Review: Keeper's Watch by Cynthia Roberts (The Wind #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 11th August 2013
Ebook - 340 pages
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Detective Beth Tyler must decipher riddles left to her by her deceased father and protect his latest archeological find. She becomes a target for every ruthless privateer, collector and Federal agent, including the roguishly handsome, Jeremy Steele. When they first meet, one is fire and the other, ice.

Beth tries her best to thwart Jeremy’s attempt to join her excursion, but slowly she realizes it is best to keep her adversary close by her side. As the perilous journey unfolds, so too does a passionate attraction between them; and together they unveil a discovery that will change how history was once written.

My Thoughts - After being contacted by the author about a possible review for this book, I was excited to read it. And although I enjoyed Keeper's Watch, it wasn't quite what I was expecting and so that did throw me off balance a little bit as I started to get further into the book. But this was more from a personal point of view in that there are quite a lot of sci-fi elements in this novel and that is a genre that I'm not really a great fan of so it just took me a little while to adjust to the subject matter.

I liked the two main characters, Beth and Jeremy. They are both strong and fiercely independent characters who never like to back down from a challenge. Jeremy is incredibly arrogant, but as with most alpha males in romantic suspense novels, it was a sexy look on him. The problem that I did have with this novel though was that the romance element seemed a little too rushed for my liking. One minute, she is catching him breaking into her house and there is instant dislike laced with a good splash of lust just about hidden beneath the surface, then she is sending him away because she doesn't trust him (which I think was a wise move considering she'd just caught him breaking into her house) and then she is letting him join her on her journey as she tries to solve the clues that her father left behind because she realises that she can't do it without him and that she is in love with him. It just didn't feel right to me and I wish that they could have had some more time to get to know each other before apparently falling in love. But, I have to admit that once they were together they worked very well as a couple. Despite the fact the they are both very strong-willed individuals, they manage to work side by side on the task, they trust each other a great deal and there is a lot of chemistry between the two of them, which certainly heated up the pages more than a little.

The pacing of the plot worked well and there was a good mixture of excitement, quiet times where the reader could catch their breath along with the characters and the romantic elements. The author's style of writing is clear and easy to read, while some of the descriptions of the people they meet and the areas they travel through are simply breath-taking.

Summary - Although I did have a couple of issues with this book, it is a good romantic suspense that will have you glued to the edge of your seat.

Review: Bare It All by Lori Foster (Love Undercover #2/Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #5)

Publisher - Harlequin
Publication Date - 30th April 2013
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

My Thoughts - I am a big fan of Lori Foster's romantic suspense novels. Last year I devoured her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series one after the other as I just couldn't get enough. And earlier this year I had the pleasure of reviewing the first book in her Love Undercover series, which I enjoyed just as much as her other series. So when I saw this available for review on NetGalley I just couldn't resist. Before I started reading it I was under the impression that it was just book two in the Love Undercover series, so imagine my joy when I started reading and realised it was actually a cross-over between the two series! Including an appearance by one of the incredibly sexy alpha males from the Edge of Honor books.

I fell in love with both Alice and Reece when I first met them in Run the Risk... however, it wasn't until the first page of this book that I realised I had met Alice before in Trace of Fever (book two in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series). She hadn't been a main character so I hadn't immediately recognised her from the references made to her in Run the Risk. And once I had made the connection, Alice's behaviour in the first book makes so much more sense... with her obsession with security (meaning guns and other kinds of weapons!) and her attention to the tiniest detail of what's going on around her. And all of her idiosyncrasies just makes the reader love her even more as we come to understand more and more of what she's been through in the past. And she is the bravest character I've ever read about... although I'd perhaps use the term crazy brave... and there were a few occasions where I was screaming at her asking her what the hell she thought she was doing. Yes, she does everything that she does to help others, but at times while taking some serious risks concerning her own safety. But again, this all ties in with what she's been through in the past and why she feels a need to atone.

Reese is a typical alpha male. He's a cop who lives next door to Alice and he's professional, hard-working, great at his job, and on top of all that he has a heart of gold. He rescued a dog from the side of the road in Run the Risk and has kept him. In fact, it is his dog Cash (so named because he wrecks a lot of things so is rather expensive to keep!) that first brings Reece and Alice together. Alice is determined to keep a distance from everybody until she starts to look after Cash while Reece is working. Reece is very territorial of Alice and incredibly protective, especially as Alice begins to reveal more about her past to him. Together they are the perfect mix of tender and passionate and, in a nut shell, they are just perfect for one another.

