Review: The Hunter by Monica McCarty

 

 

 

The Hunter

By Monica McCarty

Book #7 in the Highland Guard series

I keep thinking that the next book in this series cannot possibly get any better and I continue to be wrong (thankfully!).


Ewen "Hunter" Lamont was perfectly matched with the fiery Janet of Mar and it was definitely a battle of wills. Ewen is a proud man of few words and is known as the most skilled tracker in all of Scotland. He's got something to prove and has been loyal to Robert the Bruce's cause from the outset. When he was asked to escort the nun Sister Genna back to the Priory after one of her covert courier runs, he doesn't question the assignment. Ewen is unaware of her true identity and is uncomfortably attractive to this holy woman. Sister Genna is really Janet of Mar who was believed to have been killed in the failed rescue attempt of her twin sister, Mary. Janet is a force and extremely independent, not seeing the need for his protection so the tug of war for control never ended.



The sexual tension between these two was heightened by their constant clashes and it helped create a perfect transition to their inevitable romance. They were a formidable team in the face of danger from the enemy English forces who were a constant throughout their journey. Janet dismantles this brooding warrior and he certainly disrupted her plans to really become a nun.


This story is outstanding primarily because of how wonderfully crafted Ewen and Janet are as characters and how well suited they are as a couple. She's exceptional and holds her own against any of Bruce's warriors and he provides her the challenge she never knew she was looking for. The adventures of the Highland Guard never disappoint in providing excitement and political intrigue in this series. The historical aspects of the era are finely woven into the wonderful storytelling, the result being a vivid portrayal of Scotland's fight for independence. But, the romance is the real jewel this time and made The Hunter a truly exceptional story.

Review: Weighting for Mr. Right by Patricia W. Fischer

Weighting for Mr. Right

By Patricia W. Fischer

In Weighting #1

The set up
When the time comes for Megan Sayla to say "I do," she said no, abandoning her groom, Travis Carter at the altar. She winds up in a men's bathroom stall at a car wash (don't ask) giving sort of a confessional to a total stranger named Jacob Dante who just happened to be there. She didn't know it right at that moment but Megan had just taken her first step in gaining control of her life.


I wasn't certain if this was going to be a funny or tragic story and in some ways it was a bit of both and a whole lot more. While Megan is very talented (she speaks seven languages and is a nurse), she's overweight and has been for most of her life. Marrying Travis was just another decision in her life being orchestrated by others with her going along because "a girl like her should be grateful." In that moment at the altar she just couldn't see herself settling for something "less" in a marriage. She wanted more.


The issues
Fortunately for Megan, the handsome bathroom stranger and her bridesmaid cousin were there to provide much needed encouragement for her to leverage the momentum, take control of her life and make big changes. Losing weight isn't just about dieting and exercising, it's a complete re-examination of your life and deciding what you want for yourself. Much in Megan's life is designed for her to fail, including many people she's surrounded by that don't want her to win. Her journey of self discovery and reinvention involves some painful decisions she has to make about people she cares about.

 Jacob's relationship with Megan is quite complicated, given that he became fascinated with her from the first moments in that bathroom. He hides his true feelings, knowing that Megan needs time for herself before thinking about becoming involved with someone again. He owns a gym, which she's maneuvered to join, so it's the way they continue to connect. He has no idea that she's been lusting after him since the car wash.


What works
I love Megan's journey and could identify with so many of her experiences. From the enabling friend, Lydia, who enjoys having a partner in her misery eating to the loving family members whose own identities are wrapped up in feeding her to excess (picture the Italian and Danish grandmothers expressing their love), you will no doubt get the sense that you've walked, or maybe even ARE walking, in Megan's workout shoes.


I couldn't help empathizing with Megan's struggles with the realities of making significant life changes. While weight loss presents wonderful new possibilities, it can also bring new challenges as not everyone in your life is committed to your change in perspective. It's often painful to acknowledge that some relationships won't survive and Megan has to make some tough choices.


What was a challenge
There's a lot of dialogue in this story, sometimes reading more like a screenplay, which wasn't the issue.  Keeping up with the many shifts in points of view was.  It wasn't always clear who was talking and sometimes it was third person narrative and sometimes first.  I don't mind the shift but the transitions weren't always clear. It just slowed me down.


