Showing posts with label Romantic Thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romantic Thriller. Show all posts
One of the things I love about the bookish world is that one book can evoke different feelings in all sorts of readers. One book can be a five-star read for me and a DNF for someone else. We all see something different because we're all different and I love exploring those differences by reading reviews. So here are three books that I enjoyed and didn't love, however, they got five-star reviews from a ton of other readers.
Have you read any of these?
Satan's Affair by H.D. Carlton
thriller / 197 pages
Every Halloween, Satan's Affair will come to you.
We travel the country, offering terrifying haunted houses, thrilling rides and the tastiest food. And with every passing town, I cleanse this world, one execution at a time.
I hide within the walls, casting my judgement for those that reek of evil, singing lullabies to their rotting souls.
Once you've been chosen, there's no escaping my henchmen—they cater to my every desire.
You can run and you can hide, but it only excites me.
Come.
Take a walk through my dollhouse, where your screams will blend and your cute little pleas will go unanswered.
But I can't promise it'll be over quickly...
Rating - ★★★
What?!
This was not what I was expecting, however, I both liked and hated everything I read.
This book was a mess of epic proportions and I couldn't look away.
I felt like I knew what was going on with Sybil and her crew, but I'm not entirely sure about anything in the end.
Everything was screwy and tangled and upside down.
If you love swimming in the darkness, you'll enjoy this one.
What?!
This was not what I was expecting, however, I both liked and hated everything I read.
This book was a mess of epic proportions and I couldn't look away.
I felt like I knew what was going on with Sybil and her crew, but I'm not entirely sure about anything in the end.
Everything was screwy and tangled and upside down.
If you love swimming in the darkness, you'll enjoy this one.
Checkmate by R.L. Mathewson
Contemporary romance / dual 1st pov / enemies to lovers / descriptive scenes / 350 pages
There’s nothing worse than living next door to your childhood nemesis, except maybe being forced to share your dream project with him, being blackmailed into going along with something that was just wrong on so many levels, and having your hot cocoa stolen by the person that drove you to drink it in the first place.
As long as she has plenty of hot cocoa, a pair of pliers on hand and is able to resist Connor O’Neil's bad boy charm then Rory James should be able to make it through this project with her sanity intact. If not...
She’d probably face a few more nights in jail, have a few more restraining orders slapped against her and lose her heart to the man that ruined her life.
Rating - ★★★★
I love this author's writing and how she brilliantly combines humour and romance and warmth and fun. However, I didn't enjoy Checkmate as much as I did the first two books of the series. The animosity between Rory and Connor got to be too much for me.
When I read this the first time, I gave it 5 stars and I think it's clear how different I am now because I struggled to give this three stars this time around.
While I liked how all the hate was hiding a deep and all-consuming love, I was irritated by way too many things to really appreciate that love. Hot chocolate (which is my favourite too) was mentioned A LOT! Both characters were petty and it took too long for them to be bigger than the childish antics they were used to. I kept forgetting that these characters were adults.
I wanted more sweetness to temper the bitterness that filled the first half (or more) of this story. I wanted their growing intimacy to get more shine. It was obvious these two shared a deep and special connection from childhood and I wanted the beautiful side of all of that to take center stage.
I love this author's writing and how she brilliantly combines humour and romance and warmth and fun. However, I didn't enjoy Checkmate as much as I did the first two books of the series. The animosity between Rory and Connor got to be too much for me.
When I read this the first time, I gave it 5 stars and I think it's clear how different I am now because I struggled to give this three stars this time around.
While I liked how all the hate was hiding a deep and all-consuming love, I was irritated by way too many things to really appreciate that love. Hot chocolate (which is my favourite too) was mentioned A LOT! Both characters were petty and it took too long for them to be bigger than the childish antics they were used to. I kept forgetting that these characters were adults.
I wanted more sweetness to temper the bitterness that filled the first half (or more) of this story. I wanted their growing intimacy to get more shine. It was obvious these two shared a deep and special connection from childhood and I wanted the beautiful side of all of that to take center stage.
Shuttergirl by CD Reiss
I never forgot her. Not for one minute. Not from the last time I saw her, at seventeen, to today. I measured all women against her and all women came up short.
But being with her was unfeasible in high school, and it’s taboo now.
