Prisoner Mine by Megan Mitcham

When Zeke shows up to rescue a highly incapacitated Greer, all she knows about him is that he is a jerk from work who hates her. She doesn't even know his real name or duties. Being grateful for her rescue doesn't ease her suspicion of his motives. Zeke, on the other hand, doesn't want Greer in the field at all. He knows more than he's saying and suspects the direction of his current assignment is going to destroy Greer. He wants her as far away as possible. Greer isn't used to just giving in and insists on being included. In the meantime, an attraction Zeke believes would be unforgivable to act on burns brightly between the couple. He is trying to protect Greer, but she knows her own mind and is determined to get what she wants.

I had only read book ones in this series, but I didn't have any issues keeping up with this story. It was pretty intense and had a well developed story line and interesting characters.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing an ARC for review.

True Peril by Veronica Forand

I did not realize when I started this book that it was actually book three in a series. Later on in the story, it became obvious that some of the characters had a backstory I didn't know all about. It did work well as a standalone though, and the characters from previous novels just inspired me to check those out too.

The story takes place primarily in South America and England. Trista is a very independent and self reliant foreign aid worker who ends up kidnapped by a drug cartel. When Dane, her co-worker's older brother, shows up to check on his sister, he finds her devastated and terrified for Trista. Though his sister is unaware, Dane has all the training he needs to take off after Trista and attempt a rescue. Surprisingly, Trista had already done most of the work herself. She just needs a way tho become someone else. Dane has the perfect solution. She can be his wife.

This crazy stop gap measure buys them some time, but also results in even more trouble, especially when they begin to believe in their marriage.  The story crosses back and forth across the globe and has lots of action and simmering chemistry (All intimate scenes are behind closed doors so to speak and between married couples.) I loved both Dane and Trista. They really were perfectly matched.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Awesome New Releases!

There are so many great books coming out this week! Be sure to check out my earlier reviews of each one of these stories.

The Asset by Anna del Mar
Atone by Beth Yarnall
Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster
Reckless Heat by Lynne Raye Harris
Taking Fire by Cindy Gerard

Release Day!

Happy book birthday this week to Surrender at the Border by Risa Leigh and Healing Love by Abby Niles! Check out my reviews of these novels here on my blog or as Sparkymom on Amazon and Goodreads.

Reckless Heat by Lynne Raye Harris

Though I was afraid it would be a little weird going back again to before the beginning of the series, I couldn't resist giving it a try since I've loved all the other HOT books. The story takes us back to the late teenage years of Matt and Evie from HOT Pursuit (book one). If you've read book one, you already know the basics that Matt was Evie's best friend who ended up being her "first" then ditching her. This quick novella digs deeper and shows who Matt and Evie were back then and what their family situations were like and how their friendship had developed from childhood and turned to something deeper. You learn about why Evie offered herself to Matt and why he risked their friendship to take her up on her offer then leave her.

I enjoyed reconnecting with this couple so much that I ended up going back and reading HOT Pursuit again just minutes after finishing Reckless Heat. It was a great little addition to the HOT series.

I received an ARC from the author for review.

Jagger by Chelsea Camaron and MJ Fields

This is the third book in the Caldwell Brothers series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I don't recommend it. You should absolutely check out Hendrix and Morrison because the background will help you better understand this story and because they are just really great books you wouldn't want to miss anyway. So, the Caldwell brothers are good guys but not your typical good guy if you know what I mean. They are completely unrefined and rough around the edges. They can be crude and moody and bossy, but they truly just want to be the good their momma raised them to be. Jagger is the youngest of the the brothers. While he envied the connections his brothers have found and adores his quirky sister in laws, Jagger doesn't really see that future for himself....well, not until he encounters Tatiana. She is a girl too old for her teenage body but yet too young for Jagger. She has experienced so much in her short life, and when Jagger interrupts the abuse that has become routine for Tatiana, he makes her believe something different might be possible. Jagger sees everything he wants in Tatiana, but despite her old soul, she is only seventeen. He knows he has to bide his time and let her come to him when she is of age and ready. He settles for anonymously caring for her from afar.

Unfortunately when Tatiana finally makes her escape, Jagger appears to be otherwise occupied. She accepts another's offer of help, but the help she recieves complicates matters in multiple ways.

