Seduction in the Shadows by T.L. Haddix

This series is one of my ultimate favorites. I have read all of the books and anxiously awaited getting my hands on this one. The foreshadowing from the previous novel led me to believe this one would be worth the wait. It absolutely was!

Joely is a really great character. She has suffered for years due to sticking to her personal moral code despite most of the town and some of her family believing the worst of her. Despite all of this, she remains sweet and quirky. When Joely meets straight laced Garrett, sparks fly even though Joely cannot comprehend why someone like him would want someone like her. Thankfully, Garrett doesn't let that keep him from pursuing her. 

Their relationship has some really sweet highs and some heart wrenching lows. As they spend time getting to know on another, Joely acquires a seemingly benign admirer. Just as Joely and Garrett reconcile their relationship, the admirer makes his move throwing everything in jeopardy.

I absolutely loved this story. As is typical with this series, many of the previous characters played prominently into this addition. I didn't find this one to be as suspenseful as some of the previous books, but it didn't keep me from being hooked into the story. There were also several laugh out loud moments that had my family looking at me strangely. While this could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of it.

Into the Shadows by Carolyn Crane

Wow!!!! I don't know where to start except with...Wow! I've never read this author before, but I certainly will again. I was totally sucked into this book. It was totally crude and graphic and violent and sad and beautiful and unbelievable. The depth of the characters, especially Thorne, had me holding my breath and hoping for the best. From the preview and the cover I never would have suspected the depth of the story and the emotional content.  I would love to write a synopsis of the story, but so much was involved that I wouldn't know where to start and wouldn't want to spoil it. I can only say five star reviews are not something I give lightly. I have to totally love something or be blown away. This story was absolutely a five star read!

Thank so much, Net Galley, for providing me a copy of this book for review!

One Night More by Mandy Baxter

I chose to read this book because it was recommended by one of my favorite authors. It is the first novel in a new series about U.S. Marshals. The story revolves around Harper who is a journalist and Galen, a U.S. marshal. After one life changing night together, they spend the next year apart due to a misunderstanding. They are reunited once Harper becomes the only witness to a murder and is in need of protection, but Galen pretends he does not recognize her. Harper must fight her feelings of betrayal and inadequacy even as she tries to discover who is after her and why the senator was murdered. 

The chemistry between Harper and Galen was electric. Once he admits his feelings for her, they become inseparable. Harper uses his feelings for her to convince him to let her take several risks with disastrous results.  The danger escalates as Harper gets closer to the truth and Galen puts his job on the line to help her.

I enjoyed the story and liked all the characters, especially Galen's boss, his sister and his friend Landon. Hopefully they will be featured in future books. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series.

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Ultimate Sins by Lora Leigh

I will start by saying once I started reading this book, I realized it was part of a series. Fortunately, that did not hinder me from being able to read it as a stand alone. However, I do think I might have enjoyed it even more if I had read the series in order.

The story is set in a small town where three young cousins are left alone when their families are all murdered. The young men grow up on the fringes of society raised by an uncle who eventually dies too leaving the cousins with only each other to depend on. They become the target of a serial rapist and killer who begins slaying every woman the young men have a relationship with. By the time this novel comes along in the series, everyone has just discovered who the killer is, and the hunt is on.

Crowe, one of the three young men, has been in love with Amelia for years but left her seven years ago to keep the killer from learning about their relationship. He has now discovered she was living with the killer all along...her abusive father. With her father on the run, Crowe believes Amelia needs his protection and is determined she will accept it whether she wants to or not. He tends to use their sexual chemistry as a persuasive force much of the time with some success although Amelia bucks against the suffocating feel of his protection.

Secrets and sins abound in this story of betrayal, courage, and renewal. I really was drawn to the characters and hooked into the story fairly quickly. I do feel the need to say that the sexual situations were much more graphic and frequent than I typically prefer to read, and the language (sexual and otherwise) was very explicit. For those reasons, I would have probably not finished the book had I not been so invested in the plot. I had to know how things were going to work out for Amelia. The character development and the interweaving of the plot were sensational. I just couldn't help but keep reading.

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing a copy for review.

Engaging the Enemy by Susanne Bellamy

I enjoyed reading this story, my first by this author. I tend to stick with traditional suspense in my typical reading habits, but the preview for this story interested me. While this was not a suspense in the usual sense of the word, the relationship between the two main characters was definitely suspenseful.

Matt and Andie were both constantly back and forth with their feelings of attraction and distrust. Every little thing seemed to spark a new doubt even though their chemistry kept them together. I liked both of the characters and liked Andie even more toward the end when she realizes her immature behavior.

Matt's accent was fun to imagine, and the Australian setting was interesting to read. I don't recall any profanity in the story, and intimate moments were behind closed doors. Overall, it was a nice clean romance with a bit of conflict.

Extreme Measures by Elisabeth Naughton

This was a new author for me and thankfully, the first book in a new series. I tend to be a big fan of series. This series is based around a private security firm called Aegis. The book didn't really go into any detail about how the firm was formed or what exactly they do, but it did introduce the key players in the firm.

Archer and Eve have a steamy history that totally hit the fan over a couple of ops gone bad. Archer is out for some major revenge against Eve, and she feels his hatred. When a meeting goes horribly wrong for Eve and results in a terrorist type act, Archer takes the opportunity to take Eve into his "custody". What he proceeds to do next can be perceived as both scary and ultimately hot. (You will just have to read it to find out.) Because Archer severed ties with Aegis in order to track Eve, he is left without backup when terrorists breach his hideout and try to kill him and Eve.

Eve is smart and resourceful but used to being alone. She is kind of a fixer protector who has to do everything by herself. Although she beats herself up for it mentally, she doesn't run away from Archer when she has the opportunity because he is hurt and because she still loves him. She and Archer end up forming an unlikely alliance based on mutual distrust but a common goal.

Danger is everywhere, and eventually Aegis comes in to provide some much needed assistance. Suddenly everything kicks up a notch. I was surprised by who the actual bad guys turned out to be. I'm usually a good guesser, so it was a happy surprise. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes and who it features next. I really want to know more about both Marley and Miller.

Obviously, this is an adults only book. It was typical of the military type suspense genre in that it did sport quite a bit of profanity and a lot of super hot very descriptive intimate moments. If you like this genre, you expect that, and will enjoy this book and all the characters.

My thanks to Net Galley for providing a copy of this book for review!

Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things by Rachelle J. Christensen

I really enjoyed trying this book by an author who is new to me. Though it seemed to start a bit slow for me, it totally picked up and had me frustrated when I had to put it down to handle family issues before I could finish. The characters had me hooked in and invested in the story. I especially loved Luke.

Adri is a likable if naive young woman recovering from the murder of her best friend and starting a new wedding planning business in a new hometown. When her first shipment of extremely expensive wedding dresses are tampered with and stolen, everything starts to go downhill and Adri's life becomes somewhat dangerous. Amid all the wedding chaos, Adri also meets a couple of men who vy for her attention. Luke is bold on the outside but more shy and sensitive inside while Dallas is the exact opposite.

Once Adri is pushed into choosing one of the men, she begins to feel pressured and conflicted but sticks with it despite an intense attraction to the other man. When her relationship issues combine with a bridezilla, missing dresses, upcoming weddings, and a stalker, Adri's life spins out of control.

In the end, with the help of her newly found detecting skills and her friends, Adri helps catch a killer and put on a beautiful wedding. I loved the not quite happily ever after but realistically happy hopeful ending. I hope this is going to become a series and I can read more about Adri and her maybe man.

Thanks go out to Net Galley for providing a copy of this book for honest review:-)