I see her sometimes, but I’ve never spoken to her. She runs, or I run. We’re in the same town, on the same block, in the same building, and the gulf between us is just too wide to cross.
Until tonight.
He was my high school crush, back when I lived in a world that didn’t want me. He was the perfect boy, and I was the outcast kid from the other side of town. And when he held my hand I thought I could fit in, just a little. I thought I could be his and he could be mine.
Then he left, and my life fell apart.
Now we are the king and queen of opposite sides of Hollywood. And we haven’t spoken a word to each other.
Until tonight.
Rating - ★★★
This is more of a flashback because I read this book back in September 2016. This is my review from that time:
This is the first book I've read from this author and it was ok. Going into it, I took a glance at the reviews, and now I'm surprised by all of the 5 star ratings I saw. Maybe we're not reading the same book. It was in no way a difficult read but I wasn't wowed.
Michael was an atypical celebrity in that he was a regular guy. He annoyed me because he was so caught up in others expectations of him. I'm sure I couldn't possibly understand where he was coming from because I'm not famous by any means, but he was a grown man. I was looking for him to man up more than he did.
Laine was a confused foster kid who grew up into a confused pseudo-adult. I couldn't understand her motives for most of the actions she took or the thoughts that occupied her mind. The only time I truly got where she was coming from was when she tried to save Michael by sacrificing herself.
I'm also confused by the laws in California. Child pornography only carries a two-year prison sentence? Ummmmmm no. Just no. I understand creative license but distribution would have to carry a stricter punishment than that. Otherwise, what is a real deterrent?
In all honesty, I truly do like this author's writing style.
This is more of a flashback because I read this book back in September 2016. This is my review from that time:
This is the first book I've read from this author and it was ok. Going into it, I took a glance at the reviews, and now I'm surprised by all of the 5 star ratings I saw. Maybe we're not reading the same book. It was in no way a difficult read but I wasn't wowed.
Michael was an atypical celebrity in that he was a regular guy. He annoyed me because he was so caught up in others expectations of him. I'm sure I couldn't possibly understand where he was coming from because I'm not famous by any means, but he was a grown man. I was looking for him to man up more than he did.
Laine was a confused foster kid who grew up into a confused pseudo-adult. I couldn't understand her motives for most of the actions she took or the thoughts that occupied her mind. The only time I truly got where she was coming from was when she tried to save Michael by sacrificing herself.
I'm also confused by the laws in California. Child pornography only carries a two-year prison sentence? Ummmmmm no. Just no. I understand creative license but distribution would have to carry a stricter punishment than that. Otherwise, what is a real deterrent?
In all honesty, I truly do like this author's writing style.
"They said I was a monster. They're about to see just how much of a monster I can truly be." - Cash
────── ♔ ──────
Wrecked by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #6
Release - May 30, 2017
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon
Release - May 30, 2017
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon
Other books in the series: Broken * Twisted * Shattered * Torn * Taken
SHE LEFT HIM ONCE.
LOST Agent Ana Young was only fourteen when she was abducted by a madman, but unlike many kidnapping victims, she did go home. Now, her mission is to find the missing. But her new case has her on the hunt for the escaped convict who’s obsessed with her. And Ana has an unlikely partner—the sexy, supposedly-by-the-book FBI agent she had one amazing night with and had to forget.
NOW HE HAS TO PROTECT HER 24/7…
FBI Special Agent Cash Knox knows that Ana, the petite, tough-ass former bounty hunter, can get the job done again. But this time, someone else leads them to “Bernie-the-Butcher,” someone who’s been watching Ana. Waiting for her.
FROM A CRAZED KILLER.
Now, catching a deranged murderer means Ana must trust her guarded heart to the gorgeous, complicated G-man she wasn’t supposed to fall for.
My Two Cents
4 "No on hurt Ana" stars
It's the last book of the series and it ended things off with an incredible bang. The reader is sure to figure out who the killer is really fast... or will they?
Every time I thought I had figured it out, another twist was thrown my way. And if the thrill of the chase (or the hunt) wasn't enough, what was brewing between Cash and Ana had me excited to keep on reading. I was able to piece together rather quickly that their pasts were linked in a tragic way, but the way it all unfolded had me feeling terrible for them. Such pain, but it was that same pain that bonded them. It's what drew them to each other in the first place. Like recognized like and they had something so special together.