The mystery element of the novel was very good too, with lots of suspense and danger. There is a good mix between the mystery and the romantic aspects of the novel so that it doesn't weigh too heavily in the favour of either. Although this is the second in one series and the fifth in another, therefore with a lot of books (and information) coming before hand, I didn't find it confusing. Although I think it would be best to read Run the Risk before reading this one, as a lot of the romance between these two does start to develop in the first book, I don't think it matters too much if you haven't read the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series as all the information the reader needs is still given to leave them with a clear picture... you just might be left in the dark slightly longer than somebody else who has already read that series. Although, read that series anyway as it's also amazing!

Summary: An incredible romantic suspense novel from one of my favourite authors. An absolute must read for anybody who is a fan of the genre.

Other books in the series:
Love Undercover Series:
1. Run the Risk
2. Bare It All
3. Getting Rowdy

Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor Series:
1. When You Dare
2. Trace of Fever
3. Savour the Danger
4. A Perfect Storm
5. Bare It All

Review: Run the Risk by Lori Foster (Love Undercover #1)

Publisher - Harlequin
Publication Date - 25th September 2012
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When Detective Logan Riske goes undercover to find Pepper Yates, a potential link to his best friend’s unsolved murder, he vows to gain her cooperation by any means necessary. But the elusive beauty is more suspicious - and in far more danger - than he expected. And the last thing Logan needs is to start caring for her...

Pepper has spent the past five years dodging the corrupt club owner who will stop at nothing to keep her silenced. She can trust no one, not even the handsome new “construction worker” who’s moved in next door. The heat between them is undeniable. But will surrendering to passion bring her the safety she so desires—or will her feelings for Logan draw them both into a killer’s crosshairs?

My Thoughts - Last year I read Lori Foster's Edge of Honor series and absolutely loved them. So much so that I read them one after another, which is pretty uncommon for me - it would have to be a really good series to keep me gripped for that long. So when I saw Run the Risk up on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. And I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

Run the Risk is a great combination of loveable characters, a twisting plot that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat and a sweet and sizzling romance. It propels the reader along through the storyline as you can't help but care for the characters and want to see how they manage to resolve all the problems.

Logan and Pepper were great main characters and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Logan is a driven and loyal man who is seeking the person who murdered his best friend. I loved his protective side and the way he wanted to keep Pepper safe from harm. However, the one thing I didn't like about Logan was the way that he was willing to use Pepper to get to her brother Rowdy, the only witness to his friend's murder. Okay, so it does become obvious that, although that is why he originally started talking to her, that it very quickly turned into something else for him and he did have genuine feelings for her. But by that point it had already clouded my judgement about him a little. However, I did still really like Logan.

Pepper is the character that really made this novel for me. She is loyal and strong, yet has a hint of vulnerability about her that really endears her to the reader. Rowdy, her brother, is the only person she has had in her life for a long time and because of that they are incredibly close, and I loved seeing this bond between them. The chemistry between Logan and Pepper is obvious from the start and they work so well together. Pepper is cautious and secretive, while Logan is patient and sensitive with her. Despite the fall out when she realises why he first started talking to her, they really are a great couple and it was so easy to fall in love with them.

But, as well as Pepper and Logan, there were some other great characters that have left me wanting more of their stories. First of all there is Logan's best friend Reese and his very secretive and intriguing next door neighbour, Alice, who are the focus of book two in the series, Bare it All. And I would love to see Rowdy get his happy ever after too.

Summary - A great start to a new series by one of my favourite authors. A must read if you are a fan of romantic suspense. I have already got my copy of book two in the series from NetGalley and I will be starting it straight away. I can't wait to find out what happens with Reese and Alice.

Other books in the series:
1. Run the Risk
2. Bare it All

Review: Just One Night by Eve Gaddy (Rebels With A Cause #1)

Publisher - Bell Bridge Books
Publication Date - 29th August 2012
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 3.5 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - They spent one passionate night together, a night neither could forget . . .

But it isn’t until Bomb Unit Detective Alexandra “Alex” Sheridan is assigned to investigate architect Luke Morgan about the bombing of his new building that Alex is forced to face the man–and feelings–she’d run from earlier. Drawn to the charismatic man who'd soothed her grief with their shared passion, she finds herself wanting more from him.

As the case progresses, however, she questions his innocence and his feelings for her. Can she trust him, ignoring his past and the evidence pointing to his guilt? Or will she have to be satisfied with just one night?

