BEHIND THE LIES by Robin Perini

BEHIND THE LIES

Series:  Montgomery Justice, Book 2

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Publication Date:  April 23, 2013

Of the six Montgomery brothers, Zach has always walked on the wild side. He rocketed to fame playing a hero in a movie, but off-screen he’s living in the shadows. Zach’s dark secret: he leads a double life as a CIA operative. When a mission to stalk a terrorist goes horribly wrong, Zach’s cover is blown. He’s on the run and fighting to stay alive long enough to discover whom he can trust—and who betrayed him.

Jenna Walters thought she’d married the perfect man—until she unearthed his terrible secret. Now, desperate to escape his crosshairs, she and her son take refuge in Zach’s secret hideaway. Sparks fly between Zach and Jenna even as danger explodes around them.

From Afghanistan to Turkey to the mountains of Colorado, assassins track them and are closing in. Not only is Zach’s life at stake, but now Jenna and her son are targets in this high stakes game.

Available Now:   Kindle | Paperback | Audible

Zach is one of six boys in the Montgomery family and he has always been labeled the wild child of the bunch, moving away from the family he became an actor. Making movies allows him to travel extensively and provides cover for his other job - that of a CIA operative. On location for his latest movie he becomes aware that his cover is blown and it's a challenge to get home in one piece. There's a hit on him and he does not know where to turn.

Jenna Walters has had enough of her abusive husband and is making plans to run away taking her son with her, unfortunately her husband returns early before she can finish her escape. Climbing over her garden wall and hiding in her neighbors pool house seems like a good idea at the time. Jenna and Zach are both on the run can they help each other or will they be a danger to each other? Both have secrets, both have people after them and they have lots of chemistry, fortunately or unfortunately they also have Jenna's son Sam with them, he's too young to understand just how much danger they are in and why which may just put them in more danger!

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment, it was full of tension and angst and although I did see a lot of the plot twists coming Robin did a fabulous job of interweaving them all connecting all the dots. I loved getting to the bottom of Zach's secrets, I really enjoyed the rest of the Montgomery's finally opening their eyes and seeing him for who he truly is. Lots f secrets came to light in this one and I'm looking forward to seeing the fallout in the next one!

IN HER SIGHTS by Robin Perini

IN HER SIGHTS

Series:  Montgomery Justice, Book 1

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Publication Date:  November 29, 2011

SWAT Team Sniper Jasmine "Jazz" Parker can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. As the only female sniper in the state of Colorado, Jazz is unique for more than her extraordinary marksmanship skills and cool head. Jazz Parker and her weapon defend the helpless by exacting swift and uncompromising justice. Not bad for the daughter of the town whore.

After growing up on the seedy side of town, Jazz believed when she'd changed her name and her life at fifteen, she'd buried her past. Two years ago, she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to protect her secret.

Then, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the Governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her. Her past and her present now threaten to destroy the life she has carefully constructed for herself. Her face and name have been splashed across the front page—by none other than Luke Montgomery—and her past has reawakened with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is bent on destroying Jazz's life, forcing her to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pay with their lives.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Order Now:  Kindle | Paperback | Audible

Jazz is a female sniper on Jefferson County's SWAT team, she has worked hard to not only get the position but to prove that it was the right choice. Jazz has been running for most of her life, never letting people in - it was one of the main issues between her and her ex-boyfriend, reporter Luke Montgomery. After a successful SWAT mission Luke writes an article about Jazz, catapulting her into the spotlight. Unfortunately Jazz has never quite felt that she fits in, by keeping her distance from her team members she has caused a rift, the rift grows bigger as Luke's article brings an enemy from her past into her present. Jazz has to open up about who she is in order to save those she cares about.

I really enjoyed this one, lots of angst and tension and the characters are intriguing. Like most first in series books it was the secondary characters that kept catching my attention and I can't wait for their turn in the spotlight. The parts that stood out for me where Jazz, having cast a female in a typically male profession and having her succeed was inspirational. The Montgomery family on a whole, I enjoyed the glimpses into their lives an their interactions and Joy. I enjoyed her presence in the story.