The author did an amazing job with this conclusion and I'm only left with one question in the end that still hasn't been answered... What happened to Murphy?
The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com for more information!
The two of them together—they had a chance for something special. She wasn't going to let that chance escape.
She'd fight for him. He'd better fight for her.
She'd fight for him. He'd better fight for her.
────── ♔ ──────
Taken by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #5
Release - November 29, 2016
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 400 pages
Publisher - Avon
Release - November 29, 2016
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 400 pages
Publisher - Avon
Other books in the series: Broken * Twisted * Shattered * Torn
HE SWORE TO PROTECT HER . . .
Bailey Jones somehow survived her harrowing abduction by the infamous Death Angel. But while her physical scars have healed, she can’t stop wondering about a woman she helped to escape, who simply disappeared. When LOST agent Asher Young is assigned to her case, Bailey instantly feels an attraction to the intense ex-SEAL who seems to be carrying dark secrets of his own.
BUT KEEPING HIS PROMISE . . .
Asher can’t afford to let his growing feelings for Bailey distract him from his job. Only she can soothe his horrific nightmares, but the last thing he wants is for the demons from his past to ever hurt her. Bailey has gotten past his guard, and the emotions he feels for her—they’re as dark and dangerous as the past he doesn’t want to face.
COULD COST BOTH THEIR LIVES
When corpses begin surfacing—all marked with the same tattoo depicting the Death Angel’s calling card—Asher must race to stop a twisted killer who wants nothing more than to claim his next prize: Bailey . . .
My Two Cents
4 "Is it really over?" stars
Bailey had already survived a serial killer's attack. But when she keeps remembering another living victim, she heads to people of LOST for help. What happens when the killer seems to strike again and Bailey is back to being hunted?
Well, lucky for her, she had Asher. He had also survived some shit and was a former Navy SEAL. If there's someone you need to have his back, they don't get better than him. This man was amazing and helped to make this book my favorite of the series. From the moment he met Bailey, he was all in. He hated seeing a woman hurt or in trouble and his protective instincts when it came to her... I loved it. I enjoyed their immediate emotional connection and how understanding and patient he was with her. With both of them having experienced trauma, they just got each other.
The plot was a bit more complicated than I expected and I really liked that I didn't see a lot of it coming. Loved it!
The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com for more information!
She was home ... with Wade.
Exactly where she was supposed to be.
Exactly where she was supposed to be.
────── ♔ ──────
Torn by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #4
Release - May 31, 2016
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 387 pages
Publisher - Avon
Release - May 31, 2016
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 387 pages
Publisher - Avon
Other books in the series: Broken * Twisted * Shattered
PARTNERS . . . FRIENDS . . .
Forensic anthropologist Victoria Palmer has always been better with the dead than the living. Shutting down her emotions, she lets few people in. But then Victoria’s latest investigation takes her and agent Wade Monroe to Savannah, Georgia. Handsome, dangerous, and more than ready to play dirty on any case, Wade weakens Victoria’s aloofness with just one glance.
. . . LOVERS
Wade knows their recent cases have pushed Victoria beyond her limits. But her skills are crucial to finding a college student who went missing five years ago. Victoria is able to determine she was murdered, and that the killer is still on the loose.
And when the vicious murderer targets Victoria, Wade must do everything in his power to protect her . . . because he refuses to let a woman he loves be torn from him . . . again.
My Two Cents
3 "He's coming for her next" stars
A young woman goes missing and no one believes she's been abducted. Five years later, LOST has been hired to find her and give closure. Then her body turns up and a simple missing person case has now turned into a hunt for a killer. Victoria is the woman who finds answers from the dead. Wade is the man who looks for answers from the living. Working together, can they finally close the case?
Here's the thing...
I enjoyed the plot of the story. I really had no idea what was really going on and I loved that. I had some hunches of who was involved, but the how remained out of reach until the end, so the author did an amazing job with that.
However...
I didn't like the characters. Victoria was hard to take. She's a grown woman and yet her mind was so simple. She knew she had issues, but did nothing to help herself. But she did find it within herself to question and judge those around her. And Wade had way too much testosterone rushing through his veins. The alpha role was completely overdone. It blinded him to just about everything and Victoria playing the damsel who could take care of herself (she really couldn't) wasn't helping.
But that's just me.
