Her One and Only

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After ten years in the NFL, superstar Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans.  But when Gray starts receiving threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught.  Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them in a young, beautiful woman.  How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt – none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment.  In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray.  As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives – and their hearts – to one another.

Review

I’ve been a big fan of Becky Wade’s “Porter Family” Series since her first novel, Undeniably Yours, came out in 2013.  Each novel was unique and the characters unforgettable – and Her One and Only was no exception.

I was a tad worried about how Dru Porter’s character would come off as my experience with a defiant, rebellious female lead often leads to an ultra-feminist bent as the heroine spends all her time talking trash about the male population and trying her absolute hardest to best all males in general, resulting in a the story focused on aa competition of wills and ego that leaves you with the feeling “Was I reading a boxing story or a romance?”

I shouldn’t have been worried – especially an author of Becky Wade’s caliber at the helm of this engaging story.  Dru Porter does have a strong personality, nerves of steel, and a soldier’s attitude.  She’s a woman who prefers Guns & Ammunition over the latest Cosmopolitan and rides a motorcycle over the newest Honda Civic.  But Dru Porter has a huge heart (even though she does her best to shield it), and along with her likeable determination and quick wit, Becky Wade has created one of my favourite heroines to date.   

Gray Fowler is Dru’s perfect counterpart as a strong guy with the same amount of guts and determination as Dru, and also easily matches her sharp wit to create some of the most entertaining banter I’ve read.  Together they make a great team, and perfectly close out the Porter Family series with a story of romance, intrigue, suspense, and redemption.   

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Merchant of Alyss

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When Hyam reluctantly returned to the Long Hall, he never imagined how his life would change.  Latent powers were honed, chance encounters brought new wisdom, and even love found a way into his heart.  With his wife, Joelle, he now makes a home in Falmouth Port.

Hyam is slowly recovering from his battles when a mysterious shipment of Milantian scrolls arrives.  Soon he is haunted by dreams of mythic beasts and coming conflicts.  When Joelle falls under a sorcerer’s spell, he must venture through the desolate lands to save her – and his community.

One particular scroll seems to hold the promise of new powers, but it also carries a hidden warning about an unfathomable threat.  As Hyam sets out on another journey, he is keenly aware that he must rely on all his abilities – and his forbidden past – to succeed.  His quest could bring deliverance…or devastation.

Review

Thomas Locke has written another fantastic adventure in this follow-up to Emissary, the first novel in the “Legends of the Realm” series. 

In Merchant of Alyss, readers again follow Hyam on an adventure as unrelenting dreams lead him to believe that evil is lurking, and his help is needed.  The journey takes a dark turn when when his wife, Joelle, is struck with a deadly spell.  It becomes a race against time to save his wife – and others.  Staying alive is no guarantee as the journey is fraught with danger from beasts, witches, vast desert lands, and dark magic.

Packed with exciting twists and turns, Merchant of Alyss is a great adventure read and I look forward to book #3!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Sins of the Past

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“Missing”, by Dee Henderson

A Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing from her retirement community.  Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two soon launch into a race against the clock when they realize something dark may lie at the heart of the disappearance.

“Shadowed”, by Dani Pettrey

Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young Alaskan fisherman nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor.  Another swimmer, who’d been the dead woman’s roommate years ago, is pulled into the search for answers as it grows more and more clear that something sinister is at play.

“Blackout”, by Lynette Eason

A young woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong finds herself at risk years later when the real culprit is up for parole.  The loot taken that night has never been found and he believes she knows where it’s hidden – only her memory of that night has always been unreliable.  Can she remember enough to find her way to safety?

Review

Three suspense stories in one book – a mystery lover’s dream!  And the beauty of a novella collection is that it highlights the diversity of each author.  With Dee Henderson, readers are treated with strong dialogue and detailed research of the inner workings of a police investigation.  Dani Pettrey brought to life some really great characters that were very likeable.  Lynette Eason had a fantastic story line that was very suspense driven – so much so that the reader felt like they had to watch their back as much as the characters!

In “Missing” the dialogue was greatly detailed and well-written, pulling the reader deep into the facts of the investigation and the step by step police procedures.  But I felt it was a double-edged sword whereby it was a little too heavy on the facts and procedures, and not enough character development. I would have loved to read more about the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and emotions.  The main characters, John and Sharon, were very strong, intriguing individuals (something that I really like about Dee’s stories – her characters are always strong, independent, and quite resourceful), and with a little bit more character depth, it really would have brought the story to life.

“Shadowed” had some great characters.  From the mysterious Elliott, to the determined Libby, and strong Ben, these characters helped round out the storyline.  The story itself could easily have been longer as the last few chapters felt a bit rushed.  However, the plot was quite unique, and fans of Dani’s “Alaskan Courage” series will enjoy reading this “prequel”.

“Blackout” delivered non-stop action chapter after chapter.  I also really enjoyed how the main characters’ relationship didn’t feel “rushed”, but followed a more natural timeline with the characters already knowing each other a few years at the start of the story.  The mystery was good, and the flashback sequences that Macey experiences brought a unique and suspenseful element to the story – not to mention a bit of a tease as readers only find out a little bit at each time of what truly happened during that robbery!

Overall, Sins of the Past is a unique novella collection with three very different stories and writing styles.  I look forward to more novels by all three of these talented writers.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Cold Shot

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In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out.  Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst.  But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world – and friendships – crumbled.

Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind.  Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he’s living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg.  Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top – and they aren’t Civil War-era.

Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper.  When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide.  Griffin soon realizes he’ll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he – and those he cares about – are going to escape a downward spiral of crime, danger, and murder. 

Review 

Holy smokes, what an intriguing mystery novel!  Encountered with a case colder than the Antarctic, ranger Griffin McCray and forensic anthropologist Finley Scott team up to unravel a twisted mystery that spans generations and brings danger right to their doorstep.  It isn’t long after they start investigating the crime, that attempts are taken on their lives resulting in a thrilling cat-and-mouse game in Griffin’s and Finley’s quest for the truth.  With the inclusion of a few other strong characters to nicely round out the novel, Dani Pettrey has done a fabulous job with the debut story in her new series “Chesapeake Valor”.  In short, Cold Shot was a great mystery read, which kept my attention to the very end, and left me itching to read the next book!    

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.