Angela Roquet's GRAVEYARD SHIFT

GRAVEYARD SHIFT

Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc., Book 1

Available exclusively at Amazon:  

Only $0.99 for Kindle |  Paperback

The Inferno has Evolved… Lana Harvey is a reaper, and a lousy one at that. She resides in Limbo City, the modern capital of the collective afterlives, where she likes to stick it to the man (the legendary Grim Reaper himself) by harvesting the bare minimum of souls required of her. She’d much rather be hanging out with Gabriel, her favorite archangel, at Purgatory Lounge. But when a shocking promotion falls in her lap, Lana learns something that could unravel the very fabric of Eternity. If the job isn’t completed, there could be some real hell to pay.

Lana Harvey is a Grim Reaper, as far as Grim Reapers go she is an 8th generation and relatively young. Lana isn't your typical by the book Reaper like her friend Josie, instead she likes to find the loopholes and exploit them a little. She's not afraid to twist the rules slightly to get a better outcome. When she receives an unexpected promotion from her boss, Grim, she is pulled deeper into the politics involved in reaping and thus a story of intrigue, deception and mystery is born. Just who is behind everything and who can she trust? The lines are becoming blurry and not everyone is as it seems at first glance...

 

When you hear the words Grim Reaper you usually have a very definite picture in mind, stereotypical yes, but true nonetheless. Lana on the other hand is a very different type of reaper and I am glad of that! Angela has created an interesting world for her reapers to live in, there are so many good points about this book. I loved the different myth's and mythologies incorporated into the book, the many different 'heavens' or final resting places based on the soul's belief's. The hell hounds were a bright spot too. I did find it a little slow in the beginning but I definitely think it was worth sticking with, it really picked up towards the end and I am looking forward to seeing what trouble Lana can get into next!

 

HIDDEN by Kendra Elliot

HIDDEN: 

A BONE SECRETS NOVEL  - Book 1

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Publication Date:  July 17, 2012

Eleven years ago, the Co-ed Slayer murdered nine female students on the Oregon State University campus. Lacey Campbell barely escaped his attack, but lost her best friend whose remains were never found. As the sole surviving victim, Lacey helped send the sadistic serial killer to prison for life.

Now a forensic odontologist examining teeth and bones for the state Medical Examiner, Lacey is devastated when she arrives at a crime scene and identifies the skeletal remains as her college friend’s.

The remains are discovered on the land of ex-cop Jack Harper. Sparks fly between him and Lacey, even as they realize that the prosecution’s witnesses from a decade ago are now being murdered one by one. All the evidence points to the Co-ed Slayer as the culprit—only, he’s long since dead. So who’s the new killer? And is Lacey next in line to die?

Available at:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Hidden is the first book in Kendra Elliot's Bone Secrets series and I found it to be an enjoyable debut. 

Lacey Campbell is a forensic odontologist and when she gets called in to consult at a possible crime scene her past and present collide in a way she never thought possible. Lacey is the only known survivor of a serial rapist and murderer who, during their encounter 11yrs previous, successfully kidnapped her best friend Suzanne. Lacey was seriously injured during the scuffle but has never fully forgiven herself for not being able to save Suzanne. Clues found at the crime scene soon uncover a startling discovery - people connected to the case are turning up dead and the race to discover whether it's a copycat or the work of a previously unknown partner begins. 

Jack Harper is linked to the case in many ways, both in the past and the present. When he arives at the scene he is instantly attracted to Lacey even though he only see's her from a distance. He soon figures out how she is involved in the case and they are both determined to find out what is going on and who is behin it. Being prepared to use each other for information along the way if they need to. Jack realises he needs to get to the bottom of it as either someone is trying to set him up or he may be on the killers list of targets. Can he be objective in his journey to discover the truth or will his attraction to Lacey get in the way? Can they work together to help the police get to the bottom of what is going on? Should they even trust each other? 