If you like a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you'll enjoy this book.
The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com for more information!
They'd both been through hell. Both battled their own demons, and they both weren't ever going to completely shake their pasts.
────── ♔ ──────
Shattered by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #3
Release - October 27, 2015
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon
Release - October 27, 2015
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Avon
Other books in the series: Broken * Twisted
Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.
Jax Fontaine doesn't claim to be a good guy, but he's loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they're skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.
And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
My Two Cents
3.5 "When the past comes to haunt you" stars
Sarah knew evil. Her father was a convicted serial killer and she made it her life's mission to get in the heads of killers. So when she discovered bodies dropping, she refused to be afraid. And why would she be? The most dangerous man she'd ever met, Jax, was determined to keep her safe. What happens when the killer they're hunting is also hunting them?
I will admit, Sarah annoyed me for only one reason. She suffered from silliness, thinking that with multiple attempts on her life, that she could take care of herself. And I'm not saying she couldn't. There are women out there who have no choice but to do it on their own. But she wasn't alone. She had a team of people who did this stuff for a living. Why go it alone when you can have support? Stop your nonsense.
I really liked Jax and discovering the bits and pieces of his past. Finding out what made him the way he was made me a bit sad, but it gave his character such depth and I appreciated it. The author did a great job with his character. I even liked how his life had ties to Sarah's, without them even knowing it. Be it fate, destiny or kismet, these two were meant for each other in the most twisted of ways.
The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com for more information!
Beneath that careful control, he was like her.
────── ♔ ──────
Twisted by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - LOST #2
Release - April 28, 2015
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a couple of scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 389 pages
Publisher - Avon
Release - April 28, 2015
Genre - Romantic Thriller
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a couple of scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 389 pages
Publisher - Avon
Other books in the series: Broken
Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That's before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.
With her past, Emma Castille doesn't claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don't. Like the fear in a runaway's eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent's heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else's orders.
Then a madman breaks into Emma's home and leaves a twisted message: You're next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma's aching to give him everything he wants.
My Two Cents
4 "You're Next" stars
A sixteen year old girl is missing and it's up to the LOST team to find her. The cops aren't concerned until everyone realizes that this isn't a simple case of a runaway—a serial killer is on the loose. For Dean, it's an uncomfortable truth that stems from his past. He was once a victim at the hands of a killer and he's determined to end this killer's spree. For Emma, years ago her help was too late and she wants to help any way she can.
Emma was a bit annoying with her unrealistic expectation of partnership. She couldn't understand why she wasn't given the same courtesy as the members of the LOST team. Could it be that her experience as a 'psychic' reader in the town square didn't quite equal that of an ex-cop, ex-FBI agent, ex-Navy SEAL, a profiler, and a forensic pathologist?
Maybe.
Aside from that, this was a wildly entertaining thriller. Although I guessed quickly at the identity of the killer, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of how everything unfolded. There were twists and turns and some oblivious professionals and I liked it.
There's a spark between Jax and Sarah. Both have dark pasts so I'm sure that will play into their connection and since their story is next, I'm off to go read it.
The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com/ for more information!
"I know who you are, Victor."
────── ♔ ──────
The Darkest Half by J.A. Redmerski
In the Company of Killers #8
Release - September 19, 2022
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 1st person
Heat - 1.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 210 pages
Publisher - Indie (Lonely Raven Studios)
Release - September 19, 2022
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 1st person
Heat - 1.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 210 pages
Publisher - Indie (Lonely Raven Studios)
Other books in the series: Killing Sarai * Reviving Izabel * The Swan & the Jackal * Seeds of Iniquity * Black Wolf * Behind the Hands That Kill * Spiders in the Grove
With the abandonment of Victor Faust and nowhere left to go, Izabel sets out on her own to continue the assassin’s life she has grown to become so intimate with. But she quickly learns the hard way that such a life cannot be survived alone. Within months, she is captured by The Order, with the true identity of the ever-elusive Vonnegut just a hair away. And to make matters worse—or better?—her cellmate is none other than Niklas Fleischer.
While Izabel and Niklas are being left to starve to death in hopes that their capture will result in Victor Faust’s surrender, Fredrik Gustavsson has also found himself in a predicament of his own. Willa, his childhood savior who became the most notorious female serial killer of the modern age, is keeping him imprisoned. But what does she want from him, a woman devoid of empathy or the faintest understanding of human emotion? And what will become of Fredrik if he fails to give her what she wants?
