Review: Stolen Justice

Title: Stolen Justice
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: DJ Gross
Pub: 2011 by Amazon Digital Services

He's a thief
JT Flynn stole high end art from the world's worst criminals until he lost a member of his team. When a beautiful stranger threatens to expose his thefts unless he steals a Van Gogh, he calls his team together for one last job.

She's a liar
Computer hacker Laura Danvers has many secrets and one goal: to destroy Rob Autrey's money laundering operation at any cost. She needs JT's team of thieves to divert Autrey's attention so she can get the job done.

They’ve got trouble
Forced to work together, Laura and JT come to a grudging mutual respect which heats to a combustible attraction they work to ignore. Passion can’t get in the way of pulling off the high risk heist.

Then a feud between Autrey and one of his clients makes the job even more dangerous. Now the cost of stealing justice may be their lives.

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

Wow! Loved this book from start to finish. For anyone who enjoys Romantic Suspense - this is a must read and for .99 on Amazon, you'd be crazy not to read it.

Sometimes the best books are the ones you have no expectations about, don’t even know anything about and discover quite by accident. I was trolling through Amazon, checking out .99 books and noticed Stolen Justice had quite a few good 5 star reviews. I’ve never heard of this author, but the blurb sounded good and since romantic suspense if my favourite genre, for .99 even if it stunk - no big deal.

Stolen Justice is like a little gem I discovered and it is as far from a stinker as you can get. I loved it!

A sure sign for me about how much I like a book is when I want to read it to the exclusion of doing all else. I was sitting in the dentist office on Friday afternoon and all I could think about was "hurry up so I can get out of this chair so I can finish reading Stolen Justice. I also knew before I was ½ way finished reading that I would be giving it 5 stars.

Laura Danvers is a nerdy geek, Bill Gates smart computer chick and she’s got a plan to bring down a scumbag. To execute her plan she’s going to need JT Flynn and his “crew” to make that happen.

This book was non-stop action with an Ocean’s 11/12 or Mission Impossible feel to it. The plan to bring down Ibank CEO and humanitarian Rob Autrey who is also the scum of the earth running a secret underground website that launders money and is involved in the sex trade (again the “IT” topic of a lot of books I’ve read this year) was complicated, elaborate and dangerous.Laura had the necessary goods on JT and his team to gain his compliance (what’s a little blackmail between friends?) and although JT was pissed at being blackmailed, he felt he had no choice but to agree to help Laura even if it meant risking his team.

JT runs the heist of a famous Van Gogh painting in Rob’s possession like a precise military operation. Every member of his team has a job and he runs a tight ship as the leader of his pack. In reality Laura is the brains behind the operation and she may just have kept a few pertinent details from JT...ohhh boy did she! The twists and turns and secrets revealed as the story progressed kept me on edge and kept me riveted to my IPOD and swiping the pages. Lots of things I didn’t see coming.

The planning and heist take place over only a couple of days and the pace and action is frantic. I loved JT and Laura, the secondary characters in the crew were compelling and the entire story was one of the best RS I’ve read in a while. I scoured the interwebz to see if I could find out if DJ Gross had another book but no luck - I couldn’t even find a webpage for her. I hope she releases another book soon!

Review: Yours to Keep

Title: Yours to Keep
Genre: Contemporary
Author: Shannon Stacey
Pub: June 6, 2011 by Carina Press

Sean Kowalski no sooner leaves the army than he’s recruited by Emma Shaw to be her fake fiancé. Emma needs to produce a husband-to-be for her grandmother’s upcoming visit, and, though Sean doesn’t like the deception, he could use the landscaping job Emma’s offering while he decides what to do with his civilian life. And, despite his attraction to Emma, there’s no chance he’ll fall for a woman with deep roots in a town he’s not planning to call home.

Emma’s not interested in a real relationship either; not with a man whose idea of home is wherever he drops his duffel bag. No matter how amazing his “pretend” kisses are…

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

I marked this one as one of my favorites for the year before I was even half-way finished.

Let me get this out of the way first - I loved this book so much that I started writing my review on sticky notes. Naaa I’m just kidding, but the sticky notes played such a cute, make me smile part in Yours to Keep, I had to mention them right off the top.

The pretend, fake fiancé storyline is certainly not a new concept and in Yours to Keep it could have been cheesy and cliché but Shannon Stacey tells a fun, sexy, heartfelt story with real and likeable characters in Sean and Emma and let's us revisit with all the old Kowalski favorites.

Emma is strong, independent and she’s not afraid of hard work or getting her hands a little dirty...which is a good thing since she owns her own landscaping business. She loves her grandmother to bits and wants her to be happy in her retirement to Florida but Grandma Cat worries about Emma managing her business and living in the big family home with all the responsibility all alone. So who’s gonna be hurt by a little white lie of a fiancé if it helps Grandma sleep easier at night and not worry about Emma? It was a good plan...until Grandma Cat decided she was coming home for a month to visit and meet “the man” her grandbaby was going to marry. Oooops!

Sean Kowalski’s at loose ends for the next month after just serving in the Army for the past 12 years. He’s gonna rest, relax and chill, maybe pound a few nails and eats lots of Aunt Mary’s lasagna. Ahhhh the best laid plans...until...who’s that knocking at his door? That’s exactly what Sean’s asking himself when he discovers it’s his fake fiancée come a-calling to break the news of their engagement. She’s hot, tall and just a little batshit crazy. 2 outta 3 ain’t bad - right? Emma seemed perfectly sane, were his Kowalski cousins setting him up? Where were the hidden cameras?

I believed the set-up. I believed in Emma’s motivation for engaging in such an elaborate scam to convince her Grandma she was engaged and why Sean finally agreed to play his part. Now to convince the rest of the Kowalski’s to play along because family loyalty will only get you so far.

The Kowalski siblings, their respective wives and children were up to their old tricks again...making bets, holding their tournaments of Doom and razzing the crap out of their cousin Sean. They are one of the most enjoyable families to read about. Shannon Stacey brings them to life on the page and makes them seem like one big happy family anyone would be lucky to be a part of. I wouldn’t mind a piece of Aunt Mary’s lasagna, but keep the wooden spoon outta her reach!

*posts pink sticky note* I heart Kowalski’s.

Sean was a real trooper. Funny, charming, loyal and sexy. Emma and Sean had supposedly been living together for a year when in fact they barely knew each other which only added to the drama and laughs as they tried to pull the wool over Grandma Cat’s eyes. Sean choking down the broccoli during dinner when he detested the green vegetable was LOL funny and showed just how far he was prepared to go to play his part.

And now for the sticky notes. I loved how Sean used them to communicate his likes and dislikes on the bathroom mirror. And the final pink sticky note - broke my heart, got that lump in the back of my throat growing and made my eyes well up.

Yours to Keep…it’s wicked good!