The bottom line
This is a wonderful story that's much more than one about weight loss. It's the triumph of a wonderfully talented and caring woman who emerges from the suffocating control of family, friends, career and food. Jacob was worth "weighting" for and his ability to see the real Megan even before her physical transformation made their romance even more special. There were many hilarious moments to balance the more serious. I'm reinvigorated as her experience is a reminder of what I say is most important in my life. It's a great story that I'm glad I got a chance to read and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Award-winning writer and Texan, Patricia W. Fischer, is an avid San Antonio Spurs and Texas Longhorns fan. After ten years as a critical care and trauma nurse, Patricia traded her stethoscope in for a life behind a keyboard. There she's written articles multiple publications and websites as well as an erotic romance and her first romantic comedy, Weighting for Mr. Right. When she's not writing, she keeps plenty busy with her husband, children, and dogs.

Contact Patricia: Facebook/Website

Review: Tin God by Stacy Green

Tin God

By Stacy Green

Delta Crossroads #1

 

Tin God:  Idol worshippers in Biblical times often prayed to idols made of metal. Christians–worshippers of the one true God–believed these to be false gods, an idol who’s worshipped by those too ignorant to understand.

The set up
Jaymee Ballard has had a pretty tough life already to be only 25 years old. Yet she's resolved to find her daughter who she was forced to give up seven years ago in what she now knows was an illegal adoption. Her luck seems to continue south when she discovers her friend and employer, Rebecca Newton, murdered in her home. It's even more troubling as friend, Lana, was murdered in a similar way four years ago...and both women looked so much alike it was remarkable. Nick Samuels, Lana's husband, doesn't think it's a coincidence, either.



The mystery
First Lana is murdered, then Rebecca and the only common link aside from their similar appearance is Jaymee. Nick is convinced that the secrets Jaymee refuses to share with him are critical to solving the murders and she's too frightened of the repercussions to say much more. It's clear that her baby's adoption is key but can't be the only thing driving the killer. Lana and Rebecca's connection to Jaymee doesn't explain their murders...and those that follow.


The suspects
There are enough lowlifes in this story to keep you brain zinging as well as a ton of secrets to knock you off balance. There's Jaymee's cruel and hypocritical father, Rebecca's aloof husband, and a smarmy pastor just to name a few.


What works
Everything about this story works like a beautifully composed symphony, with the crescendos in the right place and in perfect tempo. The hot, humid Mississippi setting made it even more intriguing. This mystery meanders around the town and it's characters who live duplicitous lives, twisting and turning through the truths, lies and secrets, which reveal themselves at just the right moments. Underlying the mystery is the slowly developed relationship between Jaymee and Nick that sneaks up on you just like it did them, in tandem with the pace of the story. Clues unfold naturally, leading to the tension-filled climax.


Bottom line
This story is masterfully written with the right attention paid to the elements that create a good mystery. The characters are well developed with motivations and behaviors carefully woven in the fabric of the plot. The romance was not too much nor too little, just enough to add another level of interest. There are more than a few surprises and twists but you were set up to receive them given the players. I loved this story that kept me more than a little off balance and unwilling to put it down.

 

Born in Indiana and raised in Iowa, Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.

Connect with Stacy: Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads



Review: SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows

SEAL of Honor

By Tonya Burrows

HORNET #1

Lt. Commander Gabriel Bristow is not looking forward to his forced medical retirement. A year ago, he was involved in a car accident and suffered a serious injury to his foot, leaving him unfit to return to duty as a Navy SEAL. He's all set to begin his boring Pentagon job when he's approached by his best friend and former SEAL teammate, Travis Quinn, to sign on to a private hostage rescue and negotiation team as the commanding officer. It didn't take much for him to cave. 
 

The set up
The first covert assignment is the rescue of wealthy businessman Bryson Van Amee who was kidnapped in Bogotá, Columbia. They're racing against time as the FBI special agent in charge of the official negotiation wants to pay the ransom. Gabe is convinced that Bryson will be murdered if they do.


The issues
There were LOTS of issues, the first being Gabe's team. Individually, they represent the best at what they do but this isn't a SEAL team working in tandem. They're an indisciplined group and Gabe hasn't the time to properly train them. When they visit Bryson's apartment, they unexpectedly run into his sister, Audrey, and end up having to bring her back to their safe house and she's unwilling to leave. To make matters worse, they're not even sure who they're dealing with or where the kidnappers might be located, nor do they have the most ideal equipment to be operating in the jungles of Columbia.