My Thoughts - I really liked the sound of Just One Night when I found it on NetGalley, so I was thrilled when my request to review it was accepted. But, although it was an enjoyable romantic suspense, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought I was going to.

First of all, the good points. I enjoyed the mystery elements of the plot and found that there were some good twists in the storyline that I wasn't expecting. And the pacing of the book was good, with a good balance between romance and action that really helped to hold my interest.

I liked Alex a lot as a character. She is good at her job,strong, loyal and willing to put her neck (and her job) on the line for the man she has fallen in love with. But there is also a more vulnerable side to her that comes through when she talks about a partner of hers who died on the job, and she still feels a lot of guilt over her death.

However, where this book fell a little short for me was with the hero, Luke. He held so much potential - a strong, sexy ex-military man, the kind of man every woman swoons over. But he just seemed so inconsistent in his feelings towards both Alex and the investigation into the bombing of his building, that I had trouble liking him as much as I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, he's very charming and sexy at times. But at others I found him to be incredibly frustrating. He admits to himself that he is falling in love with Alex, and then in the next sentence admits he would seduce her to clear his name in the bombing, which I don't see as a very attractive trait in a man. Plus, he withholds a lot of information from Alex about his past - information that is very important to the investigation - and this made it obvious he really had trouble trusting Alex, even though she is doing everything she can to clear his name. Luckily, he does pull through in the end and do the right thing, so he's not all bad. I just wish I had been able to connect with him as a character much sooner in the story.

Summary - A strong romantic suspense plot, with a likeable heroine. The book was just let down in some places by an inconsistent hero. But this is definitely worth a read if you are a fan of the genre.

Review: Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz (Dark Legacy #1)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 10th January 2012
Paperback - 352 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Within the pages of very rare books, some centuries old, lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes - and sometimes has taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumours swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market.

Convinced she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, an expert in paranormal crystals and amber. Passion immediately flares between them, though neither entirely trusts the other. But when it comes to dealing with a killer with paranormal talents - and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code - no one is safe.

My Thoughts - Copper Beach was my first book by this author, although I have heard a lot of good things about her work in the past. And I have to say that I did enjoy this novel a lot.

Abby is a very likeable heroine. She's intelligent, not afraid to stand up to others and is very good at her job of working with books about the paranormal. She has spent a lot of time building up her career and as a result of that she has a flawless reputation amongst her peers. But there is also a more vulnerable side to her as well, a side that makes it difficult for her to let people get close to her. She only trusts two other people, and they have all been friends since their teen years. Abby does not trust easily. But at no point does she become prickly or unlikeable as can so often be the case with other heroines like Abby. She remains friendly, professional and completely loyal at all times.

I also liked Sam as a hero. At first the reader, and Abby, doesn't know if he can be trusted. His girlfriend died a few months back and, although he was never charged with her murder, he was a suspect for a while. But as Sam begins to open up to Abby, we get to see what really happened with his ex-girlfriend. He is strong, capable and more than a little bit sexy.

Sam and Abby complement each other very well as a couple. Abby has trust and commitment issues, whilst Sam is unshakeable once he has his sights set on something - and his sights are set on Abby. What I did enjoy about this book was that, although Abby does have some commitment issues, they are not dragged out for a majority of the book as I've found can sometimes happen. She feels apprehension at first but she is mature enough to work through her feelings and decide what it is she really wants.

The mystery element was really well written and, although we do get to find out at the beginning about the identity of one of the men after the book, there are some great twists thrown in along the way that really meant I had no idea which direction the book was going to go in. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

My only small complaint would be that, while paranormal energy within crytals and books seems pivotal to the plot, the explanations of these things were pretty vague and I didn't feel as though I really had a proper grasp on some of the fundamental concepts of this energy. It didn't really stop my understanding of the plot, but I think I would have liked more just simply so I could feel better immersed within their world.

Summary - A great start to a new series and I will defintely be checking out other books by this author. A very enjoyable read.

Review: Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 5th April 2012
Paperback - 480 pages
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received for review from publisher

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Rowan Tripp is addicted to danger.  Ever since she turned eighteen, Rowan has been a 'smoke jumper', fighting back the ferocious forest fires that sweep through the Montana mountains each year.  But now Rowan is mourning the death of her good friend and partner, Jim - haunted by the belief that she could have saved him.

