Review: Hot Zone by Catherine Mann

Hot Zone
Catherine Mann
Series: Elite Force #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: December 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.316}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Amelia Bailey, Hugh Franco
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Master sergeant Hugh Franco lives only to save others, until he plucks beautiful attorney Amelia Bailey from the wreckage of an earthquake and finds himself embroiled in ways he never expected. On the run from kidnappers, Hugh must call on all his training to protect them. But Amelia's fiery touch threatens to crack his world—and his heart—wide open.

Hot Zone is book two of the Elite Force series, and I must admit I hadn’t read book one. But this one can be read as a standalone because it didn’t read like it was picking up from previous events.

Hugh rescues Amelia and her nephew from an earthquake and then again from kidnappers. Along the way Hugh and Amelia manage to fall in love. I didn’t really buy the love, lust yes, but love not so much. I did genuinely believe that they both cared strongly for Joshua, Amelia’s nephew, throughout the whole ordeal.

The side story of Amelia’s brother and sister-in-law, I became enthralled with. It was interesting to watch him open up to his wife about his fear of having biological children. He truly was a good man burden down by the sins of his father.

Overall I liked both Amelia and Hugh as individuals. It did however feel that by the end of the book I knew Hugh more than Amelia.

Review: Lethal by Sandra Brown

Lethal
Sandra Brown
Publisher: Grand Central
Published: September 20, 2011
Hardcover {p.472}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Suspense
Honor Gillette, Lee Coburn
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.

But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society.

Honor tries to help an injured man lying on her lawn when he pulls a gun on her and takes her and her 4yr old daughter hostage.

Oh how I loved this story! With that being said, I didn’t love the ending. If I didn’t enjoy ALL the characters so much, I would have counted this one a 4 ½ because of the incomplete ending.

I was constantly trying to figure out the bad guy and trusting no one throughout the entire book. I did suspect the person that turned out to be the actual Bookkeeper as the villain, but I was going back and forth between that one and another.

Honor and Coburn had a great dynamic from the start. She was strong and capable, not some damsel who was in constant need of saving. One of the things I loved most about her is that not one time throughout this book do I recall yelling at her “That’s so stupid. Why are you doing that?”

I enjoyed how the story took on different viewpoints of the secondary characters. I really got emerged in Tori and Bonnell’s story as well as Diego and Isabel’s. I was emotional about both.

The only thing about this book I didn’t love is once again the end. I was flipping pages thinking maybe my copy was missing a few pages there at the end. You have to draw your own conclusions as to what happens with Lee and Honor, and I didn’t really care for that. But this book did leave me wanting more and hoping for some kind of sequel.

Review: Prey by Linda Howard

Prey
Linda Howard
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publish Date: September 6, 2011
Hardcover {p.323}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Angie Powell, Dare Callahan
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?

Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop.

Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods—changing the dark game completely.

Luckily, Dare is camping nearby and hears the shots. Forced together for their very survival, Angie and Dare must confront hard feelings, a blinding storm, and a growing attraction—while being stalked by a desperate killer and a ferocious five-hundred-pound beast. And neither will stop until they reach their prey.

This book started off interesting enough, although it was a bit of a slow starter. When it did pick up, it was a fast pace that may have been a little too fast. The suspense portion wasn’t all that suspenseful. Angie is a witness to a murder and tries not to get herself killed for what she seen.

The novel takes place over a couple of days, with her trying to elude a killer in the wilderness, with the help of a man she loathes, but secretly lusts after. They fall in love while camping out, eluding this killer, which was a bit too quick for my tastes.

Both Angie and Dare likeable enough, it was their love connection that I didn’t buy. Yes they both had been lusting for one another from afar for some time, but that didn’t translate into love and marriage for me.

Review: Savor the Danger by Lori Foster

Savor the Danger
Lori Foster
Series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #3
Publisher: HQN
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.411}
Source: Publicist
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Alani Rivers, Jackson Savor
Challenge: 100+

She may be aloof, and more pretty than gorgeous, but Alani Rivers is the kind of woman a hot-blooded mercenary can't forget, no matter how hard he tries. So when Jackson Savor wakes up next to the naked, sleeping beauty—with no memory of what happened— he knows he's been drugged…even if Alani doesn't.

After she was kidnapped, Alani vowed never to trust another man again. Still, something about this strong, sexy hero with the tender touch makes her want to believe him. As Jackson hunts down a mysterious intruder, he swears he'll move heaven and earth to keep Alani safe. But what really happened that night? And will the truth bring them closer than they ever thought possible—or put Alani squarely in harm's way again?

The overall story was a great! It kept me engaged with the action packed storyline and smoking hot romance. I had to force myself not to peek ahead to see what would happen next.

The series has the common thread of human trafficking among each of them, but Ms. Foster somehow manages to make each book totally exciting and different from the previous. These men are the men you want watching your back and in your bed.

I really love Jackson! He's a great combination of tough guy and playfulness. He always seemed to know just the right way to communicate and interact with Alani when everyone else wanted to treat her as a victim. Jackson is the kind of man you can say anything to no matter how outrageous because he'll come back with something even more outrageous. And if that wasn't reason enough to love him, then his relationship with his pseudo-sister was.

I truly liked Alani, but she did have her one moment with me. She knew of the danger she was in but refused to listen to Jackson and had a "you're not the boss of me" moment. If I wasn't so invested in her character, I probably wouldn't have let it bother me.

I anxiously await the next book in the series. If it's anything like Savor the Danger, I won't be disappointed. If you haven't read this series, I strongly suggest that you get to it ASAP!

Review: Trace of Fever by Lori Foster

Trace of Fever
Lori Foster
Series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #2
Publisher: HQN
Publication Date: May 31, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.393}
Source: Publicist
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Priscilla Patterson, Trace Rivers
Challenge:100+, Summer Romance

Undercover mercenary Trace Rivers loves the adrenaline rush of a well-planned mission. First he'll earn the trust of corrupt businessman Murray Coburn, then gather the proof he needs to shut down the man's dirty smuggling operation. It's a perfect scheme—until Coburn's long-lost daughter saunters in with her own deadly plan for revenge.

With a smile like an angel and fire in her eyes, Priscilla Patterson isn't who she seems to be. But neither is the gorgeous bodyguard who ignites all her senses. Joining forces to plot Coburn's downfall, Priss and Trace must fight the undeniable heat between them. For one wrong move, one lingering embrace, will expose them to the wrath of a merciless opponent...

Trace of Fever picks up where When You Dare leaves off in their effort to catch human traffickers. This one tells the story of Trace, whose sister Alani was taken and rescued in book one. During Trace’s undercover assignment he takes up with Priscilla, his target’s daughter.

I liked both Priss and Trace, but Trace of Fever lacked some of the excitement that I felt in When You Dare. The romance between Priss and Trace just seemed to happen with no real build-up, it was just there.

I guess in comparing the two men, Dare and Trace, Trace didn’t come across as tough as Dare. Even down to the very end of the book, I was still unsure that when the time came to deal with the bad guy, if Trace would be able to follow through. Although Trace had more invested in this than Dare, after reading them both back to back, it came across as if Dare had more invested.

Priss grew up really sheltered and was a bit naïve about some things, but when it came to getting revenge on Murray she was headstrong and focused. I’ve been a fan of the whole motley crew family that these men have seemed to make with the women and friends in their lives.

I did like the story, but Trace just continued to lack something for me throughout. He just didn’t have that action hero appeal. With that said, I’m truly looking forward to reading Jackson’s story in Savor the Danger.

Review: SEALed Forever by Mary Margret Daughtridge

SEALed Forever
Mary Margret Daughtidge {Facebook}
Series: SEALed #4
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: May 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.374}
Genre: Romance
Characters: Bronwyn Whitescarver, Garth Vale
Challenge: 100+,

He's got a living, breathing dilemma...

In the midst of running an undercover CIA mission, Navy SEAL Lt. Garth Vale finds an abandoned baby, and his superiors sure don't want to know about it. The only person who can help him is the beautiful new doctor in town, but she's got another surprise for him...

She's got a solution...at a price...

Dr. Bronwyn Whitescarver has left the frantic pace of big city ER medicine for a small town medical practice. Her bags aren't even unpacked yet when gorgeous, intense Garth Vale shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night with a sick baby...

But his story somehow doesn't add up, and Bronwyn isn't quite sure who she's saving-the baby, or the man...

This one was a slow starter for me. It was very difficult for me to get into the story. I have not read any of the previous books in this series, so I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it.

Bronwyn is a doctor who meets SEAL Garth at her best friend JJ's wedding to fellow SEAL Davy. The two barely even noticed or acknowledge other, but some time later they meet again.

Garth finds a baby, and in need of a medical opinion he goes to the town doctor who turns out to be Bronwyn. Upon seeing her again, and spending a very short amount of time with her, he comes to the realization that she is his "mate." Not only was that an incredibly short amount of time to be believable, but the whole "mate" thing sounded like a paranormal romance. Day two and Garth was already talking about Bronwyn having his children.

I didn't have any vested interest in either one of the characters or their relationship.

Review: Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

Breaking the Rules
Suzanne Brockmann {Facebook | Twitter}
Series: Troubleshooters #16
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Audio Book {18hrs}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Eden Zanella, Izzy Zanella, Jennilyn LaMay, Dan Gillman
Challenge: 100+, Whisper Stories

Sometime in the not too distant past, the once torrid romance between Eden Gillman and her Navy SEAL husband Izzy Zanella took a drastic cooling turn. Both seem permanently wedded to mutual disdain, but then something happens that changes the chemistry: Eden discovers that her younger brother Ben is the victim of abuse by his stepfather. To rescue him from the tyrant's custody, she knows that she must reconstruct her tattered relationship with the man that she had most cherished. What she doesn't yet realize is the full saving strength of that lovers' reunion.

Once again Izzy and Eden’s relationship starts off with Eden needing Izzy’s help. This time it’s in regard to her brother, Ben. These two are in love with each other, but neither one seems to trust the other when it comes to matters of the heart. Izzy just thinks Eden’s a liar and Eden thinks Izzy just wants sex.

Dan, Eden’s older, perfect brother also makes an appearance. He too is trying to help protect Ben. His love interest, Jennilyn, is a bit skeptical about Danny’s love for her. She doesn’t want Danny to be with her just because he needs her to gain custody of Ben, but because he loves her and can’t be without her.

As these four race to save Ben from his evil stepfather, they also encounter Neisha, a teenager who’s escaped from her sex slave captors.

Breaking the Rules is action packed just like all the Troubleshooter novels. Since it’s been a while since I read the last installment, Hot Pursuit, I couldn’t really remember Jennilyn’s character. I remember that name, but I couldn’t recall how she came into the picture.

I’ve always been a fan of Izzy and Eden and this one was no exception. It’s obvious to everyone but them how much the other cares about them.

I would have however loved to see my favorite supercouple, Sam and Alyssa. My only complaint with this book is that I read it’s going to be last of the Troubleshooters. Hopefully Brockmann is just taking a short hiatus and coming back with more great action very soon.

Read by Patrick Lawlor and Renée Raudman
Duration: 18 hours
Brillance Audio

The narration: A+
I always enjoy it when there are male and female narrators reading together.

Review: When You Dare by Lori Foster

When You Dare
Lori Foster {Facebook | Twitter}
Series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #1
Publisher: HQN
Publication Date: April 26, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.448}
Source: Publicist
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Molly Alexander, Dare Macintosh
Challenge: 100+, Romantic Suspense

The tougher they are, the harder they fall…

Professional mercenary Dare Macintosh lives by one hard and fast rule: business should never be personal. If a cause appeals to him and the price is right, he'll take the mission he's offered. But then the lovely Molly Alexander asks him to help her track down the men who'd had her kidnapped—and for the first time, Dare's tempted to combine work with pleasure.

Fiercely independent, Molly vows to trust no one until she's uncovered the truth. Could the enemy be her powerful, estranged father? The ex-fiancé who still holds a grudge? Or the not-so-shy fan of her bestselling novels? As the danger heats up around them, the only anchor Molly has is Dare himself. But what she feels for him just might be the most frightening thing of all…

Molly is rescued from her captors by Dare Macintosh. Even with the ordeal she has been through, she can’t help her attraction to the sexy mercenary.

Dare not only felt an immediate attraction to Molly, but also an immediate need to protect her. Molly isn’t exactly sure who is after her, but she’s hired Dare to find out. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means going after her father.

I really loved all the time spent at Dare’s home with his assistant Chris. I got to see another side of Dare when he was at home with Chris and his dogs. You could see that Dare truly cared about those closest to him.

Even though the relationship between Molly and Dare developed rather quickly, it was totally believable. I didn’t feel at all rushed with their love story or the plot in general. Dare is the perfect alpha male. He's strong and oh so sexy, but he's also sensitive and caring. A man who does the cooking!?! What's not to love!

Molly was the girl next door that you couldn't help but to like. She didn't see herself as Hollywood's standard of beautiful, but Dare seen none more beautiful. And everyone should have a friend like Chris.

I so look forward to reading more of this series! This is a series for my keeper shelf!

Review: In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

In Too Deep
Jayne Ann Krentz {Facebook | Twitter}
Series: Arcane Society #10; Looking Glass #1
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: December 2010
Audio Book {10 hrs}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Characters: Isabella Valdez, Fallon Jones
Challenge: 100+, Whisper Stories
My Rating:

When Fallon Jones took over the family business, he moved Jones & Jones headquarters to Scargill Cove, a secluded coastal town in Northern California. The Cove suits him just fine, as a confirmed recluse . . . and as an investigator of the paranormal. The Cove is a hot spot, a convergence point for unusually strong currents of energy, which might explain why the town draws misfits and drifters like moths to a flame.