It's an intense journey and Kendra kept me guessing throughout. There was a lot of misdirection and cleverly placed clues to keep you on your toes. I did get confused a little in the beginnning until I got used to Kendra's story telling style it was definitely worth sticiking with it and I can't wait for the next one! Having the lead character be a forensic odontologist was a nice twist in the beginning, I loved the depth added to the characters via the flashbacks to their pasts. Jacks story in particular was a good one.

 

 

CHILLED by Kendra Elliot

CHILLED: 

A BONE SECRETS NOVEL - Book 2

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Publication Date:  August 14, 2012

 

As a forensic nurse on a search and rescue team, Brynn Nealey braves a dangerous blizzard to find the survivors of a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Joining her is Alex Kinton, a former US marshal with self-destructive tendencies. Alex lies his way onto Brynn’s team to find the man who killed his brother—and then return the favor. But once the team members reach the plane’s wreckage, they discover everyone aboard has perished…except for the man Alex is hunting. Alex will do whatever it takes to track his target through the vast, snowy wilderness.

As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?

Available at:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 

Chilled is the second book in Kendra Elliot's Bone Secrets series and in my opinion it was even better than the first! 

Brynn Nealey is a forensic nurse who works with a team to perform dangerous search & rescue missions in the Cascade Mountains. Following the news of a plane crash the team prepares to set out to look for survivors, unfortunately the weather is against them. Alex Kinston is a former US Marsal that lies his way onto the team, he knows exactly who was on that plane and he wants to make sure that one of the passengers does not survive. The journey into the blizzard brings more dangers to light than expected, the team must face their own fears and overcome them if they hope to survive. Finding the crash site turns out to be the easy part, what they find when they get there could change all their lives forever. 

This book takes place over a few short days in freezing temperatures, more than one team member has secrets and we do not uncover them all in this trip. I hope to see some of the characters in future novels so we can get to know them a little better. Brynn was a likeable heroine, her need to help others stems from an accident in her childhood that saw her lose her best friend. Alex's backstory was the one that kept me reading, his need to find the man that did him wrong and see justice being served has influenced his life and decisions for so long, I found myself willing him to get justice so he could get the closure he needs. 

The story that followed brought lots of tension and once it got started there was lots of drama. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for Buried!

 

 

The Last Grave: A Witch Hunt Novel by Debbie Viguie

The Last Grave: A Witch Hunt Novel

by Debbie Viguie

Genre:  Paranormal Thriller

Publication Date: 3/5/13!

Buy from Amazon | B&N 

Samantha Ryan—homicide detective by choice, witch hunter by necessity—has left Salem for San Francisco, hoping a move will help her forget the horrors of her past. But she’s about to discover that witches tempted by the dark side are everywhere.... 

Samantha is doing whatever she can to forget her terrible childhood in a coven destroyed by its members’ greed and lust for power. Now she’s a San Francisco detective struggling to fight her own desire to turn to magic. But as she discovers, escaping who you are isn’t easy. 

Her latest case seems straightforward enough—the murder of a local historian named Winona Lightfoot. But strange clues take Samantha to the Santa Cruz Mountains, a place teeming with witches and black magic. As she works to uncover the connection between Winona and this coven, an earthquake rocks the Bay Area. That’s when Samantha has a premonition: Something is coming. Something evil.

To survive—and save everyone around her—she will have to tackle her greatest fear, and hope she isn’t the next one put into a deep, dark grave....

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

When I was asked to read this book I was a little wary, I usually prefer to read books in order and I haven't tried anything of Debbie's before but once I read the synopsis and realised it sounded like my kind of book I hesitantly agreed and when I sat down to dive in ALL my expectations where exceeded. In fact this series has now been promoted to autobuy and I'm going to hunt down a copy of book 1 so I can read it in order and enjoy it all over again!