Determined to carry on, Rowan throws herself into training the new recruits to the smoke jumping team - not realising there is a different kind of danger waiting for her.  She has always had a strict rule: never get romantically involved with a workmate.  But the moment she meets Gull Curry that rule is severely tested.  And when it becomes clear that someone blames Rowan for Jim's death, and is determined to get revenge, Rowan realises this is one fight she can't win on her own...

My Thoughts - I haven't read a Nora Roberts book for a long time and, as I am going through a romantic suspense phase, I was very excited to start this book.  And I have to say that I wasn't disappointed at all.  It had everything that a reader would expect from a Nora Roberts novel - heart-warming romance, loveable characters and a gripping storyline.

Rowan is a likeable heroine, although it did take me a while to really fall in love with her due to her rather prickly demeanour.  Luckily our charming hero didn't seem to have the same problem though.  She is great at her job as a smoke jumper - someone who jumps out of a helicopter to battle fierce woodland fires in areas that are difficult to reach.  I loved watching her interact with her friends and colleagues as there was just something so genuine about their dialogue and how they gelled together as a team to get such a tough job done.  However, she has built up a lot of walls around herself since her mother left her as a child and so she can come across as too tough and unreachable at times.  But as Gull breaks down these walls the reader gets to see a softer side to Rowan.

Now as for Gull, I fell in love with him from the start.  He is confident, although not arrogant with it, considerate, intelligent and incredibly fit - what's not to like?  What I liked most about him was how he knew exactly what he wanted (Rowan) and was not afraid to fight for it.  Plus he was so full of witty one-liners and self-deprecating humour that more than once I found myself laughing out loud at something he'd said.

There was a good balance between the romance and suspense, meaning it didn't feel too heavy in either direction.  The descriptions of the fires were so well-written that I could imagine myself standing there right next to the characters - yet feeling very grateful that I wasn't!  My only complaint about the book was that I managed to work out pretty early on who was behind the murders so that meant the storyline lost some of it's pull for me.

Summary - A great romantic suspense novel that has all the ingredients any fan of the genre could wish for.  Can't recommend it enough.

Review: Unleashed by Jami Alden (Gemini Men #3)

Publisher - Kensington Books
Publication Date - 2nd November 2009
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Danny Taggart is the biggest badass of all the Gemini Men. And there's only one thing a woman can do with a man this hot, hard, and ready for action...

He's the oldest of the three Taggart brothers. And the boldest. Tall, dark, and rippling with muscle, Danny Taggart takes no prisoners. But when his latest case puts him up close and personal with the woman who once left him raw and aching, he's shell shocked. Caroline Medford is stilll hotter than hell. But she's also got her pretty grip on the thruths that have shaped him into the soul-ravaged warrior he is today. Burned once, Danny's plan is to satisfy his craving for Caroline and walk away. Yet once he has her warm and willing beneath him, he can't get deep enough - or close enough. Not even when danger threatens to destroy everything he's ever fought for. Including the only woman he's ever loved...

My Thoughts - What I love about this book is how it so beautifully wraps up the series for the reader. Throughout the first two books there is an underlying story about how the Taggart boys' mother up and left them at an early age and how this has affected them and their attitude towards relationships. Their father has never given up his search for his wife and has therefore never really been there for them either as they were growing up. In this book, Danny (the eldest Taggart brother) manages to find out exactly what happened to his mother, whilst getting closer to the woman that he had been in love with at the time of her disappearance.

This is a story about second chance love, which I always think is interesting to read about. At first Danny thinks that he can keep Caroline at arms length but as it becomes more obvious that her now dead ex-husband may have had something to do with his mother's disappearance and that her life is now in danger, he must do all he can to keep her safe. While they are together 24/7 it gives them time to work out where they went wrong so many years ago, and although they both have very different views on what happened between them some truths eventually come out that makes Danny question everything he ever believed - about his relationship with Caroline and why his mother ran away from him and his brothers.

Like his brother Derek in the previous book in the series, Danny has trouble dealing with his emotions and so he never really allows himself to feel anything for anybody. I have to say that I do find this slightly irritating. I don't mind it for a little while at the beginning of the book, but I feel that it hampers the romance if it goes on for too long. But on the whole I did like the character of Danny - he's sexy, charming and he never walks away from his responsibilities.

Caroline is a great character too. She is currently being investigated as the main suspect in her ex-husband's murder, although she knows she didn't do it, and that she is next on their hitlist. She is very tough and independent and she really knows how to keep Danny in line. The romance between them is hot as hell and has some tender and heartbreaking moments, especially as the truth about why she left Danny in the past comes to light.

