Collins' fun and flirty historical rom-com!

England, 1865 : As one of England's most notorious newspaper columnists, Lady Katherine Bascomb believes knowledge is power. And she's determined to inform and educate the ladies of London on the nefarious-and deadly-criminals who are praying on the fairer sex. When her reporting leads to the arrest of a notorious killer, however, Katherine flees to a country house party to escape her newfound notoriety-only to witness a murder on her very first night. And when the lead detective accuses Katherine of inflaming-rather than informing-the public with her column, she vows to prove him wrong.

Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his own career, and he blames Katherine. To avoid bad publicity, his superiors are pressuring him to solve cases quickly rather than correctly. When he discovers she's the key witness in a new crime, he's determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they'll need to catch a killer. 

The connection between strong willed newspaper owner and columnist Lady Katherine and the serious, determined detective Andrew Eversham drew me into A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem immediately. Katherine authored an article about the “Commandments Killer” citing new information. This article contained an interview with a witness that the police overlooked. The newpaper article ruined the lead detective, Andrew Eversham's career. Andrew and Katherine meet at a crowded assembly announcing that the Commandments Killer had been caught. Andrew rescues her from the crush and sees her to safety.

I adored this delightful whodunit which takes place at a house party at a country estate. The storyline reminded me of Clue, one of my favorite board games. The cast of characters was fabulous! The guest list includes an American businessman and his daughter, an ex-prize fighter, the Earl and Countess of Eggleston and Reeve Thompson. Lots of different personalities that added to my enjoyment of the novel.

Andrew and Katherine are reunited when a murder occurs at the house party. Loved the initial conflict between these two characters and how their relationship changed as they learned to work together to solve the murders. The attraction between Andrew and Katherine intensified with every murder and the author crafted fabulous dialogue for them—witty, serious and passionate.

The focus of the storyline was solving the mystery— which appealed to me. Enjoyed that the author added in several red herring clues which added intrigue and a sense of uneasiness to the novel. I loved trying to figure out the killer’s identity and when he or she might strike again.

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is well written, the romance between Andrew and Katherine is engaging and the unmasking of the killer totally surprised me!

Well done Manda Collins--I fell for one of the red herring clues and believed another character was the murderer!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the Publisher

Susan's Review of The Bachelors of Bond Street-Janna MacGregor, Shana Galen and Minerva Spencer

Love by the Letters by Janna MacGregor

Portia Bellingham and Gabriel St. Aulyn’s story enchanted me. Portia had suffered through three seasons without finding love. She’s decided that her sister Bea is not going to be humiliated in the same way. Portia writes a heartfelt love letter to Bea’s beau. The problem? It’s delivered to Gabriel, not Hugh Merritt.
Janna MacGregor’s descriptive writing shines in this novel! Loved how the romance between Portia and Gabe unfolded. I related to Portia; she never, ever thought someone would love a merchant’s daughter who wore glasses and was a bluestocking. Gabriel believed women were interested in his money, not in him. Loved that Portia expressed her feeling in the letter and Gabriel was thrilled to receive the letter.
Loved the passionate romance between the couple and the ending was fabulous! I was so invested in the romance that I never saw it coming!

How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen

Shana Galen features Thomas Gaines and Raeni Sawyer in a fast paced novella. Loved that Thomas is a successful businessman and owns two coffee shops. Shana Galen blends Thomas’s wish to have his Bond street coffee shop succeed with his desire for Raeni perfectly.
Raeni escaped her family’s plantation because her father was going to sell her. She suspects she is being followed and this puts the couple in danger. The chemistry between the couple sizzles, there is intrigue and an important lesson about the value of freedom.
Loved the connection between the couple-the passion, the understanding and commitment. And the ending—truly romantic—just perfect.

A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer

This was a sizzling, second chance romance. Justin Taylor and Oona Parker met when they worked for Viscount Venable. Justin believed that Oona got him fired, blamed her for the consequences and is holding a grudge.
Justin is now a wealthy businessman who offers Oona a job for seven days-she’s to pose as his mistress at a house party. I enjoyed reading the couple’s journey to the house party and I knew both of them were keeping secrets from each other. Minerva Spencer writes a fabulous story for Justin and Oona—their feelings are intense, the sensuous romance is off the charts and the banter is spot on. Oona and Justin take refuge at a farmhouse during a blizzard. This visit was heartwarming and brought several surprising revelations to both of the characters.
Loved that a big piece of this story was about compassion and forgiveness --- and love.

