Be Afraid by Mary Burton

Written in the same style as her last book and carrying over some of the same characters, Be Afraid is a police procedural focused on tracking down a killer whose crimes span decades. Rick, whose brother Deke was featured in the last book, is one of the primary detectives on the case. Much of the drama in the story is centered around Rick's job related shooting injury and his inability to relax and connect with his partner and those around him. Jenna also has trouble connecting with people. A traumatic event in her childhood and an emotionless upbringing have left her scarred. She travels to Nashville in order to search out her past and ends up tied into Rick's murder investigation. As her past is brought to light, Jenna becomes the focus of the killer's attention. Rick steps up to protect Jenna even though she is a cop herself and doesn't see the need for his help. The two have some latent chemistry from the beginning which develops very slowly throughout the story and culminates following the killer's attempt on Jenna's life. I liked the idea behind this story and the details related to forensic artistry. The killer was definitely creepy and unusual. The secondary chemistry between Bishop and Georgia was also interesting. If you like procedurals, you should enjoy this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing a copy for review.

Need Me by Cynthia Eden

This series is by far my favorite by this author. In fact, I was never really a fan before I discovered these books. Every book in this series has been darkly amazing. Each story has gotten better and better. This book finally gives us Devlin's story. He has been the brooding skeptic who was suspicious of everyone. Now, he finds himself attracted to an accused murderer and hired to be her body guard. Julianna is accused of stabbing her wealthy husband to death. She maintains her innocence, but won't reveal all of her secrets. Devlin has to deal with his suspicions as to whether Julianna is a femme fatale out to use him. Julianna has to deal with her fear of the leashed violence just under Devlin's surface of calm.  This story had a great plot and was not only full of totally steamy chemistry but also tons of action. Devlin and Julianna had to work to be what each other needed, and in the end, it took both of them to take down the real killer.

I really enjoyed the story and appreciate having received a copy from Net Galley for review. It was dark; it was sexy; it was dangerous; it was alpha. What more could you ask for?

Untrue Colors by Veronica Forand

I have to admit that I didn't really like this book at first. It seemed a bit melodramatic and the writing wasn't really grabbing me. I starred to give up after the first chapter, but kept reading since Net Galley had provided me a copy and I wanted to give it a fair chance. Fortunately, the more I read, the better the writing got and the more real the characters seemed. I grew to like Alex and her ability to never give up. Henry's willingness to sacrifice his dreams in order to save Alex also endeared him to me. The underworld of the art for guns trade was believable and gave the action of the story a bit of an edge. Overall, I ended up enjoying the book and hope Simon is the focus of the next book. My heart hurt over his ending, and I want to know what happens to him.

The Salvation of Vengeance by Nancy Haviland

Five stars is nowhere near enough. I can't even describe how deeply hooked I am by these books. I read the first book and absolutely couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! When I was given the chance to check out an advance copy from Net Galley, I literally wanted to jump up and down. The story did not disappoint. Nika and Vincente were favorites of mine from book one. In this story, we get a glimpse inside Nika's life with her husband, Kevin. It is unbelievably horrific. She has begun to see herself as emotionally destroyed by all she is suffering in order to protect her brother. Her memories of her kiss with Vincente months before are the only light in her dark world.

As he begins his work as Gabriel's underboss, Vincente also dwells on recollections of the kiss. He starts the ball rolling on an investigation into Nika's husband, an investigation he doesn't realize her brother has already started. When Eva and Gabriel's wedding brings Vincente up close and personal with Nika once more, his desire for her and his need to protect her only becomes stronger. When he finds out what she has been hiding, he erupts like a volcano, and Nika runs away back to her own private hell in an effort to finally find the item Kevin uses to coerce her submission and end his reign over her before he can enact his latest scheme of torture and degradation. Unfortunately, nothing goes as she planned, and the situation goes from bad to worse. A game of cat and mouse ensues as both Nika's bother and Vincente use their respective men and resources to track down and destroy Kevin...or is it Kevin doing the tracking? It becomes an intriguing case of the predator also becoming the prey. In the meantime, can Nika and Vincente resist the magnetic connection they feel, and do they even want to resist?

Though I am not typically a reader of motorcycle club or mob stories, this series has me addicted and rooting for the "bad guys" to win. What I love about it is that it isn't one of those series written just to ride the coattails of a trend in genre. The characters have depth and are so easy to connect to. The stories are exhilarating, heart breaking, shocking, and fabulously written. They are a roller coaster well worth riding! I don't know how I will be able to wait for the next book.

Only for Him by Cristin Harber

I was really excited about reading this book since I am absolutely addicted to this author's Titan and Delta series. I was a bit unsure about the new adult genre, but this book spanned several years from finishing the last few months of high school to a few years down the road when life has thrown a few curveballs. Personally, I was hooked right off the bat. Both Grayson and Emma drew me into the story, but it was Grayson who completely tied up my heart. His emotions ran so deep yet no one ever saw through the image he projected. Emma was the light in his darkness, but she had no idea. She admired him from afar but never dreamed he would be interested in her. When they both fell, they fell quickly. It was easy to see that while Emma loved Grayson, she had no idea the depth of his connection to her and dependence on her. Unfortunately, Grayson made a life altering decision which altered more lives than just his own. This story is part of a novella series, so while this book had a definite end and resolution, some strings were left hanging to tie into the next book. There was definitely a surprise ending I never saw coming for Emma, but it was certainly not one of those crazy cliffhangers which leave you holding your breath and practically drop off in the middle of a sentence. I can't wait for the next book. I really need to know how Emma ended up where she did and what happens next. I'm thrilled to death that Net Galley offered a copy of this book for review and introduced me to this great new series.

Fate Book Two by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Although I really don't like the covers for this duo of books, I certainly enjoy the stories. Dakota and Paulo completely hooked me in the first book, and there was no chance of me missing out on book two. The story starts out with the couple still happily hiding in plain sight in their little tropical paradise. Dakota's parents have arrived for the wedding, and she is ready to head down the aisle. Unfortunately for Dakota, Paulo has disappeared. Dakota is left fearing their cover is blown and going into hiding with her mother. As days pass with no sign of Paolo, Dakota's father tries to convince he Paulo has left by his own choice and found someone else. Fearing the worst but hoping for the best, Dakota puts get own plan in motion to find her fiance and settle things once and for all. Her quest takes her across the world and away from all support. Once she arrives, things couldn't be more confusing. Conflicting reports of Paolo's whereabouts and a man named Felix keep Dakota off balance. Thankfully, Dakota is not that easy to get rid of. She is determined, and nothing will keep her from getting herself and Paolo out alive. I enjoyed the characters and the story. The plot was just convoluted enough to make it interesting but not confusing. So many surprises were sprinkled throughout the book. I was just as confused about where and who Paolo was as Dakota was. Thankfully, "all's well that ends well" as they say. This truly did end well. I absolutely loved it! Thanks, Net Galley for proving a copy of this book for review.