Review: Dragon Bound

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

In my best Dragos impersonation:

“Even if you don’t normally read books about spells and witches or elves, fairies and fae or heaven forbid dragons, YOU MUST READ DRAGON BOUND NOW...please!” Or as I like to refer to it: How Pia Trained her Dragon!

I’ll admit it. I caved to the Tweer pressure of my peeps and all the accolades Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison was receiving on Goodreads. I had high hopes for this book based on all the hype and I can say I was not disappointed and that’s coming from someone who is not a huge paranormal junkie. I gobbled up this book like a ravenous dragon dining on a human feast...or maybe like a dragon who used to eat humans eons ago before he gave up eating creatures who could talk.

Dragos Cuelebre. He’s big, he’s badass and he’s older than dirt as one of the Elder races. He’s a multi-millionaire businessman with thousands of people working for him, at his beck and call and who cower in his presence. In his human form he is formidable at almost seven feet tall and three hundred pounds of pure hard-bodied masculine muscle. And when he unleashes the beast - he’s as big as an eight-seater Cessna jet. And yes he will hunt you down and rend you limb from limb if you steal from him...even if it is just a penny...after all it’s the principle of the thing.

Dragos doesn’t forgive or forget - he exacts his revenge and he’s hot on the trail with a steely determination unlike any he has ever before experience in his time on earth of the little thief who stole from him.

Important lessons learned about dragons: They don’t like twizzlers or cherry Coke slurpees from 7-11 and whatever you do...Don’t piss off the dragon or you really will get burned - just ask those stanky, little goblins how it turned out for them - if you can find one still alive.

Pia “I’m not special I just look like Greta Garbo” Giovanni knew her days were numbered the day she had no choice but to steal from the most powerful man in New York City Dragos Cuelebre.

Pia’s a mystery. Even Pia doesn’t really know what Pia is or is capable of. All her life she’s heeded her mother’s dire warnings about keeping her abilities a secret and uses a dampening spell to conceal herself in human form. She’s one of the few people who has messed with the dragon and lived to tell the tale.

Dragos is amused and entertained by Pia. She gets all up in his face, pokes her finger in his chest, pushes his buttons, makes him laugh and feel things he has never before felt for another creature. But more importantly she’s the first person he has ever forgiven.

Dragos and Pia have a great, fun, flirty, feisty and playful relationship. I loved how she stood up to the big guy and told him repeatedly “You are not the boss of me!”

Dragon Bound is fast-pasted as Dragos and Pia’s relationship develops quickly over a few short days. They are in life threatening danger on more than one occasion as other dark forces are at work to kill the all mighty Dragos and capture Pia.

Did I mention how HAWT Dragons are? And I don’t mean in an I’mma gonna roar and spew fire kinda way. Dragos knew how to wield his long “reptilian tail” and put it to good use behind closed doors.

My only one little niggle? I wish Ms. Harrison had provided us with even a teeny tiny epilogue...say maybe a few or nine months down the road. Just a little glimpse into how Pia and Dragos where adjusting to their new circumstances. I hope we see more of them in the next or future books.

Next book in the series: Trick’s are for kids...oooops I mean Storm’s Heart.

Do yourself a favor and read this book NOW...please!

From The Author's Website

Read an Excerpt here

A Fiery Temper is Not Easily Extinguished

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another

Review: Face of Danger

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

Vivi Angelino may look like a Sk8ter girl but sometimes looks can be deceiving and sometimes they can land you the gig of a lifetime. Vivi’s the brains behind the Guardian Angelinos Protection and Security business she runs with her extended family and she‘s very proud of the company she‘s built from the ground up. She wants nothing more than for the Guardian Angelinos to be the best in the business evah! And she's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.

This is the 3rd book in Roxanne St. Clair’s Guardian Angelino series and if you’ve read the other books, then you already know that Vivi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colton Lang are in the flirty-dance stage of their budding relationship. Vivi takes great joy in butchering the good agent's title every chance she gets and it's a running joke throughout the book.

Cautious Colton Lang's a preppy, buttoned up, Izod polo shirt and khaki pants wearing by the book Feebee while Vivi...she's a sk8ter girl in her baggy cargo's, t-shirt, spiky hair and nose ring, her skateboard close at hand and the attitude to carry off the look...she said see you l8ter boy. They are total polar opposites, but that's what makes their relationship soooooooo interesting as it develops.

Vivi’s newest case for the Guardian Angelinos could potentially put her life in grave danger, but if she can successfully pull it off...well she can‘t buy that kind of notoriety for the company or make a million dollar pay check at the same time.

Luckily for Vivi, she bears a striking resemblance to Oscar award winning actress Cara Ferrari who may be in danger from The Red Carpet Killer who has killed the two previous female Oscar winners. Vivi agrees to impersonate Cara in public for one month in order to bag the killer. The catch is she can’t reveal the terms of the agreement or reveal to anyone who she really is. That includes the FBI agents who will be protecting her and it’s gonna be awfully hard pulling the wool over a certain Special Agent in Charge.

I mentioned Vivi going to great lengths to do her job and that included a smoking’ hot little scene on an airplane that left cautious Colton Lang in no doubt the “lengths” to which Ms. Angelino aka Cara Ferrari was prepared to go to maintain her “deep” cover. It was one of the most memorable scenes in the book for me.

With the scenic island of Nantucket as the backdrop, Vivi and Colton hide-out, make-out and try and figure out who’s trying to kill the real Cara and in the process puts Vivi right in the killer's crosshairs.

The relationship between Vivi and Colton rocks in Face of Danger, but Ms. St. Clair also does a great job of keeping the tension and suspense of the story evolving and the killer‘s identity concealed right to the end.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series. No idea whose story it will be, but Ms. St. Clair has lots of options. Personally I’m betting on the elusive cousin, Gabe Rossi.

From The Author's Website

Read an Excerpt here:

Private investigator Vivi Angelino has never met a risk she wouldn't take-and her latest client, a starlet with a madman on her heels, gives Vivi the perfect opportunity to walk on the wild side. That is, as long as she can make sure a certain overprotective, overly gorgeous FBI agent stays out of her way-and out of her fantasies.
Special Agent in Charge Colt Lang is not about to stand back and watch Vivi dangle herself as bait for a serial killer. Yet trying to rein her in means throwing his well-worn rulebook-and his iron self-control-to the wind . . . and taking the chance that his heart will become collateral damage in an already perilous case. Because a woman who can't stop searching for the truth is impossible to resist-even when every discovery she makes brings them closer to a calculating murderer with nothing to lose.

Review: Make Me, Sir

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


I wasn’t going to do it. I wasn’t going to start this book but who am I kidding - I can’t resist the allure of the Masters of the Shadowlands even if it is the last book Cherise Sinclair has published in the series. Please, please, please don’t make me wait too long until the next book Ms Sinclair. Does begging work? Not at Club Shadowlands usually but I’m hoping Ms. Sinclair takes pity on me and releases another book soon.