This series was unique and full of really great characters I couldn't help but get attached to. I only wish there were more brothers so the series could keep going. Who knows, maybe the authors will give Kid hugs own story. I would love that!

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Edge of Surrender by Laura Griffin

In this story, Emma and Ryan discover the conspiracy and secrets go much deeper than either had imagined. It picks up right where part one left off, so definitely don't start it without reading part one first.  Emma has disappeared, and Ryan and Jake are frantically working to discover what happened. Once they confirm their suspicion that she taken against her will, Ryan determines he will stop at nothing to get her back. With help from Jake and an FBI agent, Ryan finds Emma just in time. He determines that Emma needs to disappear again...with him. The two go on the run working behind the scenes to determine who orchestrated the plane crash and who wants to make sure Emma is no longer a survivor.

I really was sucked into both part one and two of this series. The characters were likable and believable; the chemistry was sparking, and and the suspense didn't let up. It was everything I love about the military style suspense genre and everything I love about the writing of Laura Griffin all rolled into one. How could you go wrong with that?!? The only thing missing is the rest of the story behind what's going on between Jake and his FBI agent. I sure hope those two are getting their own story soon.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Exciting week!

Several books I've reviewed for this blog have been released this week. Happy book birthday to Tatooed as Trouble by J.L. Hammer, The Millionaire Makeover by Naima Simone, Colton's Surprise Heir by Addison Fox, His Light in the Dark by L.A Fiore, and Lost in Her by Sandra Owens!

Heavy Artillery Husband by Debra Webb and Regan Black

I have never read any of the Colby family books, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this story. It features Frank and Sophia who have been married for many years. Their daughter is now on the verge of her own marriage. The only problem is that Sophia was led to believe that Frank killed himself over a year ago after his estrangement and conviction of treason. Now Sophia has been attacked and Frank has reappeared out of the blue. Sophia should be happy her is alive, but she discovers she is more angry than anything. In order to prove his innocence and put an end to his hiding, Frank has no choice but to work together with Sophia. They are both in danger, and the emotional danger may be even greater than the physical.

I liked both Frank and Sophia. A spunky fighter attitude made Sophia a force to be reckoned with, and Frank's sacrifices for his family's safety showed how much he loved them.  The story kept the action moving and the suspense at a premium. I appreciated reading a story about a slightly more mature couple.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

At the Edge by Laura Griffin

Wow! This is Laura Griffin in a whole new way. I have read and loved all of her Tracers series, but this was nothing at all like that. It was a lot sexier and action packed. I adore military style suspense, but I wasn't sure how Laura Griffin's style would translate into this genre. I shouldn't have worried. She just completely invented a new style for herself, and it worked brilliantly.

The chemistry was off the charts, and both Emma and Ryan were likable characters. They meet under extreme circumstances after Emma's plane crashes. Ryan is part of the team sent to find survivors. He finds Emma, and things only get more interesting from there. Emma knows something was off about the plane crash, and she is determined to find out what. Ryan knows more than he is letting on, and he just wants to protect Emma. Unfortunately for him, she is not the type to be babysat or coddled. Ryan finds that out the hard way.

I cannot wait to read the second half of this story. I hope she will also write stories for Ryan's other team members (especially Jake).

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Surrender at the Border by Risa Leigh

Callie is a small town librarian who is asked to help the authorities find evidence on a criminal using the library's computers to conduct illegal activities. The fact that said criminal seems to be infatuated with her makes her even more useful. B.J. is an ATF agent working the case. He is also secretly working another angle related to Callie's late husband. Both Callie and B.J. have lost a spouse to violence. Problems start when the investigation manage to result in both of them being kidnapped and taken across the border into Mexico. A timely escape takes them out of one form of danger but places then right in the middle of a desert with little to survive on. The time alone searching for a way back home gives them plenty of time to get to know each other, in a couple of different ways (*wink, wink*).  When the dust finally settles though, will what they found in each other be permanent or just a reaction to danger and stress?

This was an easy read with plenty of action and danger. It had a chatty talkative librarian matched with a taciturn growly agent, which made for an interesting contrast.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

New Release

Happy book birthday to Viral Justice by Julie Rowe. It is a part of her Biological Response Team series.