In the suspenseful conclusion of the In the Company of Killers series, Vonnegut will be revealed—to Izabel and Niklas’ shock and devastation—and the lives of the once thriving rogue Order led by Victor Faust will come full circle.
And not everyone will make it out alive.
My Two Cents
3.5 "Is this really the end?" stars
After seven books that had me worrying over the fate of these characters, pulling my hair out, biting my nails anxiously... We're finally here.
It's the final book and yet, there's so much story that could still be told that I'm not holding my breath that this is the real end.
So where does this book leave those we've come to care about?
Izabel and Nick were taken captive and for those that always wanted them to be together... get those thoughts out of your head. It was torture to watch them devolve and slowly die together, all in an attempt to draw out the true target: Victor. And where was our illustrious anti-hero? You'll never guess. And I can't even tell you because with the amount of twists and turns this story took, anything I tell you will spoil it.
Know this... Izabel was still one of the most unaccomplished agents I've ever seen portrayed. Girl still couldn't catch a clue. Her thoughts were so simple. You're about to die... where's your mind at???
And then there's Fredrik. I don't even know how I feel about where his journey took him. I didn't like it and I'm hoping there will be a book out there one day to give his time with us a proper end.
Nora made an appearance, but she wasn't given the true shine she deserved. I'm not her biggest fan, but she played her part and she did it well and I don't think this book did her justice.
All I know is this: my mind was blown by some things that happened in this book; I'm still on the fence when it comes to Izabel; Nick deserves all the best the world has to offer; and I will never get enough of Victor Faust!
About the Author
J.A. (Jessica) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon best-selling author. She is also an international bestseller and award winner. Jessica is a hybrid author who began indie-publishing in 2012 and later signed several titles with a traditional publisher. Her works have been translated into over twenty languages and have been optioned for film and television.
In addition to writing books, she works with various programs to create her own cover art, interior art, design, formatting, and fantasy maps. Jessica loves The Golden Girls, Xena: Warrior Princess, nature, the universe, anime, manga, bookstores, and fantasizing about the apocalypse. She is from the United States but currently lives in Mexico with her husband.
Visit http://jessicaredmerski.com for more information
He wasn't just good looking, he was perfect. The scent of clean sweat mingled with his cologne—warm, male, virile. Dammit. She fidgeted uneasily. Why couldn't he have a paunch and some flab? Maybe a broken nose or a unibrow, with a severe case of BO?
────── ♔ ──────
Cold Light of Day by Toni Anderson
Standalone - Cold Justice #3
Release - November 16, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / descriptive scene
Format/Source - ebook gift from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - November 16, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / descriptive scene
Format/Source - ebook gift from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
What happens when an FBI agent falls for the daughter of the most notorious spy in US history?
Physicist Scarlett Stone is the daughter of the most notorious Russian spy in FBI history. With her father dying in prison, time is running out. Using a false identity, she gains access to the Russian ambassador's Christmas party, searching for evidence to prove her father's innocence.
Former Navy SEAL, now FBI Special Agent, Matt Lazlo, is instantly attracted to Scarlett but when he discovers she lied to him about her identity, he hunts her down with the ruthless efficiency he usually reserves for serial killers.
Not only does Scarlett's scheme fail, it puts her in the sights of people who reward unwanted curiosity with brutality. The FBI—and Matt—aren't thrilled with her, either. As the agents involved in her father's investigation start dying, and the attempts to stop Scarlett intensify, Matt and his colleagues begin to wonder. Could they have a traitor in their midst?
My Two Cents
4.5 "Spies are among us" stars
This was my favorite book of the series so far! This author has such a fun way of pulling intrigue, suspense, messed-up-ness, and romance together and it really works for me. I was glued to these pages, hurriedly flipping to find out what the heck was gonna happen next. Each event had me baffled, wondering who was really in control of things. Read it and you'll see. It's messed up.
Scarlett's life was turned upside down when her father, an esteemed FBI agent, was accused and convicted of being a Russian spy. Believing in his innocence, she was determined to find evidence and clear his name. She didn't really think her plan through, trying to do more than she was capable of, putting her right in the crosshairs of the very people who perpetuated the conspiracy in the first place.
