When You Dare by Lori Foster

I don’t usually go for the romance novels, but something about When You Dare by Lori Foster made me say yes to reviewing it. Maybe it was the hunkalicious piece of man meat on the cover- who knows. But I decided to take a chance, and I am glad I did. I really enjoyed this suspenseful romance that has just that filling the pages- a whole lot of suspense and a whole lot of steamy romance. The main characters are Dare Macintosh and Molly Alexander, and the story begins with professional mercenary Dare rescuing Molly from Tijuana and a human trafficking setup. Molly, a best-selling author of scandalous romance novels, fears she was no ordinary kidnapping. Someone planned to take her- and that someone could possibly be her father. Or her ex-boyfriend. Or a disgruntled fan that was not happy with the way she redeemed a character in her latest book. With her life in danger, Dare decides to become Molly’s bodyguard, protecting her until they can figure out who would want Molly dead. But in the process of trying to keep herself alive, Molly starts to see Dare in a very different light. A very sexy light. And Dare is trying to keep his feelings for Molly shoved below the surface so he can keep her protected. But the more they try to ignore their feelings, the more the want builds between the two.

I thought When You Dare was excellent! Molly’s character was strong, a fairly independent chick who was ready to track down her kidnappers. And Dare was scorching the pages! You could sense his sex appeal from miles away. I thought the suspense was great, I really wasn’t positive who the culprit was until closer to the end. There were a few oddities about the story that caught my attention, like in the beginning where Molly didn’t seem at all frightened when it came to Dare, nor didn’t ask him many questions about why or how he rescued her. There were a few instances like that which I picked up on, but I still really got into the story and the characters. There were a lot times where I didn’t want to put this book down! The plot was fast paced with enough twists to keep my attention firmly on the story. Even if you aren’t usually a romance/suspense reader, I would give Lori Foster a chance. She won me over!

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Rock Bottom by Erin Brockovich & CJ Lyons

One of my favorite thriller writers, CJ Lyons, teamed up with environmental and consumer activist Erin Brockovich to create the dramatic thriller Rock Bottom. The story follows heroine AJ Palladino, an environmental activist and single mom to a son with a disability, David. When AJ returns to her hometown of Scotia, West Virginia, she is thrown into the middle of a mystery. The well known lawyer who had hired her as clerk to assist in his new case has died- and it looks like he could have been a homicide. When the lawyer’s daughter, Elizabeth, determinedly takes on the challenge of finding his murderer, AJ becomes involved. The story plays out in twisty sub-plots: David’s father and his past with AJ, the mining company that could be poisoning the town, the mystery behind AJ’s parents and their refusal to speak to her, and more.

Write what you know is a big piece of advice that authors often give, and it is clear that is what Brockovich and Lyons did. While I did enjoy all the mystery/thriller aspects, some of the environmental talks left me a bit confused. I don’t know much about saving the environment and the toxins and mining machines, etc, so I felt a little drowned when the book became heavy on those subjects, simply because I couldn’t grasp what was being talked about. But I did enjoy the suspense, and trying to figure out who killed the lawyer along with AJ and Elizabeth. I loved David’s character and the positive outlook the little boy had. The ending was shocking and unexpected to me, yet I thought it summed up the message the story wants you to get from reading. This is the first in a series from Brockovich and Lyons, and I do think I would give the second novel a try.

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Lucky Stiff by Deborah Coonts

Lucky O’Toole, the feisty heroine from Deborah Coonts novel Wanna Get Lucky? is back and better than ever. In the second novel, Lucky Stiff, Lucky is now happily dating female impersonator/singing extraordinaire Teddie, and still working for the luxurious Babylon Resort and Casino on the Vegas strip. On a seemingly normal night, a swarm of bees escapes from an exhibit, and Lucky’s normal streak is over. The domino effect begins, starting with a DA naked and locked hotel closet, a bookie with no conscience found dead in the shark tank, and Lucky’s good friend at the top of the suspect list. Could the DA and bookie be relevant to one another? And can Lucky handle all the Babylon’s problems on top of her love life, which is spinning out of control after Teddie is offered a recording deal?

Lucky Stiff is even better than the first, which is usually pretty rare. I liked that even though this was a sequel, it could easily be a stand alone as well. And Coonts doesn’t fill the pages with information readers would find in the first novel, she gives just the right amount of needed info and moves on with the new plot line. The writing borders on raunchy, with sex being a hot topic amongst all the characters- especially Lucky’s Madame mother- who is auctioning off a young woman’s virginity. Readers will enjoy the fast paced scenes, the picture of a glittery and glamorous Vegas with an underlying of secrets and sin. I heard from Coonts that she is currently working on a third in the series, and I cannot wait to read it!