The romance
Audrey and Gabe get thrown into a situation where they're isolated from the rest of the team and are repeatedly trying not to get killed. While they definitely had an initial attraction, these circumstances just turned the heat up beyond boiling. She's a free spirit but no air head. He's a SEAL and a commander, used to be obeyed, so Audrey's tendency to apply her own logic and reason made for some tense situations. Gabe's hard to resist and Audrey's a good match for this alpha.


What works
At first I was frustrated by all the mishaps due to the team's inexperience and lack of discipline but then found this to be the strength of the story. Their imperfections set them apart from being just another military-like op team. There are some unique members I definitely want to know more about and this team will never behave in an ordinary way. Gabe and Audrey work as a couple and they suffered some harsh situations. The story was unpredictable and I was never prepared for most of the things that happened.


Bottom line
I like this story and what this series promises to be, and like it a lot. Gabe is excellent as a leader and he's going to have his hands full with this team and Audrey. There's lots of action, twists and surprises. I enjoyed it from start to finish and am ready for the next one. If you like a lot of heat, both in the action and the romance, this book delivers. I really didn't want it to end.

Tonya Burrows | Writing has always been my one true love. I wrote my first novel-length story in 8th grade and haven't stopped since. I received a B.A. in creative writing from SUNY Oswego and I'm now working on a MFA in popular fiction at Seton Hill University.

When I'm not writing, I spend my time reading, painting (badly), exploring new places, and enjoying time with my family. Give me a good horror movie over a chick flick any day. (And, let's be honest, I'll take a bad horror movie too!) I'm a geek at heart and pledge my avid TV fandom to Supernatural and Doctor Who. I'm also a big fan of The Voice. What can I say? Guilty pleasure.​​

I share my life with two dogs and a ginormous cat. We live in a small town in PA, but I suffer from a bad case of wanderlust and usually end up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, my animals are all excellent travel buddies.

Author Website: http://www.tonyaburrows.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hornetseries | http://www.facebook.com/tonyaburrows
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TonyaBurrows

Review: Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

Blindsighted

By Karin Slaughter

Grant County #1

Source: Purchased eBook from Amazon.com

Sarah Linton is a pediatrician and the coroner for the town of Heartsdale in Grant County, Georgia. If that wasn't a weird enough combination, her ex-husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, is the town's police chief. I knew from the start this was going to be a different kind of story.


The crime
Sarah goes to the local diner for lunch with her sister. She's a little late and the lunch crowd is pretty much gone. When she goes to the restroom, she finds Sibyl Adams, a professor at the local college who is also blind, covered in blood in one of the stalls. She's been brutally stabbed and assaulted and Sarah tries but can't save her. During the autopsy, she discovers just how demented her killer really is.


The issues
There's quite a bit of inbreeding in this town. Sibyl was Detective Lena Adam's sister and she's difficult to deal with under good circumstances. She insists on being part of the investigation and Jeffrey doesn't have a deep investigative bench to keep her on the sidelines. When another woman is assaulted in a similar manner, it's clear that they've got a possible serial killer to deal with.


The mystery and suspense
There are a lot of angles, including an overlay of bigotry and insubordination amongst the police ranks. Jeffrey is also trying to get back into Sarah's life while trying to work with her to solve the cases. She's withholding some major stuff that could possibly impact the case but doesn't want to revisit her troubled past. When a third person goes missing, it strikes even closer to home.


The bottom line
This is the first book in the series and it is chilling. All those involved in the case, while talented, have some major issues in their personal lives that resurface throughout the course of the investigation. That just made the story even more exciting and frustrating. It wasn't all that easy to figure out whodunit but it wasn't impossible either. If this first book is a measure of those to come, I'm in for an incredible journey. The book is not without its flaws but they're not significant enough to detract from your overall enjoyment. Oh, and it's not for the squeamish.

Karin Slaughter is the #1 internationally bestselling author of several novels, including the Grant County series. A long-time resident of Atlanta, she splits her time between the kitchen and the living room.