Once again, the author also manages to write a brilliant suspense storyline to accompany the romance and I finished this book in just one day as I just couldn't bring myself to put it down.

Summary - A brilliant ending to the series that wraps up all the loose ends very nicely. I must admit that I became obsessed with this series whilst reading it and am very sad that it's now over. I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Alden's work.

Other books in the series:
1. Caught
2. Kept
3. Unleashed

Other reviews of this book:
Book Junkie / Genre Go Round Reviews

Review: Body Heat by Katherine Garbera

Publisher - Kensington Publishing
Publication Date - 20th March 2006
Paperback - 288 pages
Genre -  Romantic Suspense

Source - Library

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Andi O'Roarke is a fire chief and a darned good one - one of only a handful of women in the US to make it. Raised in a family of firefighters, she's a natural, barking out orders and keeping her guys safe at the same time; and her big, tough guys respect her, treating her just like one of them. Away from her job, though, Andi doesn't have a clue how to handle herself with men. That's why arson investigator Tucker Fields is so dangerous... and so tempting. Tucker is no slap-you-on-the-back kind of guy; he's all man. A man who makes Andi feel sexy, alive, desired...

Tucker likes what he sees in Andi. He loves her passion. Her strength. That sizzling sexuality she tries to hide. He sees the ribbing she takes from the guys if she even puts on lipstick. To prove herself in a man's world, Andi has had to fight being a woman. But she's not the only one who knows how to give orders. As they spend days and nights on his investigation, Tucker's determined to start a fire of a different kind, releasing Andi's every inhibition and enticing her into losing all control as he shows her just how delicious being a woman can be... and how good love can feel...

My Thoughts - The first thing that I would like to say about Body Heat is that Tucker is HOT! He is a definite alpha male who is not afraid to take charge - who, in fact, loves to be in charge *swoon*. I loved the way that he is able to see beyond Andi's tough appearance and see her for who she really is. And it is because of Tucker that Andi is finally able to allow her feminine side to be unleashed.

Andi is a likeable enough character, but I wouldn't say that I fell in love with her. She is strong, dependable and never lets the guys on her team down. But she is so afraid to be a woman that I felt a little sorry for her. She's always grown up around men and they have all expected her to be successful in a very male-oriented world. Her family seem to have completely forgotten that she is a woman at all. But I loved watching her discover her feminine side with Tucker.

The chemistry between the two of them was sizzling and a lot of fun to read about. My main problem with the book though was the constant power struggle between Tucker and Andi. It seemed as though they were each always fighting to have the upperhand in the relationship and after a while it became pretty irritating. I could understand that they both have very dominant personality types and that this would cause problems, but it turned into a bit of a contest between them in the end and I just wanted to bang their heads together and tell them to start behaving like adults.

Also, I would have liked a bit more focus on the suspense side of the story. The arson investigation takes a definite back seat in Body Heat and is used more of a means to bring the two characters together, rather than to add any mystery.

Summary - Body Heat is a quick and sexy read with a seriously hot hero, however, it does lack slightly in the romance and mystery departments. But well worth a read anyway if you are a fan of romantic suspense novels.

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #2 for 2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
Book #31 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Kept by Jami Alden (Gemini Men #2)

Publisher - Kensington Books
Publication Date - 1st March 2009
Paperback - 369 pages
Genre -  Romantic Suspense

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Ethan and Derek Taggart: they're the men of Gemini, and when it comes to sheet-scorching undercover work, nobody does it better. The only one they answer to is big brother Danny - that is, until the right women come along to grab the reins and crack the whip as hard as the Taggart men like it...

Security is Derek Taggart's game, and he plays it straight - no margin for error, no time to fool around... except with one hot little number who changes everything. He takes her home when she needs a ride - one she'll never forget. The problem is Derek can't forget her, a total about-face for a guy who keeps his enemies closer than his lovers. Then he finds out the sexy dynamo is Alyssa Miles, notorious party girl and darling of the gossip rags. It's time to walk away and never look back, which would be a hell of a lot easier if his agency didn't desperately need the high-profile gig her family's offering: a minor detail that consists mainly of Derek watching Alyssa 24/7. Keeping an eagle eye on every inch of Alyssa's nubile body isn't exactly a hardship - the problem is keeping his hands off and his brain on when things go dangerously wrong...