Thankfully, despite being deceived by her in the beginning, Matt became the hero that she needed. He had the skills and the resources to get things done, helping her dodge bullets and bombs in the process.
I loved this story and if I were to complain about anything, it would be the lack of a happy ending. This author hasn't given me one yet, but I'm satisfied (for now) with the way the story ends. Happy-for-nows aren't the best, but they're definitely better than the alternative.
This series will be seeing me again and I'll be back with my thoughts on book four!
About the Author
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.
Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
For more information, visit https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Vivi had married a jerk, but at least she'd received this precious gift of a child. So even though she wished David a serious case of erectile dysfunction she never regretted having fallen for him in the first place. He was the price she'd paid for the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Michael.
Michael.
────── ♔ ──────
Cold Pursuit by Toni Anderson
Standalone - Cold Justice #2
Release - June 2, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / one semi-descriptive scene
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - June 2, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / one semi-descriptive scene
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
Single mom Vivi Vincent is thrust into her worst nightmare when she and her eight-year-old son are trapped inside a mall during a terror attack. Jed Brennan, a dedicated FBI agent on enforced leave, helps Vivi and her son survive the assault. But the danger is just beginning...
Vivi’s son may have witnessed critical details of the terrorists’ future plans and is targeted for death, but he’s mute, and he’s traumatized. When someone launches a strike against the FBI’s safe house, Jed fears the bad guys have an inside man. Not knowing who to trust, he hides mother and son in a log cabin deep in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. There Jed and Vivi try to figure out how to unlock the information inside her son’s head.
What they don't bargain for is the red-hot attraction that flares between them or the extent of the sinister plot that threatens to rip apart any chance of happiness they might have together.
My Two Cents
3 "Secrets Abound" stars
I'm really loving the plots the author has created for this series. Seriously loving them. However... for some reason, I found this one to be lacking on certain details.
I got so much information about the terrorists, which was helped along by getting their perspectives. I even got more than I wanted about Vivi and her ex. I got virtually nothing about Jed, which was ridiculous because he featured in such a huge part of this story. He mentioned a woman named Mia, who was murdered, but I know nothing about how they met, how she was killed, nada. So much was dumped on me about Vivi's ex and I really couldn't care less, but what I really wanted was missing. More of Jed's background please.
Once again, the author's writing made it so easy to picture it all, from the dangerous situations to the investigations to everything in between. I'm excited to keep reading this series and if you enjoy thrillers with some romance thrown in, you should dive in too!
About the Author
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.
Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
For more information, visit https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
She'd never had a lover so beautiful before.
Never touched a body like this.
But that wasn't what made Alex beautiful.
He called to something inside her.
She didn't know what it was but they fit.
Perfectly.
Never touched a body like this.
But that wasn't what made Alex beautiful.
He called to something inside her.
She didn't know what it was but they fit.
Perfectly.
────── ♔ ──────
A Cold Dark Place by Toni Anderson
Standalone - Cold Justice #1
Release - April 1, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - April 1, 2014
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 350 pages
Publisher - Indie
Former CIA assassin Alex Parker works for a clandestine government organization hell-bent on taking out serial killers and pedophiles before they enter the justice system. Alex doesn't enjoy killing, but he's damn good at it.
FBI Special Agent Mallory Rooney has spent years hunting the lowlife who abducted her identical twin sister eighteen years ago. Now, during an on-going serial killer investigation, Mallory begins to suspect there's a vigilante operating outside the law.
When Mallory starts asking questions, Alex is ordered to watch her. As soon as they meet, the two begin to fall in love. But the lies and betrayals that define Alex's life threaten to destroy them both—especially when the man who stole her sister all those years ago makes Mallory his next target.
My Two Cents
4 "Seriously messed up" stars
I really enjoyed this story. I liked how the author described certain scenes and events, making me feel like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. It was creepy and a bit scary and the murderer's perspective only made it more of a thriller.
It was exciting to know (or at least feel) like no one was safe. Mallory was a rookie agent who had a bit of arrogance that made her feel that she was untouchable. She was a smart and tough cookie, who was no stranger to tragedy ever since her identical twin was taken and has remained missing. All she wants is to find out what happened to her and get some justice. Alex was a man who was burdened by the tragedy as well. A trained killer, he was extemely patriotic, but he knew how to color outside the lines.