  

Review: A Fresh Set of Eyes by Liz Strange

A Fresh Set of Eyes

By Liz Strange

David Lloyd Investigations #2

Things have changed for David Lloyd since his last case left him recovering from a gunshot wound and showered with the respect and admiration of law enforcement for bringing down a major crime ring (see my review of the first book). His relationship with his partner couldn't be better now that Jamie was living openly as a gay man and acknowledged David to his family and coworkers. All was looking pretty great until his next client walked in the door with a complex and somewhat futile assignment.

The set up

Ten years ago, three young teenagers were given life sentences for the brutal murders of two young boys. The mother of one of the convicted, Sandra Klassen, hired David to reinvestigate the case to find evidence that would exonerate her son. The notoriety David received from the last case convinced her that he was up to the job. Talk about pressure.

The issues

Although it's been ten years, the memory of the case is still fresh for many who were involved or impacted because they believed the teens were wrongly convicted. While David finds plenty to support that point of view, one he shares, it's all pretty circumstantial and he's going to also need to find out the identity of the real murderer. But, not everyone is willing to cooperate, including the murdered children's mother, and there were a lot of lies told the first go round.

What I liked about the story

This is one of those procedural style mysteries that you get caught up in as the investigation progresses. You get to use your own deductive reasoning as David solidly works the investigation, providing a lot of clues to work through simultaneously and independently. Some of the characters were murky and others who seemed to be an open book had more angles. An added bonus is his relationship with Jamie. Their evolution as an openly gay couple made such a difference for them and the impact on family, friends and co-workers was sensitively portrayed without overdramatizing the reactions. David is pretty special and Jamie is a hottie.

The bottom line

This is an interesting story, inspired by the West Memphis Three. There are a lot of characters to weed out and that made it even more enjoyable, especially as I was able to figure out whodunit before the end. I like these characters, the light element of romance, the strong elements of unconventional family and relationships, and the meaty and interesting case that anchor the story. I'm hoping this series continues and if you like thorny murder/crime investigations, I highly recommend you read both books.

About the author

Liz was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario where she still resides with her family and a menagerie of pets. When not working, writing or spending time with her family she enjoys reading, watching scary movies, spicy food and hitting the gym.

 Liz is a self-confessed sci-fi nerd, loving Star Trek, X-Files, and Torchwood. She also loves anything to do with mythology, history and anthropology, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient Greece and Easter Island.

She has been an avid reader from childhood, and has always been attracted to stories that deal with the darker side of human nature, mysteries, crime, and things that go bump in the night. Her true (and undying) love for vampires was born when she got her hands on a copy of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot.

Liz loves to hear from her readers and will answer any questions sent her way. 
And yes this is her real name!

Review: Bare it All by Lori Foster

Bare it All

By Lori Foster

#2

The set up

This story picks up the next day after the end of the previous book where Alice Appleton, Reese Bareden’s mousy next door neighbor, saved his life, along with his partner Logan Risk and his boss, Lieutenant Margaret Peterson. Reese’s apartment is now a crime scene and he has no choice (yeah, right) but to sack out on Alice’s couch.  As strange as Alice behaves, Reese is drawn to her physically and emotionally, even though it is obvious that she is hiding from something or someone. 

What worked well

Reese is 6 and ½ feet of blond, green-eyed brawny male and makes no bones about what he wants from Alice and can’t help but feel protective of her. She is also very much attracted to him but something from her past experience is holding her back, but not for too long. Throughout the story, you could feel that something was brewing and knew Alice’s past would inevitably crash around them and converge with Rowdy Yates’ plans to enter into a risky business venture involving people connected to her past (Rowdy is Logan’s soon to be brother-in-law).

What fell short

While this is an interesting story, it followed the same pattern as the last book. The first half is a lot of back and forth between Alice and Reese as the suspense is supposed to build. But, it plods instead at too slow a pace. The last half of the book is much more exciting and I wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there. I also found Alice’s character to just be bizarre, one moment a frightened and withdrawn young woman and the next an aggressive tiger. I got whiplash trying to keep up and figure her out. In the end, I just gave up.



The bottom line

There’s plenty of steam and ultimately lots of action. I really like these characters, even odd Alice, the dynamics between them and the romance. I plan to read the next book when it’s released and recommend this one but can’t round my 3.5 stars to a 4 because the suspense aspect just didn’t meet my expectations.