I am thrilled to recommend these novellas. Loved that the authors stayed within the same framework by featuring bachelors who owned buisneeses on Bond street. This connection plus each author's characters worked for me. I adored Janna MacGregor and Shana Galens novels and their stories exceeded my expectaions. Minerva Spencer is a new to me author. By reading her well plotted character driven novel-- I have found another author to enjoy.


Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by Shana Galen

Susan's Review of To Tempt A Rebel by Shana Galen

He's a rebel…

It all began so well. When Tristan Chevalier joined the French revolutionaries to fight for brotherhood, equality, and liberty, he was full of hopes and dreams of what the revolution could accomplish. But after several years of serving as the bloodthirsty Robespierre's second, Tristan is having doubts. When Tristan tries to halt Robespierre's Reign of Terror, he inadvertently steps into a trap laid by the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and orchestrated by the lovely Alexandra Martin. Tristan is no one's pawn, but he thinks by playing along, he might be able to give his superiors information leading to the capture of the League. He could end the Pimpernel's antics once and for all. There's just one problem—no matter how much Tristan despises Alexandra, he can't quite stop wanting her.

She has a cause.

Alexandra Martin is an Englishwoman who has been playing the part of a French actress for years. It's a clever cover for her real role as a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Alex usually works in the background, but when she manages to snare one of the most important men in Robespierre's government, she's risking it all. So begins a harrowing adventure where Alex's most vile enemy must become her most trusted ally. The fate of a young prince hangs in the balance as two clashing rebels discover enemies sometimes make the best lovers.

To Tempt A Rebel is the fourth book in Shana Galen’s Scarlet Chronicle series. Ms. Galen’s strong descriptive voice shines in this suspense-filled novel. The author transports the reader to the streets of Paris and the corridors of Temple Prison during the French Revolution. I could feel the tension between the rebels and the aristocrats and became immersed in the League of Scarlet Pimpernel plan to rescue young Louis Charles, the King of France. The novel is rich in historical detail and Ms. Galen is able to blend intrigue and romance in a novel set in the French Revolution. I loved the passion that developed between actress and spy Alexandra Martin and patriot Tristan Chevalier. It was the perfect enemies to lovers romance; a perfect blend of great chemistry and sexual desire.

I enjoyed Ms. Galen’s To Tempt A Rebel – the characters, setting and the plan to rescue the child king kept me reading. I am enjoying this series-it’s original, superbly written and the characters believe in their mission. I am looking forward to reading Dewhurst and Ffoukes adventures.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Book purchased via amazon

Dead Man's Curve - Review

Dead Man's Curve - by Paula Graves - Review


It is always a good day for me when I get to start reading a new series by Paula Graves. Paula Graves writes romantic suspense that you just have to sit down and read in one sitting. Dead Man's Curve is the start of a new miniseries called The Gates, set in the mysterious Smoky Mountains.  The action leaps off the page in typical Paula Graves cinematic style with non-stop intrigue, heart pounding danger and bad guys that make you get up to check and see if your doors are locked. 

Paula Graves pulls you into her world, where trust is a scarce commodity, and loyalty is earned the hard way. I always really enjoy reading Paula's intrigues, because her characters are real people with flaws, hopes and secrets. Also, she doesn't make her characters rush into the physical side of the relationship, and for me that makes the story so much more believable.

Have you ever looked out into a crowd of faces, and think that you recognize someone? Someone that meant something special to you? Dead Man's Curve starts with the FBI agent Ava Trent responding to a kidnapping case, and turns into something bigger. Ava Trent scans the crowd and thinks she sees a ghost from her past. Sinclair Solano meant something to her, eight years ago but he could not be there in that crowd, because he is dead. He died a wanted man, under explosive circumstances, but then things aren't always as they seem. Ava Trent is confident, funny and determined to find out the truth. 

"He had a full lower lip and deep brown eyes, back in her foolish, romantic youth, she'd thought soulful."

There are some characters in Dead Man's Curve from previous series, but they don't overwhelm the story. For fans of the Cooper Justice and Cooper Security series it is a bonus, to get to check in with some familiar faces. My favorite hero, Gabe Cooper from The Man from Gossamer Ridge, finds himself in a bit of a mess in this book.  

I was talking to the book the whole time,"Duck! Get out of there! Kiss her!", which typically means for me it was a winner. The dialogue is crisp and is funny, though the hero and heroine were hardly in a laughing situation. Luckily for me and fans of Paula Graves the next two books in the series, Crybaby Falls and Boneyard Ridge will be available in October and November of this year. 

 

Reviewed by Gayle Cochrane