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Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts

Wanna Get Lucky? is the first in the Lucky O’Toole Las Vegas mystery series by Deborah Coonts, and I loved it! The story follows heroine Lucky, who is in her thirties and works as the head of Customer Relations at a mega casino and resort on the Vegas strip. Lucky has dedicated much of her life to her work, after the Big Boss took a chance on her and gave her a job at only fifteen years old. Since then, Lucky has worked herself up to achieve everything she has. Her tough exterior comes from growing up in the Sin City, and also from her mother, who runs a brothel. Lucky is used to solving problems, from irate guests to drunken fights, and people counting cards in the casino. But when the lovely Lyda Sue drops to her death from the helicopter owned by Lucky’s resort and the pilot goes missing, Lucky has a new task to handle- murder.

Wanna Get Lucky? is a fast-paced, keep you on your toes novel. I love a good mystery, and Coonts adds in so many plot twists and new character developments that I couldn’t figure this one out until the end. The main character is a gem, a tough female not afraid to speak her mind and get her way. I loved reading about her love life as well, and the mom who is a Madame- hilarious! The only part I didn’t love so much was it was a bit stereotypical. The Big Boss was like a mobster, and sometimes the Vegas scene seemed like what people who have never been to Vegas might think it’s like. But I’ve been there, and it wasn’t quite like what is described. Then again, I was a tourist visiting for a few days. But, I also think this is an aspect that makes the book so much fun to read. It’s drama, it’s mystery, it’s fiction. Wanna Get Lucky? is over the top, a novel readers can get lost in. I cannot wait to read book number two- Lucky Stiff.

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Snake Skin by CJ Lyons

Even though I love chick lit and all things girly, I am also a fan of mysteries and thrillers. When I reviewed my first book from CJ Lyons, Blind Faith, I was blown away by the creative story lines, the intense drama, and breathtaking speed at which I flew the story. When CJ approached me and offered to send me a copy of Snake Skin, of course I said yes!

Snake Skin follows Lucy Guardino, or Supervisory Special Agent Guardino when she is on the job. Lucy is an average mom, in love with her husband, and trying to find a common bond with her teenage daughter. But she also carries a forty-caliber Glock and goes undercover to find criminals for the FBI’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement squad. Lucy works to take down criminals who abduct and abuse children, and often puts her life on the line to save the innocent. But when her current case starts hitting too close to home and may be at the hands of an insider, Lucy must work quickly to save a young girl- and possibly her own daughter.

Lyons uses her own experiences from working as a pediatric ER doctor to help the scenarios and characters come to life. Again, I flew through this novel, trying to connect the dots and find the killer along with Lucy. Snake Skin isn’t just from Lucy’s point of view, readers will be able to get into the minds of other FBI workers, as well as the abducted girl and her abductor. This is another great read from CJ Lyons, and I think women will enjoy that kick ass hero portrayed by Lucy.

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These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf gave me chills throughout the entire story. It begins with Allison Glenn, a 21 year old Iowa native who is serving time in prison for a crime that is not immediately known. Allison is about to be released, and will finish out her sentence at a halfway house in her hometown. Once the golden girl of her family, excellent grades, good at sports, a college future in mind, Allison’s family has now shunned her very existence. But the one person Allison is desperate to talk to is her little sister Brynn. Brynn was there that night, she is the only other person who knows what really happened. And when Allison unexpectedly finds a missing puzzle piece from that horrendous night, she needs Brynn more than ever.

This story is deliciously thrilling, covering Allison’s point of view, Brynn’s, and even more characters that add to the mystery. The characters haunted me when I had to stop reading, making this book absolutely impossible to put down for long periods of time. Halfway through the story I thought I had it all figured out, and then another twist would be thrown in, completely catching me off guard. It wasn’t until the very last chapter that the entire mystery is laid out for you, and Gudenkauf did a magnificent job at weaving in so many plot points and keeping the suspense at a high level throughout. These Things Hidden is a mystery, a thriller, but also a beautifully touching story on family, innocence, and the bond of sisters.

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Blind Faith by CJ Lyons

Sarah Durandt is still living a nightmare. Two years ago, her husband and young son were murdered, but their bodies were never recovered. Now, as the man who confessed to killing her family awaits his execution, Sarah begs to know where the bodies were buried. She just wants her closure, but the killer won’t give that to her. She returns home with her lawyer and special friend, Alan, but the memories of Josh and Sam continue to haunt her. She is determined to find her husband and son, but never imagines what the search could lead her to. A tangle of deceit, multiple identities, and surprising foes await to be unearthed as Sarah begins the complicated unraveling of her families murders.

