Alaskan Rescue ~ Review

Alaskan Rescue

Alaska K-9 Unit #1

By Terri Reed

It was supposed to be a fun pre-wedding excursion, an off-trail wilderness hike in the snowy wonder of Alaska. But it went horribly wrong and now someone seems determined to make sure that Ariel Potter doesn't live to find out what happened to her best friend and bride-to-be Violet James. 

Hunter McCord and his K-9 partner Juneau discovered Ariel following the attack that left her mere inches from certain death. When Ariel claims that it was no accident that left her battered and bruised, Hunter and Juneau are assigned to be her protection. And it quickly becomes obvious that Ariel needs protection as she and her dogs are targeted. 

Are the attacks related to what happened on the hike, Ariel's defense of her best friend, or something else entirely? Until they get the answer to that question answered it will be very difficult to keep her safe. But the greatest danger may be to her heart.

Alaskan Rescue is the first book in the Alaska K-9 Unit series and it, in true Love Inspired Suspense style, creates a story arc that will leave you in anticipation of book two. I know for a fact that I am eagerly awaiting the next book to see just where the series goes next. So if you love good, clean-reading suspense with a dose of romance and a whole passel of dogs you need to snatch this one up.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A mountain search-and-rescue mission

turns into a fight for their lives.

Sent to find a wedding party that disappeared during a hike, Alaskan state trooper Hunter McCord and his K-9 partner, Juneau, discover bridesmaid Ariel Potter hanging from a cliff. But this was no accident—she was pushed—and her hiking companions are missing. Now it’s up to Hunter and Juneau to find them…and make sure whoever wants Ariel dead doesn’t finish the job.

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Alaska K-9 Unit

Book 1: Alaskan Rescue

The Lady and the Highwayman ~ Review

The Lady and the Highwayman

The Dread Penny Society #1

By Sarah M. Eden

Read by Justine Eyre

The Dread Penny Society has a problem - a new author has overtaken Fletcher Walker in sales. Without his profits, Fletcher and the Society are concerned that their philanthropic endeavors may be hurt. Endeavors to aid the less fortunate and especially the young children at the mercy of those who would use them for nefarious purposes.

Who is Mr. King? This is the question that Fletcher needs to be answered. If Mr. King would aid them in their endeavors all the better. But if he will hinder them and his sales eat into the profits of the other Dreadfuls then they will need to work to topple him from his sales throne. They just need to identify Mr. King, whom no one seems to know. 

When an encounter with Miss Elizabeth Black presents itself, Fletcher appeals to her to help him identify Mr. King. Though Elizabeth is a writer of "silver-fork" novels, something of Mr. King's style leads Fletcher to assume he may be an author of the upper-class writing under a pseudonym to protect his identity. Little did Fletcher realize just how close to the truth he truly was. 

More than a little amused at Fletcher's request, Elizabeth agrees to aid him in his search for the elusive Mr. King. Not to mention she was more than a little intrigued by Mr. Fletcher Walker himself. With a reputation to uphold and a school to run Elizabeth really shouldn't associate with Mr. Walker, but she does enjoy a stimulating conversation and Fletcher Walker provides that.

The Lady and the Highwayman is a delightful read - there are 3 stories within this book as the stories that both Fletcher and "Mr. King" are working on are presented too. It is a wonderful blending that presents itself well and keeps the reader's attention from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed Elizabeth's subterfuge in hiding Mr. King's identity and Fletcher's dogged determination to find him. But as they work towards a common goal they soon realize that they are well on their way to friendship and perhaps something more. But can the social gap between the two be overcome? Only time will tell...

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and it was well-presented. The pacing worked well for me and I really enjoyed the three different stories alternated between. Elizabeth and Fletcher's story style was definitely different but it worked well in bringing the story as a whole together. If you want clean-reading with a Victorian flair you have to give this book a try. 

About the Book:

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school and a well-respected author of “silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories—the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real-life lacks.
 
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers--and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate.
 
Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. 
 
For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

Framed in Death Valley ~ Review

Framed in Death Valley

Desert Justice #1

By Dana Mentink

They were married for less than six months, and already their marriage was over. "For better or worse" went out the window when the worse happened, and Laney's heart has once again been broken by someone she trusted it with. Beckett Duke coming back is out of the question; she just wants him out of her life.

He needed to protect Laney no matter what it cost him personally. As long as she was tied to him, her life and livelihood were in danger. Divorce was the only answer. But before he disappears from her life forever, he needs to be sure she is safe from the threats to her life. 