When a good friend of Gabrielle Renard’s goes missing from a BDSM club Gabi is determined to help in the FBI investigation any way she can. Word on he street is that several more woman are to be taken from similar clubs and sold at an auction into sexual slavery. The kidnappers appear to be targeting young women who are disobedient and although Gabi isn’t into the BDSM scene since she did dabble in the lifestyle in college, she's more than willing to go undercover as a decoy if it means helping find her friend Kim. Although Gabrielle works for the FBI - she’s a victim specialist - not a trained FBI field agent. And Gabi is not a sub and the Doms at Club Shadowlands will not be aware she is working undercover for the FBI when she agrees to join the submissive training program except Shadowlands Owner Master Z.

Oh dear God Gabi - what have gotten yourself into? Being a sub + acting bratty = no deed goes unpunished at Club Shadowlands.

Marcus Atherton is the new trainer at Shadowlands and he's totally suspicious when Master Z asks him to take on a new trainee - but it’s Master Z’s club - so take on a new trainee he does. Master Marcus has no tolerance for rude, disobedient subs and working with the newest trainee Gabi is going to push his patience to the limits.

There were times I felt very sorry for poor Gabi knowing what she was going to have to endure. Every time she deliberately misbehaved I cringed wondering what “punishment” the Doms or Master Marcus would conjure up for her. And they didn’t disappoint. Let me just say ginger root - seriously? Who knew it had such burning qualities? Silly me - I thought you just used it for cooking.

Given how intuitive these Doms are, Marcus knows early on something just isn’t right with Gabi or how she’s acting. Her bratty behaviour seems to be totally out of character and Marcus instinctively knows she’s hiding something. With the help of the other Doms, Marcus conducts a little experiment on Gabi to break down her defences - conveniently when Master Z isn’t around to protect her cover.

Subspace - The final frontier. These are the sexy voyages of the subs and their Doms. You want to know what that cryptic sentence means - you gonna have to read the book.

This book was by far the longest and most involved story yet. The suspense plot involving the kidnapping and trafficking ring was interwoven throughout the book and was definitely tense and keep me on edge wondering how it was going to play out.

I say this with every book I‘ve read in this series by Ms. Sinclair, but I do think that is was the best one yet. Given the way the story arc with the sex slaver traffickers ended, I firmly believe that this storyline is not over. Someone at Club Shadowlands is not the good Dom they appear to be.

I can’t wait for the next instalment. Whose story is it going to be? How long do I have to wait? Please Ms. Sinclair answer the burning questions. Inquiring minds need to know!

From Goodreads:
Her job is to make his life miserable. His job is to make her submit. Whose heart will surrender first?

Across the country, rebellious BDSM submissives are being systematically kidnapped, one from each club. When her friend falls prey to the slavers, FBI victim specialist Gabrielle volunteers to be bait in a club not yet hit: the Shadowlands.

She finds that being a bratty sub comes naturally, especially when she gets to twit the appallingly conservative Master of the trainees. But she soon discovers he’s not as stuffy as she’d thought. Or as mean. She’d expected punishment, even humiliation, but she sure never expected to fall in love with a damned lawyer.

Courtesy of a prima donna ex-wife, Marcus loathes disobedient submissives. When the club owner insists he admit an incredibly bratty trainee, he’s furious. But as he comes to know Gabrielle and sees the alluring sweetness beneath the sass, he starts to fall for her.

Unfortunately, Marcus isn't the only one who believes the feisty redhead is a prize worth capturing. And in the world of the slaver, such treasure is worth a hefty fee.

Review: Love You More

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

It takes all of two pages before Love You More by Lisa Gardner grabs you by the throat, squeezes and has you gasping - WTF is going on.

A young, pretty, female state trooper, her dead husband seemingly killed by her own hand and her missing six-year-old daughter. If you aren’t intrigued by this story, how it’s going to unfold and what long time friends State Police Detective Bobby Dodge and Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren have to do with the case...then you are stronger than me. I couldn’t wait to see where this complicated case was headed. Love You More is a barn-burning, page-turning, I dare you to try and put me down kinda book.

Although D.D. and Bobby appear in several other of Gardner’s books (this is their fifth book together), I think it’s fair to say this outstanding book can definitely be read as a stand alone. It was great to see D.D. and Bobby Dodge back in the saddle again working a case. D.D. is a great female character. She’s a ball-bustin’ Boston Cop, smart, a little rough around the edges, but there is no mistaking that she knows how to work a case and get results. Bobby definitely takes a supporting role - this is all the D.D. Warren show. We are also offered just a little glimpse of D.D‘s private life as she deals with a huge personal issue at the same time as she’s under the gun to solve this case.

Love You More is told from two different points of view. Gardner keeps feeding us little scraps of information as told from State Trooper Tessa Leoni’s first person point of view. I kept wondering if Tessa Leoni was really fooling everyone but then I went back to those first two pages and kept wondering to myself - WTF is going on in this book. It was clear as the case unfolded that Tessa Leoni was a master planner, a highly skill strategist and at the end of it all, I admired the lengths Leoni went to and the pain and hardship she endured for her daughter. More than anything Tessa loved her daughter Sophie to infinity and beyond.

We also get insight into the police investigation from D.D. and Bobby’s point of view. We get to see their decisions, the direction the case is headed and the assumptions being made based on the evidence in this very confusing investigation. No one is above suspicion including prime suspect Tessa Leoni and as the case progresses her police co-workers and an old childhood friend.

The twists and turned did not stop. It was tense, it was dramatic, it was masterful in it’s story-telling and all the pieces of the puzzle lined up like ducks in a row. I had no idea where the story was going and I love when a story takes you on the kind of journey. I wanted so bad to keep reading and was dying to find out what was going to happen next. At one point mid-way through I thought I had a handle on what was going on and was patting myself on the back thinking I was all that and oh soooooooo smart. D’oh I wasn’t even close.

There is only one thing that I have a quibble about and that is throughout this whole book D.D. has to come to terms with a life changing moment in her life and she needs to tell her current love about the monumental change that is about to affect their lives. I was disappointed that this issue was relegated to about a paragraph with no resolution. No face to face meeting just a quick phone conversation of “Alex…we need to talk”.

I can only hope and assume that Gardner is planning on dealing with this little bombshell in the next book.

This was an amazing book and I think it would make a kick-ass movie. Loved, loved, loved it.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Bantam; First Edition edition (March 8, 2011)
Read The First Chapter

Pushed to the brink by an abusive husband, state police trooper Tessa Leoni finally snapped and shot him in self-defense. But Tessa isn’t talking–not about her dead husband, her battered face, or her missing six-year old daughter. Now, Detective D.D. Warren will have to race against the clock to unearth family secrets, solve a murder and save a child.