Oh boy. Blind Faith by CJ Lyons had five stars written all over it from the moment I started reading.  Lyons has an obvious talent for creating her “thrillers of the heart” and wastes no times hooking the readers to Sarah, the main character. The complicated twists and turns in the story didn’t deter me or frustrate me at all, instead they pulled me in further, keeping up with the characters and action as it all unfolded. This is a fantastic mystery, and the writing flows along so smoothly that I often times felt I was the detective trying to piece all the clues together. There were even a few scenes where I felt my heart beating faster, as I was anxious to where the plot would take me. Not a lot of mysteries can cause that intense reaction from me! This is a great novel, and I would definitely recommend CJ Lyons and her thrillers to readers.

Rating: 5/5

Well Read and Dead by Catherine O’Connell

One of my favorite heroines Pauline Cook is back and better than ever in Well Read and Dead, the second novel in the high society mysteries by Catherine O’Connell. This time, Pauline returns to America after an extended European vacation, only to come back after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Her once exceptional stock portfolio has now crumbled, leaving her without much money to go of off- again. To make it worse, her beautiful Chicago penthouse that was highly damaged in a fire still isn’t in a livable condition yet, one of her closest friends Whitney has gone missing, and Whitney took Pauline’s precious cat, Fleur, with her! Pauline becomes determined to find Whitney, so she can get her cat back and score a cool multimillion dollar reward promised to her by Whitney’s husband if Pauline can find her. What Pauline doesn’t know is that Whitney has stumbled upon a very disturbing secret regarding her husband’s lingerie business, and Pauline finding Whitney and discovering the truth could cost the woman both their lives.

Again, I was highly entertained by the antics of Pauline. Losing 20 million dollars when her Enron stock collapsed? A missing best friend and no place to live? Pauline doesn’t let these obstacles bring her down, she continues her shopping, luncheons, and staying in the best room at one of Chicago’s finest hotels. There was something different about Pauline in this novel compared to the first, Well Bred and Dead, and those occurrences happen when two very devastating occurrences happen. I won’t say what they are because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but I was shocked more than once in this book. I thought O’Connell’s writing was once again exceptional for the character and her story, and I highly look forward to the third novel, Well Wed and Dead.

Rating: 5/5

Well Bred and Dead by Catherine O’Connell

Pauline Cook, a widowed Chicago socialite, likes the finer things in life. Her stunning Chicago penthouse with 360 degree views of the city, the latest fashions, her classic car and high society luncheons. Pauline is hiding a secret though- her money is running out. Her husband, who passed 10 years before, didn’t leave Pauline with the millions she thought, and a few bad stock market choices have left her drying out. But Pauline’s troubles worsen when she finds her friend, Ethan, dead in is apartment. Suicide, the police say, but Pauline thinks something more is at stake. She follows her instinct, which leads her to Ethan’s double identity, past murders, and a whole lot of trouble. Pauline’s life is threatened when she finally uncovers the big secret, and a final twist in the plot ends this classy mystery.

I really enjoyed Well Bred and Dead by Catherine O’Connell. At first I had trouble liking the heroine- who continues to shop and live luxurious when she is about to go broke. But after a few chapters go by, I started to like her for her sense of loyalty, especially to the deceased Ethan. There are enough plot twists at every turn to keep you guessing the final reveal until the very end. O’Connell’s writing fits perfectly with the heroine and her upper class ways, and this truly is a “high society novel.” I look forward to reading more of Pauline’s stories!

Rating: 4/5

Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers

When Rose Cameron finds a body, burnt nearly beyond recognition, the small town of Black Falls, Vermont fears a killer could be a on the loose-again. Smoke jumper Nick Martini joins the community from California after an arson investigator is killed, a hunch that the death may be connected to the recent Black Falls murder. Now, Rose and Nick must deal with the one night of passion they shared months ago, to figure out if it could be anything more. But with Nick best friends and business partners with one of Rose’s highly over protective brothers, neither are sure the relationship could work- or if they really want it to. But both need to push aside their feelings of lust and romance and catch the killer lurking in Black Falls.

I knew Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers would be on my Favorites List after the first chapter. Even though this mystery novel is part of a series, readers will easily be able to pick up with the characters and the plot even if they have not read the previous books. The suspense was enough to keep me up at night, frantically flipping the pages to figure out who the murderer was and how all the subplots would tie together. The romance between the lead couple was very well written, full of drama and cliff hangers at the end of chapters, that kept me hooked on this story. My only issue was the amount of characters that contributed to the story, I began to feel overwhelmed after trying to keep track of all of them! But besides that little fact, this is a great story that gets a definite recommendation from me. After reading Cold Dawn, Carla Neggers has shot to the top of my favorite authors list!

Rating: 4.5/5

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