Beckett's life fell apart when he was framed for murder. He never did it, but almost everyone is convinced he did it. When you are tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, what chance do you have of changing anyone's judgment? Worse, the killer might be back determined to keep him from finding evidence that proves his innocence. And Laney might get caught in that determination to stop him.

Framed in Death Valley is a well-paced read that will keep the reader guessing at just who the guilty party truly is. There are suspects aplenty but no clear motive as to why Pauline was murdered or why Beckett was framed. This is a clean-read suspense, no graphic murder scenes, perfect if you want suspense that doesn't give you nightmares. And being a Love Inspired Suspense read you know there will be a satisfactory outcome or at least the promise of one.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Love Inspired Suspense: Courage and optimism unite on the pages of Love Inspired Suspense. Find strength and determination in stories of faith and love in the face of danger.

A killer who will stop at nothing…

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything—including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is until Laney’s life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves…and their unborn child. But sometimes, an innocent man’s second chance comes with a deadly price.

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Desert Justice

Book 1: Framed in Death Valley

The Earl's Lady Geologist ~ Review with Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 

The Earl's Lady Geologist by Alissa Baxter, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

The Earl's Lady Geologist

The Linfield Ladies Series #1

By Alissa Baxter

Cassandra Linfield has vowed to never marry, she is dedicated to her pursuits of scientific endeavors, and collecting fossils is a most unladylike pursuit. She has other reasons to avoid marriage but this is the one she shares when asked. When her aunt insists that Cassy have a Season before she comes into her majority she finds herself off to London leaving Lyme and its fossils behind.

Adapting to the restrictions of London after the freedoms she enjoyed in Lyme are further complicated when the Earl of Rothbury, Edward, spots her partaking in a reading at the Geological Society. Little does he know just what ties Cassy has with the Society. Even more troublesome her behavior could reflect badly on his younger siblings who are Cassy's cousins.

When Cassy's illustrative talents come to light the Earl asks her to provide illustrations for his upcoming paper which is to be soon presented before the Geological Society. As they work together they come to a friendship of sorts. But when the topic of marriage comes up Cassy is adamant that she will never marry, nor be a wife of convenience. 

The Earl's Lady Geologist brings the reader into a world that is on the verge of change. The pursuit of scientific discovery, women breaking from the expected, and finding love. But nothing is ever easy and in this delightful book this is more than amply exhibited as Cassy, Edward, and her Linfield cousins try to find their place in the world. If you want an enjoyable escape from the everyday and desire clean-reading this book is just what you are looking for. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Earl's Lady Geologist
Series: The Linfield Ladies Series
Author: Alissa Baxter
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing
Release Date: February 28, 2021
Genre: Clean Regency Romance

Cassandra Linfield is a lady fossil collector who declares she will never marry as no man will ever take her studies seriously. When circumstances force her to travel to Town for the Season, Cassy infiltrates the hallowed portals of the Geological Society from which she has been banned. She is horrified when she comes face to face with her nemesis, the infuriating Earl of Rothbury. 

Lord Rothbury is a gentleman-geologist with a turbulent romantic past. After a youthful disappointment, he vows never to fall in love again and makes the decision, instead, to seek out a convenient wife when he returns to England from his geological travels abroad. 

Brought together by their close family ties, Cassy and Rothbury collaborate on a geological paper and discover a powerful attraction. Marriage, however, is the one subject they cannot agree upon. But when Cassy’s life is threatened, the two realize that love matters more than their objections.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alissa Baxter wrote her first Regency romance, The Dashing Debutante, during her long university holidays. After traveling the world, she settled down to write her second Regency romance, Lord Fenmore's Wager, which was inspired by her time living on a country estate in England.

 

Alissa then published two chick-lit novels, The Truth About Clicking Send and Receive (previously published as Send and Receive) and The Truth About Cats and Bees (previously published as The Blog Affair). 

Many years later, Alissa returned to her favorite time period and signed a three-book contract with Vinspire Publishing for her Linfield Ladies Series, a trio of Regency romances that feature women in trend-setting roles who fall in love with men who embrace their trailblazing ways... at least eventually. 

Alissa currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband and two sons. She is a member of The Beau Monde - Regency Fiction Writers.