My Thoughts - After reading, and loving, the first book in the Gemini Men series I have become completely hooked on this series and I have fallen more than a little bit in love with the Taggart brothers. These books are very sexy - definitely the hottest romantic suspense books I have come across so far - and as soon as I pick one up it is very difficult for me to put it back down again.

Derek is an ex-military man who runs a security agengy with his twin brother Ethan and older brother Danny. He is a typical alpha male who feels the need to protect those around him but he doesn't like to get too close to anybody. He is very emotionally shut off and, although I did find him very sexy, this did make it a bit difficult for me to really get attached to him as a character. He has fallen for Alyssa but in an effort to keep her at arms length he is cruel to her at times. There is one particular scene that made for very uncomfortable reading, although I won't go into too many details as I don't want to give too much away.

I really liked Alyssa. She has had some troubles in the past - a stint in rehab for a drug problem, a horrible ex-boyfriend who put naked pictures of her on the internet - but she is trying her hardest to put that behind her a build a successful career for herself in her father's jewellery business. Even though everybody thinks of her as a famous-for-nothing, airhead celebrity, it soon becomes obvious that this isn't true and she is really trying to change her image. I think the thing I loved most about her is that even though she has been hurt a lot in the past, mainly by people wanting to cash in on her fame, she is still very trusting and willing to see the best in people. Although this is probably what has got her hurt in the past I loved the vulnerability this aspect of her personality brings out in her.

The mystery aspect of the storyline is fast-paced and kept me hooked on the edge of my seat. Although the reader finds out quite early on who is wanting to hurt Alyssa, the author manages to throw in a big twist at the end, and I loved the surprise of this turn of events.

Summary - Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series (mainly because of some of the more unlikeable aspects of the hero's personality) I still loved it and once I started it I really couldn't put it down. I had to start reading book three straight away as I just could not wait to find out what else is in store for the Taggart brothers.

Other books in this series:
1. Caught
2. Kept
3. Unleashed

Other reviews of this book:
The Good, The Bad and The Unread / The Romance Reader

Blog Tour: Excerpt from Beneath the Surface by Joya Fields

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Joya Fields to the blog who has given us a little teaser from her romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. Be warned though: it is a teaser that will leave you craving for more!

For the first time since the accident, Brooke forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way Garrett made her feel.

She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?

He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.

She should stop this now before it got any more intense.

He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a whiff of his sawdust scent.

“I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.

She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.

“Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…”

About the book:

She’s fighting to stay independent — he’s determined to protect her no matter what...

Brooke Richards survived the earthquake that took her parents and most of her leg, but she needs time to regroup. A trip to Florida for a state-of-the-art prosthesis and to visit her best friend Linda seems ideal.

But the trip turns traumatic when Brooke witnesses Linda’s boat disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

Police Officer Garrett Ciavello believes the blast was intentionally set to hide something Linda found on a dive. When Brooke offers her expertise in underwater archaeology, Garrett accepts her help with the investigation. But since his fiancée’s death years ago, Garrett has become overprotective, and as they are drawn to each other, Garrett realizes he will risk anything to keep Brooke safe.

Brooke is fiercely independent. Garrett is fiercely protective. Will they heal each other’s wounds and find a killer... before it’s too late?

About the Author:

Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines and her debut novel, BENEATH THE SURFACE, a romantic suspense, released in January, 2012. LOVE DELIVERED, a romantic comedy, is also now available.

Over the years, Joya has taught arts and crafts, worked in public relations, owned a daycare center, helped her children raise prize-winning 4-H livestock, competed in three marathons, and even spent a year as a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. Joya loves spending time with her high school sweetheart/husband of over twenty years, two very supportive children, and a pug who follows her everywhere.

You can stalk Joya at the following places:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Review: Caught by Jami Alden (Gemini Men #1)

Publisher - Brava
Publication Date - 3rd November 2008
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre -  Romantic Suspense

Source - Library

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Got an investigation situation? Call the Gemini Men: Ethan and Derek Taggart. Yeah, they're twins. Double the trouble and twice as sexy - women can't get enough of them or their older brother Danny, who keeps 'em in line when things get wild. The three Taggart men are hot, hard, and ready to take on all comers...