This story worked so well that I'll definitely be reading more of this series.
Before I started writing this review, I took the time to read a few others and I was absolutely shocked. Quite a few remarked that they were disappointed because of the graphic sexual language.
This was a good storyline but I don’t care about graphic love scenes that last about 25 pages when I bought a thriller!! I also couldn’t stand the filthy language in the book.
Ummm... what?! It was slightly descriptive, but nowhere near explicit. Seriously, if people want clean stories, they shouldn't read anything out of the Christian section. And if they don't want sex, don't read romance. Because a romance book without sex isn't really a book I wanna read.
Regardless, the romance fed the story because without it, we'd be lost as to Alex's motivations where Mallory was concerned.
About the Author
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.
Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
For more information, visit https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
"You got scared," he charged, the words he'd wanted to throw at her for too long firing out. "I got too close, didn't I? And you had to fcking run."
Monica didn't flinch. Her eyes didn't waver. She just stared back at him. Cold. Like ice.
But he knew how she burned.
Monica didn't flinch. Her eyes didn't waver. She just stared back at him. Cold. Like ice.
But he knew how she burned.
────── ♔ ──────
Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - Deadly #1
Release - July 17, 2010
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 403 pages
Publisher - Forever
Release - July 17, 2010
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 403 pages
Publisher - Forever
TWO BRILLIANT AGENTS
FBI Special Agent Monica Davenport has made a career out of profiling serial killers. But getting inside the twisted minds of the cruel and the sadistic has taken its toll: She's walled herself off from the world. Yet Monica can't ignore fellow agent Luke Dante, the only man who ever broke through her defenses.
ONE DREAM TEAM
Luke has the unique ability to put victims at ease...professionally, he and Monica made a perfect team. Now they're reunited to catch a murderer who uses his victims' deepest, darkest fears for sport - but their investigative skills aren't enough. Luke and Monica will have to face the secrets from their past, the ones that terrify them the most, if they are to have a future together.
BUT CAN THEY CATCH A KILLER WHOSE WEAPON IS...
DEADLY FEAR
My Two Cents
4.25 "Let the games begin" stars
I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet because this book is best enjoyed when going in blind.
Monica is hard to love, but you have to love her. She gets in the killer's head, she gets the job done, and she handles herself like a pro. Except when it came to Luke. With him, she seemed to lose all control. And I happened to love the dynamic between these two. Luke was the go-to protector kind of guy. Alpha without being over the top. And Monica was the kind of woman who could take care of herself. Seriously.
So when a serial killer they're hunting seems to always be one step ahead, who better to have on the case then the best of the best? And trust me, Luke and Monica were incredible together, in and out of bed!
I really enjoyed how the author let us into the killer's head. It added a touch more terror than I would have gotten from the protagonists alone. There is so much involved in this story and I loved getting the chance to figure out all of the little bits.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series!
About the Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com/ for more information!
He wasn't going back to jail.
He wasn't finished.
The circle wasn't complete.
Lauren wasn't a beautiful, bloody doll.
It wasn't over.
I have the power.
He also had the big-ass knife.
Fear For Me by Cynthia Eden
Standalone - For Me #2
Release - November 12, 2013
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat level - 3 out of 5 - one descriptive scene & one lightly descriptive one
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 358 pages
Publisher - Montlake Romance
She’s the obsession two men share: one wants her love, the other wants her life.
A shared passion for justice first brought Baton Rouge district attorney Lauren Chandler and US marshal Anthony Ross together—when each played their part in bringing down the infamous Bayou Butcher. The sparks flying between the two made it clear they weren’t just a legal dream team. Then desire had to make way for duty, and what they had was done. But it would never be over.
Five years later, it’s none other than the Butcher who gets things started again, when his shocking jailbreak reunites the lawyer and the lawman…and reignites their love. But this time, the pair is in danger of being permanently parted—by a killer with revenge on his mind, and Lauren on the top of his list. As a new wave of terror sweeps through the streets and swamps of Baton Rouge, one man will pit his boundless passion against another’s relentless hate, for the life of the woman who obsesses them both.
The Bayou Butcher has broken out of prison and he's out for revenge. And he's not alone. When those he's targeting realize that he has a partner, that maybe he's always had a partner, the hunt is even more urgent to put these killers away.