Review: The Reluctant Nude

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

I’ve read three books by Meg Maguire (two in a row this week alone) and her alter ego Cara McKenna and if there is one thing I’ve noticed about her style of writing is that she has the ability to simply take two characters and tell a fabulous, emotional, heartfelt story. No real secondary characters of note to cloud the canvas, no crazy antics, just a well told story that grabs you and makes you care about her characters.

M.L. Emery was a child protégé at 12, a renowned sculptor but for the past eight years by choice he has been living a quite existence and doing this thing in the picturesque countryside of Cape Breton (second book in a row with a Canadian setting. I believe Meg Maguire is secretly Canadian and I approve).

I thought Ms. Maguire did a great job of capturing Max’s French essence from the cadence of his speech pattern, his expressions and his penchant for wine and bread and cheese. I could actually hear Max’s French accent in my head and I definitely got iz French vibe while reading this story.

Fallon Frost is a lobbyist and environmentalist, who has agreed to suspend her life including her job for months and pose reluctantly, for a commissioned nude sculpture for a man she detests - Donald Forrester.

Max and Fallon do not start off their journey under the best of terms. These are two people who for their own reasons have entered into an uneasy working relationship to create a masterpiece. The problem at the start is that neither one of them really has their heart in the project.

I will admit when I was about 30% into the story I still had no clear vision as to why Fallon had agreed to go along with this preposterous plan to have her likeness permanently carved in stone, financed by a man infatuated with her, who she disliked immensely.

I had no such qualms as to M.L. Emery’s motivation. This quirky, dark, sexy Frenchman definitely marched to the beat of his own drummer and I found his character totally intriguing. He made Fallon uncomfortable and wary of him while being tantalized and intrigued at the same time. I totally felt the same way.

I liken Max to a mad scientist. He was fascinated with capturing imperfect models in marble and in fact has numerous pieces missing limbs and body parts littering his property. Max didn't want to do the likeness of Fallon, but realized the money - $700,000 being offered by her “fiancé” for his latest work of art was too good to turn down. The money would allow him to do the work he loved and not the commercial nonsense he had no tolerance for. I totally got Max’s motivation.

As these two work together in close quarters, Fallon nude for the most part, Max absorbed in his work, their relationship grows and loves starts to blossom between them and when Max discovers the true reasons behind Fallon’s agreeing to pose - he feels betrayed, hurt and angry that Fallon would allow his craft to be debased and herself used in that manner.

He is totally gutted. Here’s an emotional passage showcasing Max’s feelings:

He sighed and set he cat down, eyes caught once again by the stone shape of the woman he’d driven from this house. He stared at the sky, crisscrossed by a thousand mullions. At this moment his home looked an awful lot like a cage. Without Fallon it looked like ribs with no heart beating inside them. He rubbed that spot on his own chest, trying to ease the ache. Quietly insert my own sobs here.

My absolute favorite part of The Reluctant Nude was the epilogue. It was a wonderful and satisfying ending to a beautifully told love story wrapped up with a nice, neat bow.

From Goodreads:
Chipping away at her resistance, one touch at a time…

Fallon Frost’s late foster mother had done so much to heal the wounds of her damaged childhood. So when a lecherous developer plans to bulldoze her old home to make room for a strip mall, the practical, ordered life Fallon has built for herself is threatened.

Then he makes a twisted proposal. He’ll leave the land alone if she poses nude for a sculpture that’ll end up in his collection. Seeing no other choice, she heads for Nova Scotia—only to find something totally unexpected. A sexy, hot-blooded, infuriating sculptor.

Guarded, sexually detached Fallon is a challenge Max Emery can’t wait to tackle. Yet with each tap of his chisel, he uncovers a woman who rekindles a dream he thought lost. Home, family…love. And the closer he gets to her core, the harder it becomes to accept that he’s carving her naked body for another man’s eyes.

As progress on the sculpture almost grinds to a halt, their fragile fantasy world collapses under the weight of reality. Threatening Fallon’s one chance to save her foster mother’s land…and any chance she and Max have to find love.

Review: Breaking Free

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair is the third book in the Masters of the Shadowlands series and if possible it was the best one yet. The storyline was more complex with the added element of suspense which as a romantic suspense junkie I really enjoyed. If possible the Dom/s scenes and sex were some of the hottest ones yet...they were off the chain...errr wait there were chains involved more than once and a whole lot more. One thing Sinclair does in her stories that I like is to not repeat the same “types” of scenes in each book - there’s always a new variation to captivate and titillate. In addition to being some of the most gorgeous, intuitive and alpha men on the planet - these Masters are very inventive when it comes to playing games and doling out punishment. Somebody turn on the fan - it’s getting hot in here!

Beth is on the run and hiding from her abusive and sadist ex-hubby who really did some nasty things to her in the role of her Dom during their marriage. She’d tried leaving him once before and that didn’t end too well for her and her body carries the scars as a constant reminder. She’s scared about being discovered by her ex but she refuses to stop living. Beth displayed an inner strength I admired while trying to make a go of it on her own with a small landscaping business and wow what a surprise that one of her clients is Club Shadowlands.

When Beth decided to dip her toes back into BDSM game I was sorta skeptical on how she would ever allow herself to let go and be dominated and trust anyone again to the level that is required in a Dom/s relationship considering what her Ex had done to her. I really feared for Beth at first and her return to the BDSM scene, but considering she was at the Shadowlands - I knew she was in “good hands” and those hands don’t come any better than attached to the oh so yummy Master Nolan. Not to sure what Sir would feel about me describing him as yummy - but he is!

I came to the realization that Beth was a sub at heart. It was a position she enjoyed and a lifestyle she was comfortable living and just because her previous relationship had been a train wreck - her desire to return to her roots was understandable. I realized it would be no different than a straight woman in an abusive relationship - she wouldn’t turn into a lesbian or a homosexual man wouldn’t turn straight. The heart wants what the heart wants and Beth wanted to be dominated.

As I stated earlier I loved the added element of the suspense. Knowing Beth’s husband was out there looking for her and it was only a matter of time before he found her kept me turning the pages...ohhhhh that and a lot of other things made me race through this book. Let me just say that Master Nolan knows how to throw an intimate house party with some pretty hot and sexy party games *fans self* *fans self* *fans self*.

Finally I was over the moon at the ending. Justice was served and if this had been a movie, then the theatre-goers would have been standing and cheering at the end. What goes around, comes around loser ex-hubby!

From Goodreads:
Series: Masters of the Shadowlands ; Previous Book: Dark Citadel
Genre: BDSM Romantic Suspense

A sadistic husband left Beth scarred, inside and out. Only at the Shadowlands BDSM club does she feel like a woman. But her fears limit her to Doms who won't overwhelm her--the very ones who cannot arouse her. The Master of the Shadowlands gives her an ultimatum: accept the Dom he assigns or lose her membership. The last thing Beth wants is a ruthless, powerful Dom, but that's just what she gets.

Asked to take on a problem sub, Nolan sees the issue immediately--although truly submissive, the little redhead is too scared to relinquish control and her Doms have let her get away with it. That will change right now.

As Master Nolan takes Beth under command, compelling her submission, she's terrified, but the experienced Dom brings her pleasure, not pain. His only demand is that she never lie to him. Under his capable hands, her body comes alive, and she begins to heal. As he pushes her limits, she learns to trust…and then to love. And she realizes he is beginning to care for her in return.

But now her cruel husband has found her, and Master Nolan discovers she's been lying and lying and lying.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme and content (including/not limited to bondage, caning, domination, restraint, paddling, spanking, submission, tethering); exhibitionism, menage, violence.(less

Review: Her Singapore Fling

In desperate need of protection, Jianne Xang-Bennett reluctantly turns to her estranged husband, martial arts expert Jacob Bennett, for help. But there are problems: they've been separated for twelve years and cannot be in the same room together without arguing or ripping each other's clothes off—often at the same time!

But Jacob will go to extremes for those he loves, and Jianne is the only woman who can bring this honorable warrior to his knees. Can they delve beneath their red-hot desire and blazing anger to find the love that has always been hiding?

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

This may well be the best category romance I have ever read! I LOVED Her Singapore Fling by Kelly Hunter.

I don’t read a lot of category romance mostly because I find the names of the books sooooo contrived and frankly it turns me off buying these books. I will pick up the occasional category romance by one of my favorite authors like a Blaze by Jill Shalvis or Lisa Renee Jones or an Intrigue by HelenKay Dimon or a Super Romance by Sarah Mayberry but I’ve never read a Harlequin Presents Extra - and my question is WHY THE HELL NOT!!!!!! I couldn’t believe how good this book was and in fact I goggled Harlequin Presents Extra to see what the requirements were for this genre and not surprisingly - it is everything I am looking for in a great book.

I’m not sure what prompted me to purchase this book. The name reminded me of a particularly delicious fruity drink, the cover was suggestive and seductive and the back cover blurb definitely caught my attention. I devoured this book in one day. I know it’s no War and Peace but the fact that once I started Her Singapore Fling that I wanted to finish it immediately speaks volumes about just how much I enjoyed it.

Yes this book is part of a series by Kelly Hunter and although I joined in the series at the end, I don’t feel I missed any pertinent info regarding the Bennett family dynamics. The author doesn’t do a lot if any backloading of the previous siblings and I do plan to make the acquaintance of the entire Bennett family and read Hunter’s other books in the series. I can only imagine they are as good as this one was. Kelly Hunter just went on my auto-buy author list.

Jake Bennett, world class black belt champion, owner of his own Dojo, is the oldest sibling of the Bennett clan and I could tell immediately that he was all about family first and his siblings are just as loyal to him. He cared for, helped raise and is totally 1000% dedicated to his brothers, sister and his extended family including his young street-smart and wise beyond his young years apprentice Po.

Twelve years ago his family dedication and his desire to become a world class athlete contributed to the not-so-end of his marriage to his not-so ex-wife Jianne. I say not so because they never ever divorced. The fact that neither one sought out a divorce speaks to their deep abiding love for one another. Money (hers not his) and cultural differences also played a contributing factor, but the fact is that 12 years later when Jake and Jianne meet up again the sparks are still blazing bright and strong and hot.

The setting is exotic (Singapore), the story is full of sexual tension (not quite so ex‘s), suspense and danger (a very persistent stalker) and the result is an excellent and entertaining story that doesn’t drag or let up for one minute.

There are just so many good things about this book. I will be checking out more from Kelly Hunter and definitely checking out future titles from the Harlequin Presents Extra line!

Review: Sweet as Sin

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

Well that was quite an emotional roller coaster ride!

This is my first book ever by Inez Kelley and like many others, I decided to read this book based on a lot of good twitter buzz plus the cover is pretty provocative. I had no idea what the story was really about or what to expect and can I say how pleasantly surprised I was by this book. In the words of Jackie Gleason: "How Sweet it is!"

In Sweet as Sin you’ve got the quintessential, tortured hero for the ages author John Murphy, the woman who grows to love him pastry chef Livvy Andrews and their emotional journey as they fight the monsters real and imagined to make a go of their relationship. One of the most interesting parts of Sweet as Sin was the novel way Ms. Kelley incorporated John’s occupation as a famous, best-selling author to tell a story within a story that mirrored John’s life and personal struggles as he used his writing as a coping mechanism and at the same time gave us incite into the hero’s actions. Above all Sweet as Sin was a story that proves “That which doesn’t kill you - makes you stronger”.

I felt so strongly for the hero at one point that I tweeted the author calling her a cruel mistress for forcing poor John and his alter ego Jondi to face the Sophie’s choice dilemma. This was a book that had me thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it as I went through a gamut of emotions from caring so much and feeling so sorry for the hero for the torture he had endured as a child in one breath to calling him an a$$hole and f*&king moron in the next breath even though I knew why he was treating Livvy so terribly. John’s survival skills run deep and are well honed from years of having suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of his preacher step-father. As the conditions build and become the perfect storm, John’s like a powder keg just waiting to explode and when he does Livvy tries to stand by her man but - a girl can only take so much from the man she loves. Thankfully Livvy believes in John and their love even if it takes him a little longer to come to the same conclusion.

This is great emotional love story and because of that it gets an A review from me.

Shadowfever: Que Sera, Sera

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it's good."

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh--a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts

Well the wait is finally over and the “Fever” has abated...for now.

Shadowfever with it’s epic twists and turns, OMG, WTF??? is going on, head scratching moments is one book that I think wrung every emotion possible from me while reading it.

I am happy and sad for the end of Shadow fever at the same time. Happy to have been able to experience the “fever” phenomenon and sad that my love affair with the sexy Jericho Barrons is over. Never has a character in a book so totally captivated and held my action as the enigmatic Barrons. I feel as if I’ve said good-bye to a lover and good friend I may never hear from again *sniff*.

From heart-wrenching despair to unbelievable hope in the impossible, betrayal, terror, laughter and ever lasting love each turn of the page brought fresh emotion. And just when you thing Moning can’t possibly have any more surprises up her sleeve, she kicks it up a notch and fries your brain one more time with the complexities of her story of Fae and mortals and immortals.

I think anyone who has read, been invested in and eagerly anticipating this fifth and final book will be happy with the outcome, having most of the loose ends tied up in a neat rainbow coloured bow. Did we get all he answers? No I don't think so, but I can put this book to rest and be satisfied with the ending. Besides Moning has stated there is still more Fae story to be told, so she has to keep some things under wraps.

If Shadowfever was a ride at the fair it would be the biggest, baddest, most thrilling roller-coaster ride one could ever take. And when it was over, you’d be back in line asking to do it all over again and again.

So farewell Barrons...until we meet again...even if it is only in my dreams!

Thanks for the ride!

Anybody Wanna Play Pretend Good Cop/Bad Cop? I Do! I Do!

Newly divorced Lacey Meyers wasted too many years yawning through sex in the missionary position. Now she's looking for a hookup with a man who can make her shatter. What she gets is a hot younger cop with handcuffs...and he's not afraid to use them.

Hunter Anderson knows the score—though classy, successful women like Lacey might play with guys like him, at the end of the evening, they walk. But when one night leads to another and then another, he finds himself getting too attached to a woman he can't have.

Lacey knows Hunter—gorgeous, hard-edged and eight years younger—won't want anything permanent. No matter how hot and daring he makes her first public sex, quickie, backseat encounter and secret fantasy role-play, she can't mistake adventurous sex for emotional involvement.

They both know it's got to end, and soon, or someone's going to get hurt. But can either of them go back to life without the other?

Reader Advisory: Lacey's highly erotic "forced" sex fantasy comes true in this book. Lucky her!

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


Tweer pressure strikes again (what can I say I’m a push over). This time I have Mandi @smexybooks for “turning me on” to this fabulous Ebook.

Liberating Lacey by Ann Calhoun could have just been a clichéd erotic story about the latest Cougar looking to land the hot boy-toy. Or a story about how your station in life affects how you relate to people whether your working class or one of the upper class. It could have simply been another erotic story filled with endless scenes of meaningless sex. It was none of those things and to some degree all of those things combined to make one terrific story. This is one of the best books I have ever read in this genre.

I loved both Lacey and Hunter. I connected with both characters particularly Lacey. Being single and on the wrong side of 30 (or 40 but who’s counting!) is hard enough without venturing out into the big bad world of dating especially when you haven’t been on a date in over 15 years (can I relate much?).

Lacey had major insecurities about her age and dating a younger man - ummm he was only 28 - it’s not like 36 is exactly over the hill. In addition, to me Hunter seemed more mature and more responsible than maybe most 28 year old males today. He was a dedicated hard working cop, did double shifts when necessary and helped his dad do home renovations when not working - he was one of the good guys.

On the flip side Hunter was insecure with his place in Lacey’s life. Hard working blue collar cop, living pay check to pay check doesn’t really measure up in the high profile world of investment banking and wining and dining the movers and the shakers. In Hunter’s mind he wasn’t in the same social class as trust fund baby Lacey and it ultimately affected their relationship. I loved that Lacey grew up with wealth, but that didn’t stop her from being one of the top in her field and she actually worked hard for her money (when really with her trust fund she could have totally been a slacker).

First impressions are very important and needless to say they both made a profound impression on each other.

Lacey’s first impression of Hunter the first night at the bar: Broad expanse of chest testing the seam of a black t-shirt, close-cropped dark brown hair, green eyes, angular cheekbones and mouth set in a firm line and from the first touch of his hands on her hips as he moved her out of his way at the bar. Zing-a-ling-a-ling. Holy hot mama!

Then as Lacey continues to check him out and he catches her at it: “Like what you see?” Yes…why Yes I do…panting..drooling…ohh wait that’s me - not Lacey..but her reactions were pretty similar too.

Not to be outdone, Hunter zeros right in on Lacey since she’s not exactly the typical customer to grace Buff the bar-slash-dance club voted the best place to meet someone new and Hunter can spot it right off the bat. She thinks she looks out of place because of her age, but Hunter sets her straight.

“Honey, you can’t hide class under those Fuck-me clothes.

The one place these 2 had NO issues communicating was in the bedroom…hot hot hot, smoking hot behind closed doors action or in the back seat of a car or in the parking lot the first night they hooked up at the bar - no sense wasting any time. Since Lacy is for all intents and purposes relatively innocent about the dating scene, a lot of her experiences with Hunter were “firsts” and they just keep getting better and better . As each new “first” was experienced, the passion and heat just kept increasing and not just for Lacey, but Hunter was equally affected as well by their electric passion. At the start both Hunter and Lacey were just looking for a casual, mutually beneficially, satisfying sexual relationship. As it progresses the chemistry between these 2 is off the charts.

Did I mention Hunter was a cop? With a uniform? And handcuffs? And it turns out someone’s been a very, very naughty girl. The result is a little fantasy role playing encounter hot enough to scorch the skin off your fingers and ohhhhh my forget that good cop crap - I’ll take bad cop Hunter any day of the week! I swear I saw steam coming off my Itouch and thought I was going to have to douse it with water.

Liberating Lacey was amazing and I am so glad I listened to my instincts and downloaded this book and you should too. You will not be disappointed. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

A Trio of Treasures from Laura Griffin

During the Christmas holidays I found some time to read and went on a reading mini-marathon of Laura Griffin backlist titles. Ms. Griffin excels at writing romantic suspense, a favorite genre of mine and her books have quickly become must see TV read books for me.

For anyone who is even remotely interested in Romantic Suspense then you must add Laura Griffin to your list.

Here's a quickie look at the latest trio I read in record time.

Cecelia Wells knew better than to answer the door the night her Ex Robert showed up after all he was her Ex for a reason. Rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated and he was definitely not the Chinese food delivery she’d been expecting. Fast forward a couple hours and now the Ex has been found permanently X-d out and in the SUV he stole right out from under Celie’s nose. There will be no miraculous resurrection for Robert this time. Next thing Celia knows the Feds come a-calling and the Saledo crime family wants it’s missing money Robert stole from them and everyone is looking to Celie for the answers. Thanks for nothing dear hubby for dumping your garbage on my doorstep - R.I.P. Thank goodness handsome, hunky reporter John McAllister (a walking, talking impersonation of Matthew McConaughey as described by Celie's neighbor Dax), an old acquaintance of Celie’s has come to her rescue.

Celie's been through a lot recently including surviving a sexual assault, so even though she knows John is extremely interested in her, his playboy ways and her past history means they have some tough hurdles to overcome. Not to mention trying remain alive because things just aren't adding up and the mob ain't fooling around...they want their missing money back - NOW!

Making the Grade: B+

I found Fiona Glass to be one of my favorite heroines to date from Ms. Griffin's books. Art Professor, gifted artist and renown forensic sketch artist. She's the go-to gal, the best of the best when it comes to interviewing witnesses and creating the sketches that catch the bad guys, but the emotions involved in re-creating faces of the monsters who prey on women and children are taking a toll on Fiona. She hates the drawbacks of being a police sketch artist and really just wants to retire so she can concentrate on her own painting and is in fact preparing for her first showing. Then the next phone call comes and the pleading and begging and the desperation she hears in the voices of the law enforcement officials sends her resolve crashing to the ground and she’s right back in the middle of another investigation. Graingerville Police Chief Jack Bowman needs Fiona and he's certain she's the only one who can help solve an 11 yr old rape case that has similarities to a new crime in his district involving a missing girl. No matter how nicely Fiona turns down his request, Jack will not take no for an answer. Jack can be very determined when he puts his mind to it.

Fiona is grace under fire when dealing with the witnesses. I especially like the scenes involving the children she had to interview. There are a couple of different cases running parallel in Thread of Fear and each showcased Fiona to her full potential. Fiona’s a smart, class act but she’s her own worst enemy…she just can’t say no and stick with it, whether it’s Jack doing the asking or her freeloading younger sister Courtney.

Another terrific suspense driven story that keep me riveted right to the end.

Making the Grade: A-

Courtney wasn’t like a lot of the other heroines (professional, poised, highly educated) in Griffin’s books. When we first met her in Thread of Fear she was kind of a wild child, screw-up bumming off her sister Fiona. In this book she’s trying to change and stand on her own two feet, but she‘s barely managing to eeeeek out a living as a hairstylist. At least she‘s finally seen the light since she recently discovered her rich lawyer boyfriend has been 2-timing her…with his wife no less…the nerve of some men! After getting a text from the two-timing douchebag, she agrees to meet him one last time in the park and give him a piece of her mind once and for all. Unfortunately for David - he’s permanently put to rest when a masked bandit high-jacks their meeting, David ends up dead from a gunshot wound and Courtney becomes the prime suspect.

I liked Courtney a lot. She’s a flighty, feisty, fun wise-cracking force of nature. This book had one of the best pick-up lines in a bar ever and it cracked me up. “What’s your sign?” Courtney’s response “Do not disturb.”

Courtney’s also in a heap of trouble with a capital T and no one deserves her brand of trouble more than the lead detective Will Trent. Will’s an ex-marine, the strong, silent, all business type and Courtney just can’t help but try and ruffle the unflappable Detective’s feathers at every turn.

Will’s got Courtney’s number and he knows she isn’t being totally forthcoming regarding her involvement in the shooting of her ex-lover and with the real killer still at large, Courtney is far from out of danger.

Lastly, cutting someone’s hair would not necessarily be considered the greatest set-up for a sexy encounter, but when Courtney’s wielding the scissors and the controlled and contained Detective Trent’s in the chair - the outcome is a sexually-charged hair raising experience.

Making the Grade: A

Changeling Love: Playful and Passionate!

I read passionately while playfully riding this week


Pages read 321 pages
Riding Time 3 hours 47 minutes
Calories Burned 1418
Distance Peddled 67.97

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


They’re baaaack! Yay! The Changelings are back and two members of the SnowDancer pack are holding centre court in Nalini Singh's latest entry in the Psy/Changeling series Play of Passion.

This is the ninth instalment in the series and while it still remains one of my favorite, must-read series, the last two books (Blaze of Memory and Bonds of Justice) featuring mainly the cold, calculating Psy with very little Changeling interaction have not been my favorite. I need my fix of playful, cuddly, passionate Changelings - so once again thank goodness they’re back!

Drew Kincaid is one big, bad wolf you better watch out for cuz this cub will charm the socks (and you’re pants) right off of you and he‘s got his wolf sights locked and loaded on the very delectable Lieutenant Indigo Riviere.

Here’s the rub and boy do these two like to “rub“...if you catch my drift...when you are part of a pack there are rules to the hierarchy.

Indigo has a hard time (or at least her wolf does) of accepting Drew as a potential mate - he just doesn‘t fit the mould for what Indigo believes she needs in a mate. He is younger (ok it’s only 4 years…it’s not like she’s a cougar!) and he‘s a dominant male Changeling, but she is at the top of the pack hierarchy and effectively his superior…his boss. They’ve got a few hurdles to overcome, but Indigo would have to be a cold-hearted Psy to resist the likes of this bad boy charmer.

Drew is like the cool kid of the pack…Mr. Popular who is well liked by everyone and all the ladies are lining up around the den for his affection. But Drew knows what he wants and regardless of all the challenges and roadblocks Indigo throws up, he wants the sexy Lieutenant.

Now I said he was charming, but he’s still a male and when he challenges Indigo’s authority in front of co-workers…she sends him straight to the dog wolf house…do not pass go…do not collect $200.00. Mr. Tenacity has a few tricks up his sleeve though and what girl can resist roses and chocolate kisses for long?

One of the most touching scenes…one that made me go awwwww and tugged at my heartstrings involved a little stuffed bear named Platypus. It brought back all my childhood memories of my own beloved Blankie and if possible made me fall in love just a little more with Drew.

Play of Passion is like 321 pages of one long fun and playful flirtation between Indigo and Drew. They are great together and Singh makes sure we see where their heads are at as they struggle through the ups and downs of their relationship to make it work.

Several changeling favorites make appearances including series favorite Hawke. Seeing this Alpha male meet his match is highly anticipated by everyone who loves this series and his long awaited book is up next…woot woot!

Those sneaky, unfeeling Psy are up to something in this book and Singh feeds up just enough tidbits throughout to know it does not bode well for the Changelings and humans..and they are evil so it can‘t be good. Play of Passion definitely ended almost on a cliff-hanger note, almost as if it should have ended with To Be Continued… It sure seemed to be setting up for a climatic continuation in the next book.

Lastly it’s always hard to recommend if someone who has never read a series should start with a book, in this case #9 in the series. I personally like to start a series at the beginning. That being said, I think it’s fair to say Play of Passion could be enjoyed all on it’s own. But without understanding all the back history and pack dynamics and the influence of the Psy you might not get full value or enjoyment of the story.

Do yourself a favor and start at the first book Slave to Sensation and enjoy all the books in this series.


Play Of Passion
Publisher: Berkley
Available: November 2nd 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Read an Excerpt

In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it’s up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves—even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite…and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn’t easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn’t counted on Drew’s will.

Workout Wednesday: Untraceable

Pages read 178 of 400 pages
Riding Time 2 hours 4 minutes
Calories Burned 498
Distance Peddled 29.13


Disclaimer: When you start a book this interesting, no way was I waiting to read it just at the gym...not happening!

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


I have a new obsession. I am addicted to the books of new-to-me author Laura Griffin. Nothing makes me happier than discovering a new author whose books rock my socks.

So there are some drawbacks to this obsession especially if the author has a few books in their backlist. I must buy them all - which I did (including the new anthology released Oct 2011 and pre-ordering the new release for Nov 2011). The bank account took the hit, but now I have every book ever written by Ms. Griffin. Now another drawback is…I need to find the time to read all these fabulous books *cries*. There's only been one other time that I have ever read an author and then gone and purchased their entire backlist and that was Karen Rose - so Laura Griffin is in good company.

Untraceable is listed as the 1st book in The Tracers series so even though I later discovered that Alexandra Lovell and Nathan Devereaux actually made a brief appearance in an earlier book (Whisper of Warning), I don’t believe it had any impact on starting my Laura Griffin experience with Untraceable.

The opening chapter of Untraceable grabs you right from the start setting the stage for what is a compelling, well written, highly entertaining story. I love it when a book hooks you right from the beginning and you just want the world to go away and leave you alone so you can lose yourself in the story. It’s one of the reasons I love me a great romantic suspense read.

PI Alex Lovell is good at making people disappear. Her latest case involves helping a woman Melanie Bess disappear from her abusive husband….who just happens to be a well respected cop. Alex needs to build a case but it’s going to be tough since Melanie seems to have permanently disappeared and since the main suspect is a cop, Alex isn’t holding her breath expecting any help from the Austin PD.

I love when the heroine is written as a strong female character and Alex Lovell definitely fits that bill. She’s smart and savvy, independent and more than capable of looking after herself and the clients who need her help. But part of being smart is knowing when to ask for help when you’re in over your head and Alex isn’t above using her connection with hunky Police Detective Nathan Devereaux to solve her case.

Nathan doesn’t buy Alex’s story for one minute about one of his co-workers and a respected member of the Houston PD, but when she presents some compelling evidence, he decides to giver her the benefit of the doubt and agrees to help her on the down low. Besides what better way to get closer to the sexy PI then to help her investigate her case and possibly expose a dirty cop.

Untraceable is a fast paced story, full of nail-biting action that keeps you invested in the story and the characters until the last page is turned. Although billed as a romantic suspense, the romance simmers and builds in the background as Alex and Nathan dance around their undeniable attraction to one another. One of the reasons this book touched a chord with me is that Ms. Griffin writes these characters so that I really came to care about them and their HEA.

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, great storytelling that will keep you guessing and strong, intellectual characters then Untraceable is the book for you.

The Tracers Series, Book 1
Pocket Star Books
November 24, 2009

Read an Excerpt

Be careful what you look for…you might find it.

Private investigator Alexandra Lovell uses computer skills and cunning to help clients drop off the radar and begin new lives in safety. Melanie Bess, desperate to escape her abusive husband, was one of those clients. But when Melanie vanishes for real, Alex fears the worst and sets out to discover what happened. Using every resource she can get her hands on—including an elite team of forensic scientists known as the Tracers, and a jaded, sexy detective who’s helped her before--Alex embarks on a mission to uncover the truth, one clue at a time.

Homicide cop Nathan Devereaux wants to believe that Alex’s hunch about Melanie’s murder is wrong, but his instincts—and their visceral attraction—won’t let him walk away. As a grim picture of what really happened begins to emerge, he realizes this investigation runs deeper than they ever imagined. And each step nearer the truth puts Alex in danger of being the next to disappear. . . .

Everyone Needs a Guardian Angel(ino)

I don’t know if Roxanne St. Clarie plans on writing any more books in her Bullet Catcher series (maybe they’re just on temporary hiatus), but her new series featuring the men/women of the Rossi/Angelino families are sure to entice, excite and get your heart pounding if Edge of Sight is any indication.

So au revoir Bullet Catchers and hello…Bring on the Guardian Angelinos.

Making the Grade: A

For My Thoughts


It’s like a murder mystery dinner theatre gone bad at the upscale Boston restaurant Paupiette the night part-time waitress and future Harvard Law student Samantha Fairchild witnesses a murder for real. This game of Clue gone wrong…it was the assassin…in the wine cellar…with a gun… has a decidedly bad ending for Sam. Now she’s become the #1 target on more than one person’s hit list after it’s discovered that her image - smile you’re on Candid Camera - was caught on the security camera which the killer thoughtfully removed before leaving the scene of the crime.

Tired of being alone, afraid and holed up in her apartment, Sam decides to call in reinforcements and contacts her good friend and reporter Vivi Angelino for help. Showing up under the cover of night at Vivi’s apartment, Sam gets more than she bargained for when she has a run in with a blast from her past in the form of Vivi’s twin brother and the stuff wet dreams are made of...Zaccaria Angelino. Doesn’t that name conjure up a hot, spicy Italian dish? Yummy...I’ll take an Angelino to go!

Sam and Zach share a steamy past. Three non-stop hot, off the charts weeks of sex before Zach shipped out for active duty to Iraq (for the 411 on how this relationship began, check out the prequel, Taken to the Edge here). It’s been three years and in all that time, Sam has never heard from the Zach, not even a measly postcard. It’s very obvious that what transpired between these two in the past is far, far from over.

Zach’s never forgotten the time he shared with his Sammi but he’s not the same guy she knew. He’s not only changed mentally, but physically. A close call with a mortar shell, almost cost him his life and did cost him an eye and left him with a disfiguring scar on his face. Dude’s even sporting a black eye patch a la Captain Jack Sparrow. The last thing Zach wants is to take on the job of Sam’s bodyguard, but deep down he knows there’s no one else he can trust with her protection and safety. And Sam’s going to need Zach on her side since the bad guys will stop at nothing including using friends and family to get at Samantha. Being around each other 24/7 and keeping their hands (and mouths) off each other is going to test even the strongest of wills.

St. Claire writes the Rossi/Angelino family members as real, likable (well except maybe JP) characters that we come to know and care about and have a vested interest in their well-being while giving us just enough information to wet our appetite for future books in the series. She has a lot of characters to draw from as the Rossi family consists of 5 siblings (Gabe, Marc, JP, Nicki and Chessie) and then of course the 2 honorary members of the family, adopted cousins - twins Zach and Vivi Angelino.

With twists and turns Edge of Sight is an emotional roller coaster ride from start to finish. Chills galore, taunt, gut wrenching action and a compelling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page is turned.

What a fantastic beginning to what is sure to be a great new series from Roxanne St. Claire starring the men and woman of The Guardian Angelinos. Next up is Marc Rossi’s story in Shiver of Fear due out next year.

Read an excerpt of Edge of Sight

Back Cover Blurb

When Samantha Fairchild witnesses a murder in the wine cellar of the restaurant where she works, the Harvard-bound law student becomes the next target of a professional assassin. Desperate for protection the authorities won't provide, Sam seeks help from Vivi Angelino, an investigative reporter who recruits her brother, Zach, to protect Samantha. A Special Forces vet with the scars to prove he's equally fearless and flawed, Zach takes the job, despite the fact that he and Sam once shared a lusty interlude that ended when he left for war and disappeared from her life. Now, as they crack a conspiracy that leads to the city's darkest corners, Sam and Zach must face their fears, desires, and doubts, before a hired killer gets a second shot...