Ex-military. Tall. Chiseled. Intelligent and arrogant. And so hot he's on fire. That's Ethan Taggart. Male to the max. Toni Crawford, computer genius turned PI, can't stop looking at him and Ethan's returning the favor. Nice and slow. Those piercing blue eyes of his are about to melt her down but... nothing doing. Toni has to stay cool. Focus on the assignment: the teenage daughter of a multimillionaire just vanished in plain sight. Chasing down leads, investigating every freaky angle, pushing past the boundaries of a hellish underworld of sex and drugs, Ethan and Toni are forced to work closely to stalk an unseen enemy with a taste for cruel games. Risking their lives to save the missing girl is only half the battle. Their blazingly sensual attraction grows every second, until there's no turning back. Their passion is about to explode... and Ethan and Toni soon find that danger breeds the hottest desire of all...

My Thoughts - As you may have seen on my blog recently, I have been wanting to read more romance, so when I stumbled across this romantic suspense at the library I decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did as I absolutely loved it.

Ethan is one of my favourite main characters ever. He just oozes charm and sex appeal, and he's obviously very good at his security job. Oh, and he's ex-military too just add to his charm. The only thing that did irritate me a bit is that he can come across as being a bit too arrogant at times.

Toni is also a great character. She is a bit of a geek, but being a geek myself I just loved that about her, and it made her so much more realistic than if she were perfect. She has a lot of insecurities based on the way she looks and the fact that she has only recently been betrayed by another man, but she is a very caring and loving woman who is just trying to get on with her life after a troubled past.

The romance between these two is just sizzling and had me feeling a bit hot under the collar for a large percentage of the book! But it wasn't just the physical chemistry between them that kept me turning the pages. Once they started to trust each other it became obvious that there is a deeper connection that is fuelled by past hurts - Ethan's mother disappeared never to be seen again, while Toni's little sister disappeared and was later discovered dead. They are able to help each other work through the issues that surround these past events and this helps to bring them so much closer.

The mystery element of the book is also well-written and there is a good balance between this and the romance. There are some action-packed scenes that keep the book moving along at a fast pace, making Caught impossible to put down - I finished the book in less than a day, which I very rarely do. Plus I wasn't able to work out who had kidnapped the millionaire's daughter so that is always a big plus in a mystery novel.

Summary - A must read for fans of romantic suspense - full of likeable characters, sizzling romance, action and intriguing mystery. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

Other books in the series:
1. Caught
2. Kept
3. Unleashed

Other reviews of this book:
Genre Go Round Reviews / The Good, The Bad and The Unread 

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #1 for 2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
Book #19 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Help! I need more romance in my life!

Over the last couple of years I have become a great fan of paranormal romance, but I have avoided the rest of the genre. I'm not entirely sure why, but they have never really appealled to me.

That all changed recently though. Imagine the scene - I have just finished up reading all the books I need to read for my recent Paranormal Romance Month and I am looking for something a little bit different. I start to browse my review book shelf and find Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas and My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley, both of which have been sent to me by the lovely people over at Piatkus Books. One is contemporary romance and one is historical romance, and neither of them are books that I would normally pick up. But I decided to give them a try. And I ended up absolutely loving both of them! Especially Rainshadow Road, which I gave five stars to. Reviews will be up some time next week.

Now, here is the problem and I'm hoping you might be able to help. I really want to read more historical and contemporary romance and I have no idea where to start (apart from backlist titles from Lisa Kleypas and Gaelen Foley). Do you read these genres at all? Who would you recommend I start with?

Also, I am thinking I would like to read some more romantic suspense whilst I am at it. I have read a couple as I quite often read mysteries, but I am thinking that this is something else that I would like to explore some more. I have read a couple of books from Bella Andre's Hot Shots series about sexy firemen which I quite enjoyed, and a book from J.D. Robb's In Death series, although that was a long time ago and I'm not entirely sure now which one it was I read - I do remember that I enjoyed it though! So, are there any romantic suspense fans out there? Who are your favourite romantic suspense authors?

I look forward to reading your recommendations! I've got no idea where to start looking on my own :)

Review: Hot as Sin by Bella Andre (Hot Shots #2)

Publisher - Rouge Romance (Website)
Publication Date - 14th October 2011
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 2.5 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Sam MacKenzie is a fire fighter who knows no fear. There's no one waiting for him at home, no reason not to risk it all. Out of the blue, the only woman he's ever loved - the same one who ground his heart to dust ten years ago - shows up begging him for help. Dianna's sister is in big trouble somewhere in the rugged Colorado Rockies, and he's the only person Dianna knows with the skills to track her sister down.Working together on their quest, they soon realise there's a killer on the loose and his true target isn't Dianna's sister...it's Dianna herself. Using his extreme outdoor skills, Sam needs to track down the killer, before he loses the woman he loves forever.