Samantha Ryan has been running from her past for most of her life, a tragedy as a child has left her skittish and unable to trust herself. Her memory has huge holes in it and she's afraid to fill them in incase she doesn't like what she finds. Samantha's choice to become a Police Dtective shows her strength of character, she's unwilling to play the part of victim, instead she has chosen to be a voice for those who can no longer speak. Her sense of self has taken a beating, after her past and present collided and she has ran to the other side of the country to start afresh. Unfortunately the past isn't ready to let her go and it starts to creep into the new life she is making.

I don't want to spoil what happens for anyone but let me just say that this leg of Samantha's journey brought many surprises for me and her. If you like your urban fantasy on the darker side or you love a book with witches and magic and the unexpected then I can't recommend this one enough! I put this book down turned to my husband and said "Holy sh*t that was a good book".

The Morrigna by Rachel Rawlings

The Morrigna 

by Rachel Rawlings

Genre - Urban Fantasy

Release Date - July 1, 2010

I'm Maurin Kincaide, a psychometric, and until a few days ago I was working for Salem's Preternatural Task Force as an interrogator. I cracked more cold cases and got more confessions than anyone else in the department. Of course that was before I traded in my badge for an ancient Celtic sword. Now, I'm the Special Liaison for the Council, the governing body of the Others, and I take my orders from witches, werewolves and vampires.

I didn't just make a career change though. I'm not the same person I was before. I'm stronger, I can heal from wounds that would kill a normal person. I'm developing latent psychic skills at a breakneck speed. Oh yeah, and it would seem that a Pagan goddess has taken permanent residence in my body and mind. Crazy thing is, I'm starting to feel normal, like this is who I'm supposed to be.

Of course, there are those who don't agree. Morrigan and her sisters for example. Actually, I'm pretty sure they'd like nothing more than to see me dead. And if I can't stop them and the demons they've raised, they just might get their wish.

Maurin works for the Police as an interrogator utilising her psyhic gift to aid her but when her powers become unreliable she is put on leave to allow her a chance to get to the bottom of it. When brought before the Council Maurin discovers more about the world and herself than she thought possible, suddenly she is pulled into a war that she never knew existed and finds that she may be the key to bringing it to an end. Talk about pressure!

Maurin is a likeable character, she makes mistakes while learning to control her developing powers and struggles to come to terms with the consequences of her actions. She remains human while surrounded by people who aren't, never entirely sure who to trust.

Rachel has created an interesting world full of sexy shifters, powerful witches and arrogant vampires who battle against gods & demons to keep the world safe. Rachel has placed her own spin on popular myths to bring her world to life. The Morrigna is a thoroughly enjoyable action packed tale full of intriguing characters who are just begging to have their stories told. I really enjoyed this one and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment to find out what happens next!

If you enjoy slightly dark, fast paced and action packed Urban Fantasy then this is definitely for you!

Forever Freed by Laura Kaye

Forever Freed

by Laura Kaye

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Format:  Paperback and ebook

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp. 

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation—talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead. 

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…

Forever Freed is a paranormal romance told in first person from the hero, Lucien's point of view. At the start of the book Lucien is the epitome of the angsty/broody vamp, I enjoyed the insight into his thoughts as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his family and his inability to save them. When Lucien meets Olivia he is amazed by how easily she accepts his presence and shows no instinctual fear of him. Her innocence touches Lucien and he can't help but want to protect her. Samantha enters Luciens life around the same time but leaves him with an overwhelming urge to consume her. Lucien attempts to insert himself into her life but he doesn't expect to discover Olivia's place in her life.

Lucien undergoes a huge transformation from broody vamp to protector and lover but it's not an easy journey. I really enjoyed the fact that yes it's a love story but it's also so much more, there's a little bit of everything in here. I'm a little disappointed that it's a stand alone. There are a few unanswered questions especially when it comes to Lucien and his bloodline. Olivia was a delightful addition to the story and I really enjoyed her interactions with Lucien.

There's a lot of promise in this book so I'm giving it: