Hard to Forget by Incy Black

I will start by saying I received a copy of this book for review from Net Galley before I even knew what it was about. I knew nothing about this author, and there was no blurb to explain the plot. I simply requested a chance to read the book based on having previously really enjoyed books by this particular publisher.  I'm am really glad I was approved to read this story. It was full of action, very suspenseful, and ultimately alpha. The book starts out by giving the background of Jack and Lowry, particularly the cause of their contention. It then jumps forward to the present where the two of them are unexpectedly thrown together despite Lowry's very real fear of Jack. Lowry resists Jack's efforts to push into her life but ends up turning to him for help in a moment of desperation. Jack steps up but offers only protection without an ounce of compassion. The chemistry between these two is popping, but Jack is a very hard man, and Lowry is suffering from PTSD from an event in her past she has held secret and used to excuse sitting herself off from everyone...especially Jack.  Fortunately, Jack is able to get information about the PTSD event and his rage drives him to help Lowry in every way he can. Lowry alternates between desiring Jack and fearing his touch. As danger closes in, they both have decide whether they can trust each other. Their opinions on how to handle situations continually clash. Eventually, the danger catches up with them and pushes them out of their comfort zone and into the path of a killer.

This was a great read. I could barely put it down. I enjoyed the characters, and was totally invested in the storyline. It was way more deeply emotional and involved than I expected. I really loved it.

No Hero by Mallory Kane

I am so happy I discovered this author. I totally enjoyed this book. It had the perfect balance of chemistry and suspense with plenty of action and very little down time. Dev was super sexy and truly a good person at heart despite his tendency to dwell on his own failings. Reghan saw herself as a good person who exposed the evil in others. In the process of one of her reveals, she unrepentantly almost destroyed Dev's career and his life's work. Despite all this, three two have a certain chemistry they try to ignore. When a serial killer targets people connected to Dev, Reghan believes she has key evidence to help solve the case. Despite the tension between them and police resentment toward her, Reghan decides to share what she knows with Dev.  Soon, the killer's anger turns toward Reghan. Dev steps up to help despite Reghan's slightly self righteous attitude.  The connection between the two builds quickly. In the end, both have to be willing to sacrifice their lives for each other in order to beat the killer. 

I enjoyed the characters in this story, and I hope Penn gets her own book soon. I look forward to checking out other books by this author. I appreciate Net Galley providing a copy of this book for honest review.

Hush Now Baby by Cheryl Bradshaw

I have loved this series from the first book. Sloane always takes me places I'm not sure I want to go, but am glad I experienced when I get to the end. This is definitely not a light series. Sloane is a messed up broken character who can't seem to connect. She is intelligent, caring, and has a strong sense of personal morals but can't seem to find any good in herself...only guilt. She tends to focus only on her perceived failings and takes on the weight of the world. Cade is almost the polar opposite of Sloane. He is open and honest and pretty grounded in reality. I had a difficult time putting him together with Sloane in the last book because I really liked Giovanni, despite his negative affiliations. Even throughout this book, I kept wondering if he would appear and whether I really wanted him to. I don't know that Sloane's morality would ever let her be truly happy with Giovanni. Cade , on the other hand, seems to really understand Sloane. He lets her be herself...find herself. The case the two of them take on, while not physically very dangerous to Sloane, is emotionally challenging. As they search for a missing baby, Sloane can't help but be drawn back into her own painful losses. The people who care about her become concerned and push her to discover how she truly feels and what she really wants to do with her life. There are so many questions in this story. Will Sloane and Cade be able to save the baby? Who stole the baby and killed the mother? Does Sloane share Cade's feelings? Will she ever let herself release the control she holds so dear? You have to read it to find out. This book was a great addition to the series. I especially enjoyed the ending:-)

Deadly Holiday Reunion by Lenora Worth

I really love the Christmas season and especially Christmas books. While this story was mearly set near the Christmas season and had little to do with Christmas, it was still a great book. Jake and Ella were both great characters. Ella was resilient and strong and loyal. Jake was also loyal and a strong single dad. When Jake's daughter was kidnapped, clues led him to believe an old killer once presumed dead had returned. In order to save his daughter, he needed the help of his former love, Ella, the killer's only surviving victim. Ella agreed to help despite her fears. The two are left with the killer's idea of a twisted scavenger hunt as their only clues. In the midst of their search, the two end up discovering just how much they care about each other. Unfortunately, they have to risk it all for the chance to save Jake's daughter.

I have enjoyed this author for many years. Her stories are always well written with good plot lines. Her inspirational stories weave faith into the characters' daily lives in a way that feels realistic and lacks the awkwardness inherent in some inspirational books. This was a great read.

Net Galley provided a copy of this book for honest review:-)

Crossfire Christmas by Julie Miller

I totally devoured this book in one sitting. It was a both suspenseful and fun. The interactions between Nash and Teresa were full of quick wit and mutual respect. The Christmas aspects were sweet without being campy.

When Teresa stops to help at a roadside accident, she finds herself taken captive by an injured man with a bag full of weapons. Even though he threatens her, he also seems to be going out of his way to protect her. Nash is an undercover DEA agent who is searching for a mole inside his agency. He doesn't want to put anyone else in danger, but he needs Teresa and her nursing skills. When Teresa turns the table and escapes from Nash's confinement, she not only discovers his true identity but also inadvertently places herself in danger. Nash has no choice but to keep her with him and try to keep her safe. Teresa, however, is having no part of being protected. She pushes Nash to consider her a partner and challenges his notions every step of the way. In the end, it takes both of them to finally bring an end to the danger in time for Christmas.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley for honest review:-)

Snowstorm Confessions by Rachel Lee

Due to what seems like a horrible accident, Bri is placed in the award position of needing to take her ex husband into her home and nurse him back to health. Luke came to town seeking to resolve a few remaining issues with Bri. He hates feeling so helpless from his many injuries and causing more work for Bri. As they are forced to spend day after day together, the couple begin taking about their shared past. They begin to make efforts to figure out what went wrong in their marriage and understand each other better. In the meantime, neither one realizes a stalker is watching their every moves and eavesdropping on their conversations. When a snowstorm traps the couple in Bri's house and they become closer, the stalker decides Bri will never belong to anyone again.

As per the title, this book did revolve around a series of confessions between the couple. I would describe this as a romance with a hint of suspense, primarily toward the end. 

I received a copy of this book for review from Net Galley.

The Unleash Me series by Christina Ross

I was so excited about this series because I loved the Annihilate Me series and adored all the characters, especially Tank and Lisa. As I said in my review of Annihilate me, yes, the books in this series are cliffhangers (literally ending in the middle of a situation and then immediately picking up with the next book just like turning a page), and yes, they really are short (ending between 65 and 85% completed on my kindle), but that is not what had bothered me. Thankfully, I read this series on kindle unlimited because I would be very upset if I was out money. While I still love Tank and Lisa, 80% of this series was just Annihilate Me with the names changed. One conversation in this series between Jennifer and Tootie was word for word the same from Annihilate Me. Even the sex scenes between Tank and Jennifer were remakes. They were full of the same obsession with suits and stubble and even experimented with the same new ways to play. Just as Alex is injured with a long recovery while protecting Jennifer on the street, Tank is also injured. See where I'm going with this? I didn't stress too much because, like I said, it was free for me to read, but I have too say be cautious before spending money. On the good side, the final suspense climax was really good and Blackwell was her usual fun self. This author has talent. She just needed to put more time into this series in my opinion.

The Annihilate Me series by Christina Ross

I have read all the volumes in this series on kindle unlimited. I totally loved it and thought each book got better and better, more suspenseful and deeply romantic. I have read other reviewers who mention the cliffhanger type endings and shorter length of the stories. They are not wrong, but I just didn't care. Since I was borrowing them rather than buying them, the shorter length of the stories did not bother me. As for the cliffhanger endings, it clearly states it is written in volumes, so that should be expected. I won't rehash the plot, but I will just say that the chemistry was beyond hot, the romance was especially deep and devoted, and the suspense developed slowly over time before it escalated to an amazing ending in the final volume. The close friendships were also really fun to read as was Jennifer's snarky mouth. I thought it was a great series and plan to start Unleashed tomorrow.

Once Haunted, Twice Shy by H.P. Mallory

I totally love this author and have read almost every book she's written. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen in this one. I definitely would not recommend reading this book if you have not read the first one. You would be totally lost.

Nothing in this story is as it seems. Good might be bad, and bad can actually turn out good. There is no way to know who to really trust. Voodoo and magic abound, and the Axeman is preparing for his return.  Peyton is still possessed by Drake but persueing a relationship with Ryan while continuing to procrastinate about telling him of the possession. The only new character to enter the picture is Gaurda, a Voodoo practitioner who is creepy to say the least. Gaurda weaves spells around Peyton and Lovie which affect their memory and leave us to wonder what is going to happen. Fortunately, Lovie is always cautious and prepared, Charles is begrudgingly on board, and Ryan is a steadfast rock...or is he? Man, the last two sentences in the entire book threw me for a loop! Read it, and you will see!

Thanks, Net Galley, for providing me with a copy of this book for honest review:-)

Under His Protection by Katie Reus

This is one of my favorite sexy suspense series. I only wish these books were longer so I could get even deeper into the characters. The predator in this story was particularly vile. His forms of stalking Julieta are perverse and shocking. Julieta believes she can handle things on her own until Ivan, the sexy bodyguard with whom she has shared a month's long unrequited attraction, discovers what she has been hiding and witnesses violence against her. There is no getting rid of him after that...not that Julieta wants to. Surprisingly, even though Ivan starts out coming across as the gruffest member of Red Stone, he turns out to be one of the most considerate and gentle. Ivan may have asserted control, but he made sure Julieta knew what she wanted was important too. This was a sexy great addition to this series.

Net Galley provided a copy of this book for honest review:-)

Spirited Away by Angela Campbell

What a fun surprise! Ghost books are not my typical fare, but this one was interesting and very amusing. I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I'm sure I will now. Emma/Spider is a 25 year old trying to secure her independence and discover who she wants to be outside of everyone else's expectations. Noah is secretly spying on her as part of his investigation into her boss. When the two meet, chemistry is instantaneous although both try to avoid and ignore it. When strange dreams, moving objects, and a few ghosts enter the picture, everything gets complicated and nothing is as it seems. Three very active and intuitive pets make the situation even more interesting. There is a lot going on to keep this story moving at a fast pace and hold the reader's attention. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more in the series.

Net Galley provided a copy of this book for honest review:-)

Dead Don't Lie by L.R. Nicolello

Wow!!! This book totally took me by surprise! I requested the opportunity to read this book on Net Galley primarily because I was drawn to the striking cover. I had never heard of this author and really was just hoping it wouldn't be sappy. As soon as I started reading, I knew sappy was not going to be a part of the picture. I was drawn in immediately to a story that was definitely not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. My expectation had been an everyday average romantic suspense, but this was nowhere near that. Written in a style that reminded me of a couple of my favorite authors, Mary Burton and Beverly Barton, this was darkly psychological, totally sadistic, frighteningly and heartbreakingly realistic, and yet deeply emotional and sexy at times. It has been a while since a book has really grabbed my attention and had me excited and raving. I am so thrilled to have found this new author and can't wait to read the next book in this series. I scoped the author out on Amazon and found book two scheduled to release in January. It didn't even have a description to let me know whether it will feature the same main characters or shift to cover someone else, but I can promise you I will be reading it regardless. I could totally go on and on about the plot of this story and give a full on play by play synopsis, but I really feel like it would detract from the emotional impact of the story and spoil it. Hopefully you will take me at my word and just read it for yourself:-)

Net Galley provided me a copy of this novel for honest review. Honest is the key word. I truly loved this book!

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

I have been a fan of Lynette Eason for a long time and have read many of her books. However, I have not read the first book in this series and didn't realize it was part of a series when I started reading it. Fortunately, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story. I liked both the characters and the concept. Dani is an abused wife and mother seeking a way of escape from stalking. Her son, Simon, is highly intelligent and busy resourceful. He does not let his deafness hinder him. Adam works for the organization Dani has turned to for help and is tasked with her safety.  Though they constantly relocate, they cannot seem to shake the reach of the stalker. They think they know who he is, but do they really? This story blends romance, suspense, and faith into a great read.

Net Galley provided a copy of this novel for honest review:-)

Shattered Secrets by Karen Harper

I found this novel to be more of a procedural than your typical romantic suspense. Gabe is sheriff in the town where he grew up and where Tess was abducted years ago and held for 8 months before she escaped. Coming back to town after years away, Tess is bombarded by memories she has long suppressed. Gabe never stopped trying to solve her case and is now investigating more similar kidnappings. Tess tries to regain her memories in order to help and also tries her hand at investigating on her own with both good and negative results. What follows is a complicated and convoluted investigation which leads the two into a few tricky situations and had then investigating more suspects than they can handle. Though the story was a tad drawn out for me at times, the ending and the culprit was a surprise. Any suspense/mystery which can catch me by surprise at the end is a good read in my book. This novel was also very clean, no bad language or sexual situations...just some scary thrills.

Net Galley provided a copy of this novel for honest review:-)

Danger at the Border by Terri Reed

This story is the first book in a new series featuring northern border patrol agents. In this particular book, Jeff is a border control agent and Tessa is doctor who specializes in marine life. Both of them have been called to a small tourist town to determine what is happening at a local lake where fish are dying and people are getting sick. As the two begin to track the source of contamination back to its source, they are ambushed. The majority of the story deals with the couple's efforts to escape their captors and report what they have found. In the process of all this, both Jeff and Tessa reveal their adamant wish to avoid relationships despite their obvious attraction to each other and compatibility. A great deal of danger and suspense draw the couple closer together than they intend to be. In the process, Jeff's strong faith influences Tessa to reconnect with the faith she had left in her childhood. Both characters openly discuss their faith and their prayers. In the end, the couple had to decide whether their relationship can be different from those they had experienced in the past. My only slight complaint is that the "I love you" card was played a bit quickly with all the events in the book taking place over approximately one week. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book and would read the author again.

Net Galley provided a copy of this book for honest review:-)

Dark Secrets, Deep Bayous by Meg Hennessy

Jordan and Aurelie are a very unlikely couple for three early 1800's. Jordan is white and makes a financial agreement to take Aurelie, who is of mixed heritage and considered Creole, as his mistress (an acceptable practice ofc the day). Aurelie knows of the arrangement and agrees to go along with it. Both parties have secrets to keep and gains they hope to receive.  Though their relationship starts off very rocky, they are drawn to each other more and more.  Unfortunately, their secrets are revealed and the ensuing emotions threaten to destroy the fragile ground they have gained with each other.

I enjoyed this fast paced historical romantic suspense. It was very well written with characters I could easily identify with. The author addressed heavy issues such as race relations without being preachy but while giving depth to the feelings expressed. I am excited this will be becoming a series and am already looking forward to Collette's story.


  Net Galley provided a copy of this book for honest review:-)  

Trapped by Beverly Long

Elle and Brody find themselves thrown together after a difficult 13 year separation by a plane crash in the middle of the Brazilian jungle. Elle realizes she was to blame for their break up years before, so she is patient with the verbal jabs Brody lobs her way. The two end up working together to help the other injured passengers and secure water and shelter. When it becomes clear that help is not coming, they end up crossing the jungle together to find help with friends Elle knows from living in the area. Unfortunately, Elle is harboring several secrets, some about the past and some dangerous ones from the present which end up interrupting their efforts to find help. Once all is revealed, Brody has to decide whether he can forgive the past and find a way to ensure they survive to find a future.

I enjoyed the book. It was an easy afternoon read, but also had good plot and likable characters. My only complaints would be that I would have liked some resolution regarding what happened to the rest of the passengers (maybe even see them all reuniting) and a bit more detail in the epilogue since it felt a little rushed to me. Overall though it was a nice read, and I would definitely read this author again.

Net Galley provided me with a copy of this book for review:-)

Cavanaugh Strong by Marie Farrarella

Although I haven't read any of the other Cavanaugh books, I really enjoyed this one. While I wouldn't actually place it in the suspense  category, it was a really good police procedural. The characters were interesting, especially the grandmother, Lucy.  Witty dialog throughout kept me amused.  The story didn't lag as it followed Noelle and Donovan through the twists and turns of their investigation into the strange deaths of unattached senior citizens. The two meet each other's families and begin to spend time together off the clock and under the sheets. Lucy plays an instrumental role in helping Noelle battle her fears about relationships. Donovan turns out to be very persistent and entertaining. In the end, Noelle had to decide whether to get over her fears or get over Donovan.

I received some copy of this book for honest review from Net Galley.

Sweeter Than Sin by Shiloh Walker

I didn't realize this was the fifth book in a series when I started reading it. It was my first time reading this author. While I admit there were a few things it took me a minute to figure out since I had no knowledge of the prior books, but it was definitely not enough to keep me from finishing the story since I got caught up in Adam and Lana. While I certainly would have benefited from having read the other books in the series, I enjoyed this story and will probably go back and read the others...especially Noah and Trinity's story.

Lana had been leading a messed up shell existence of a life. Adam has barely lived his own life since Lana disappeared from it twenty years ago. The two of them together should be totally screwed up, but somehow they ease each other's distress and fit together perfectly. Though their initial coming back together was rocky at first, it didn't take long for sparks to fly. Unfortunately, the couple had more to deal with than their own relationship. They were tangled up in the mystery of who all in the town had been involved in the Cronus Club, a sickly perverted organization which started all the original trouble years ago. People were murdered, both good and bad. The whole town was reeling while Lana hid in plain sight and Adam worked to help her find a safe way to unravel the club and regain her life. This was a deep multilayered story with steamy passion and dark deception.

Net Galley provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.