My Thoughts - This is another hot and steamy fireman romance from Bella Andre! I enjoyed the first book in this series very much, but Hot as Sin was not as good in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the fast paced plot involving Dianna and her sister who has been kidnapped. Dianna must find her sister, therefore putting herself in danger as she is the kidnapper's intended target. Although the reader knows right from the start who has taken her sister, this does not detract from the story in any way. In fact we get to learn more about the kidnapper and his motives than we would do ordinarily and this makes for interesting reading.

There is a lot of chemistry between Sam and Dianna and this leads to many steamy scenes between the two of them. I loved the background story between the two characters. They were together ten years ago but their relationship breaks down after Dianna suffers a miscarriage. They both feel a lot of hurt over past events and I loved watching them open up to each other about how they felt after their miscarriage and watching them trying to regain each others trust.

However, what made me  have difficulties with this book is that I didn't particularly like Dianna or Sam and as a result of this I found it really hard to connect to either of them. Of course, this is just my personal opinion and other readers may not feel the same way at all. I found Dianna to be very judgemental of others, despite the fact that she is working hard to hide her trailer park background in case she herself gets judged. And Sam comes across as being quite controlling and I didn't like the way he spoke to Dianna at times when he was ordering her around. They were not like this all the time, and there are some very sweet and tender moments between them, but it happened enough for it to bother me.

Summary - An interesting premise to the story, with a lovely romance between Dianna and Sam. I just wish that I had found them to be more likeable. However, if you are a fan of sexy firemen then I would definitely recommend this series to you.

Other books in this series:
1. Wild Heat
2. Hot as Sin
3. Never Too Hot

Other reviews of this book:
All About Romance / Smitten With Reading
(If you would like your review of Hot as Sin included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Wild Heat by Bella Andre (Hot Shots #1)

Publisher - Rouge Romance (website)
Publication Date - 29th September 2011
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it


Book Info - Maya Jackson doesn't sleep with strangers. Until the night grief sent her to the nearest bar and into the arms of the most explosive lover she's ever had.  Six months later, the dedicated arson investigator is coming face to face with him again. Gorgeous, sexy Logan Cain. Her biggest mistake. Now her number-one suspect in a string of deadly wildfires.

As leader of an elite fire-fighting crew in Tahoe, Logan won't back down from a blaze - or a woman. Maya Jackson may have seduced him with her tears and her passion, but it'll be a cold day in hell before Logan lets down his guard again. Until Maya's life is threatened and with his natural-born hero instincts kicking in, Logan vows to protect the woman sworn to bring him down. And as desire reignites, nothing - not the killer fire or the killer hot on their trail - can douse the flames...

Review - I have been very interested in trying a romantic suspense for a while now so I was very eager to make a start on this once I received my copy. I am glad to say that I was not at all disappointed by this new-to-me genre. It is full of intrigue, romance and very sexy firemen!

One of my favourite things about Wild Heat is the characters and the way the author is so easily able to portray their emotions. When we first meet Maya at the start of the novel, it is only a few days after the death of her brother and her grief is so well-written that it made me feel slightly uncomfortable to read it - almost as if I was witnessing her grief, and the crazy things it is making her do, first hand. Six months after the death of her brother, Maya is obviously still grieving for him but she is beginning to move on with her life and she is determined to find the person who started the fire that killed him. She is strong, couragious and more than a little bit stubborn - just the kind of heroine I love!

And as for Logan *sigh*. What's not to love about a sexy fireman who is strong, fearless and the type of man who can't help but protect everybody around him. Maya and Logan are very similar in a lot of ways but they compliment each other well as a couple. And there is a LOT of chemistry between the two of them! So much so I thought the screen of my ereader was going to start steaming up!

The story does start off quite slow as the author sets the scene for the reader, but once the killer starts to set their sights on Maya and Logan things really pick up speed and I couldn't put it down. There is a very good twist at the end when the killer is finally revealed but I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the final showdown. The killer just seemed a little bit too over-the-top crazy for my liking and this ended up making their revelations all seem a bit too forced and unnatural.

Summary - A very enjoyable read that had me on the edge of my seat for the entire second half of the novel. I was pleased with my first journey into the world of romantic suspense and I am planning to revisit again very soon, with my copy of book two of the Hot Shots series - Hot as Sin.

Other books in this series:
1. Wild Heat
2. Hot as Sin

Other reviews of this book:
Book Binge / Romance Reviews Today / Smitten with Reading
(If you would like your review of Wild Heat included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)