Isabella Valdez is used to changing apartments, jobs, even names and Social Security numbers at the drop of a hat — but this is too much. She's been framed by some very dangerous men. They may be behind the disappearance of her grandmother. And now they've sent their thugs after Isabella. She would be dead if her gift of intuition hadn't told her to run.

So she's fled to California — and found employment with Fallon Jones. It's been only a few days, but Fallon doesn't remember life before his new assistant. Isabella's already organized his pathologically chaotic office, and she doesn't bat an eye at the psychic aspect of his job. She's a kindred spirit, sanctuary from a world that considers his talents a form of madness. The surest sign that he's falling for her? He doesn't even mind her cheery personality.

But after a routine case unearths an antique clock infused with dark energy, Fallon and Isabella are dragged into the secret history of Scargill Cove. Next thing they know, they're fighting for their lives in an abandoned underground lab — not exactly an ideal first date. Now their lives depend on the combined strength of their powers as they unravel a cutthroat conspiracy with roots in the Jones family business . . . and Isabella's family tree.

Isabella has escaped to Scargill Cove in an effort to get away from the men out to kill her. This is where she meets Fallon Jones, the head of Jones & Jones. She becomes his office manager, and shortly thereafter, becomes even more.

Isabella seemed to be the only one to get the real, true Fallon. Everyone else seemed to believe he was right on the edge of sanity. Fallon was the only on to know the real story behind Isabella, so they were the perfect match.

In Too Deep doesn’t hold your interest as well as some of the previous books in this series. The romance between Fallon and Isabella was a bit dry and mild. It was a lot of describing of their psychic powers but not a lot of relationship building.

Read by Joyce Bean

Duration: 10 hours

Brillance Audio

The narrator did a great job, but Joyce is one of my favorites. She always seems to capture the characters quite nicely.

Review: The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood

The Ideal Man
Julie Garwood
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: August 9, 2011
Kindle {p.340}
Source: Publisher/Net Galley
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Eleanor Sullivan, Max Daniels
Challenge: 100+, 50 States
My Rating:

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.

Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he’s definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she’s attracted to him in a way she can’t explain.

Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister’s wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she’ll be called to testify. But they’ve been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence—or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie’s shadow until the trial, and it isn’t long before sparks fly.

Julie Garwood delivers again! Her latest suspense was a thrill to behold.

Max and Ellie are thrown together when she witnesses a shooting of a federal agent while she was out for a jog. Although she finds Max rather rude, it doesn’t cool her intense attraction to him.

There was true chemistry between Max and Ellie. Their relationship took time to develop and progress in a manner that was believable and not rushed. Both Ellie and Max were great characters. You wanted Max in your bed and Ellie as your best friend.

I loved the two of them together. His need to protect her was so sweet and enduring. And when they weren’t disagreeing about something, they were laughing or loving.

The story offered the perfect mix of romance and suspense. It was more than enough to hold me enthralled to see how it all played out. The storyline flowed well, with enough action and laughs to keep me turning the pages.

The secondary characters as well were great. I loved Ellie’s dad and all of the shopping “deals” he loved to receive. However I didn’t like Ellie’s sister Ava, which Garwood did a great job in accomplishing that. I ended up liking the hitman more than I liked Ellie’s sister Ava.

The lead characters and secondary characters all were as believable as the family next door. Even the additional love story between Ellie’s other sister Annie and her Navy SEAL was delightful treat.

Another 5 star read by Julie Garwood!

Review: Hidden Away by Maya Banks

Hidden Away
Maya Banks {Facebook | Twitter}
Series: KGI #3
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.319}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Sarah Daniels, Garrett Kelly
Challenge: 100+, 50 States
My Rating:

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…

Garrett takes a babysitting mission to keep an eye on his sworn enemy, Marcus Lattimer’s, half sister Sarah.

From the previous two books in this series, I loved Garrett. So of course I was anxious for his novel, so much so that I pre-ordered.

With that being said, I was vastly disappointed with his story. I found myself skipping chunks of pages that just dully rambled on about absolutely nothing. Especially the parts featuring Steele and his team. I guess I was expecting a little more excitement out of Garrett, not the bland storyline he received.

At times I even found that I disliked Garrett. I understand that he had to lie to Sarah to do his job, but knowing all she had suffered through, he should have never went to bed with her while all this lies were between them. With her being a victim of rape, and having a difficult time with trust and men in general, I felt he did her a great disservice by bedding her before coming clean.

It did pick up a bit toward the end as far as action goes. The situation regarding her brother was a little tricky. Sarah’s forgiveness of Garrett for his involvement was rather sudden but I guess it was nearing the end of the book so it had to be rushed.

I will however continue the series just because it’s Maya Banks. No matter how disappointed I am with whichever novel of hers I’m reading, I tend to go back for more.