CONNECT WITH ALISSA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 2, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 9, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Network of Deceit ~ Review

Network of Deceit

Amara Alvarez #2

By Tom Threadgill

Amara Alvarez is now where she wanted to be - San Antonio's Homicide Division, and she has her first case. There is nothing concrete that the water park death was a murder but one little detail makes it suspicious and Amara has a feeling. But she had no idea that this case would upend her life and it couldn't come at a worse time for her personal life.

As the rookie in Homicide, her previous case's media following has just added to the newbie (aka noobie) atmosphere. She's determined to see the case through on her own. But the deeper she digs the more layers she discovers. Instead of answering questions, she seems to get more questions that need answers. Getting answers and justice for Zach Coleman is not going to be easy. And when your most compelling evidence has yet to be discovered you know you've got your work cut out for you. She may have to remember one small piece of advice if she hopes to get the answers she wants - everybody lies.

This is the second book featuring Amara Alvarez and it can easily be read as a standalone without any difficulty if you have not yet read Collison of Lies. This book takes the reader into a world most don't know much about. Amara gets a crash course in cybersecurity as her first case introduces her to cyberstalking. Have to say it gives one a warm, fuzzy feeling about one's online usage/presence. (NOT!) Overall, I'd say this was a good read. There are some unexpected twists that I can honestly say I did not see coming. If you are looking for suspense to add to your tbr list this one would make a good choice.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

She's following her instincts.

They're following her every move.

After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she's worked for: a transfer to San Antonio's Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life.

As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she's forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see that justice is served and lives are protected.

When Twilight Breaks ~ Review

When Twilight Breaks

By Sarah Sundin

Evelyn Brand is determined to get THE story, the story that will show she is just as good as her male colleagues. There is just one thing standing in her way, well two, her boss and one of her colleagues. She knows that if she is allowed to write her words will wake up America to the threat that is Nazi Germany. But the world is tired of war and America is still caught in the clutches of the Great Depression.  To get the story that will speak to the world is not easy as Germany only wants their truth going out into the world, and German truth is not what she has been witnessing.

When she is given an assignment that introduces her to Peter Lang, an American who has fallen under Germany's spell of prosperity and order, she is less than thrilled with his German enchantment. But Peter's past has him looking at what he wants rather than what is - until reality comes crashing in around him. 

Evelyn and Peter couldn't seem more opposite if they had tried, yet they were drawn to one another. As German propaganda draws its ever-tightening noose around them, they must work together if they have any hopes of leaving the country behind and getting home alive.

I have to say, I was drawn into this book from the opening scene. The characters are so real that one can't help but be pulled toward them. I like that this book is a standalone title, no waiting for the next book. Though I wouldn't mind more with Peter and Evelyn if truth be told. This would make an excellent book club selection if you are looking for a historical fiction title. In my opinion, this is the best work of Sarah Sundin that I have read. I have no qualms recommending When Twilight Breaks to any and all readers 12or 13 years and up.  

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Munich, 1938. 

  Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.

  In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his Ph.D. in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

  As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.

  This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

Obsession ~ Review

Obsession

Natchez Trace Park Rangers #2

By Patricia Bradley

Emma Winters is passionate about her work and in her desire to locate her brother Ryan. Ten years ago Ryan disappeared after being named a prime suspect in a murder. Ten years ago she broke up with Sam Ryker. And now Sam is back working the Natchez Trace the same as Emma.

Someone is tampering with the site of Emma's historical investigation of a slave graveyard. And they are willing to kill to do it. Unfortunately, Emma's brush with death brings her face-to-face with Sam Ryker. Sam never got over Emma and seeing her again after all these years hasn't changed his feelings for her, but he doesn't want to risk having her break his heart all over again.  

But when someone seems to be targeting Emma it quickly becomes obvious that she may have a stalker. But the question is who. And even more to the point if she does is it tied to her historical work and the tampering? Or is it something else entirely?

Obsession is an excellent read, one in which we as the reader are allowed a glimpse into the minds of Emma, Sam, and the perpetrator.  Such a contrast in personalities! And as to the perpetrator's true identity, we are given an abundance of potential suspects who could be guilty. Obsession is so well written that we are not given any clear path to follow in identifying the guilty party so we like the characters are truly scrambling to pull the pieces together both it is too late. Bravo! I can't wait to read the next book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. I have to admit this book was another can't-put-it-down-must-read-it-until-the-end book! 

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley will have the hairs standing up on the back of your neck with this nail-biting tale of obsession, misunderstanding, and forgiveness.