Five years ago, Anthony and Lauren had something special. However, after working a case together, despite her pleas that he stay, he knew he had to leave. But gone doesn't mean forgotten and neither of them were able to forget the other. To move past what they had. To get over those feelings. And since Anthony was the one to help put the Butcher away in the first place, it's only right that he be the one to come back to hunt him down. He's back and what he feels for Lauren is stronger than ever. This time he vows to give what they have a shot, if she'll let him. He just needs to keep her alive and catch the bad guys.
I enjoyed being in the minds of the killers. It was just as creepy and icky as it needed to be. The author did a great job of capturing how truly twisted and disgusting these men were. I will admit that I figured out my top three candidates for the partner pretty early on and one of them were the right answer. It was a load of fun seeing how it tied in. I did want more of an explanation for how these two men worked together, but I was content with what I got.
Scary and eerie, Fear For Me left me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would happen next and I'm looking forward to reading the next book of this series.
This title is FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/3reOC57
She closed in on Anthony. “We need to talk.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Later, ma’am.” His native Georgia drawl rolled lightly beneath his words. “Right now, I have a killer to hunt.”
She grabbed his arm. Held tight. “A killer who was in my house. A killer who murdered my friend.” Karen, I am so sorry. Each time she thought of Karen, it felt as if someone were clawing open her chest. “You aren’t shutting me out, understand, Ross? I’m working this with you. I am going to make sure this city doesn’t fall back into the Bayou Butcher madness it faced before.” When fear had held them all captive.
Fear of the dark.
Fear of the monster who waited in the dark.
Jon Walker had made children—and even adults—fear the boogeyman once more. Because he truly was that monster.
“I tracked him before,” Anthony said quietly. No emotion entered his voice or his gaze. “And I can do it again.”
Without you.
Unspoken, but the words were still there, hanging between them.
She wouldn’t back down. “My office will give you any support you need. We will work together on this.” She knew the reporters were probably already swarming outside. Paul had been right on that score—a story about her, about the Bayou Butcher—hell, yes, they were talking a front-page spread.
Anthony bent toward her. His scent—rich, masculine—surrounded her. His mouth was close to her ear when he whispered. “Haven’t you already come close enough to death?”
She turned her head. Met his stare. “Haven’t you?” Because she knew the risks he took, day in and day out.
Even when he’d left her, she’d followed his career. Anthony’s cases were the darkest she’d ever encountered. Brutal killers. Sadistic criminals.
Nightmares.
“Not close enough,” he told her softly. “Not yet.” His green gaze heated as it swept over her. “I missed you.”
Then he was gone. Hurrying away with the other two men as they went out on the hunt.
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Later, ma’am.” His native Georgia drawl rolled lightly beneath his words. “Right now, I have a killer to hunt.”
She grabbed his arm. Held tight. “A killer who was in my house. A killer who murdered my friend.” Karen, I am so sorry. Each time she thought of Karen, it felt as if someone were clawing open her chest. “You aren’t shutting me out, understand, Ross? I’m working this with you. I am going to make sure this city doesn’t fall back into the Bayou Butcher madness it faced before.” When fear had held them all captive.
Fear of the dark.
Fear of the monster who waited in the dark.
Jon Walker had made children—and even adults—fear the boogeyman once more. Because he truly was that monster.
“I tracked him before,” Anthony said quietly. No emotion entered his voice or his gaze. “And I can do it again.”
Without you.
Unspoken, but the words were still there, hanging between them.
She wouldn’t back down. “My office will give you any support you need. We will work together on this.” She knew the reporters were probably already swarming outside. Paul had been right on that score—a story about her, about the Bayou Butcher—hell, yes, they were talking a front-page spread.
Anthony bent toward her. His scent—rich, masculine—surrounded her. His mouth was close to her ear when he whispered. “Haven’t you already come close enough to death?”
She turned her head. Met his stare. “Haven’t you?” Because she knew the risks he took, day in and day out.
Even when he’d left her, she’d followed his career. Anthony’s cases were the darkest she’d ever encountered. Brutal killers. Sadistic criminals.
Nightmares.
“Not close enough,” he told her softly. “Not yet.” His green gaze heated as it swept over her. “I missed you.”
Then he was gone. Hurrying away with the other two men as they went out on the hunt.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
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