Review: Live Wire by Lora Leigh

Title: Live Wire (Elite Ops #6)

Author: Lora Leigh
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depository
Source: Purchased

Meet Captain Jordan Malone. For years he has been a silent warrior and guardian, operating independent of government protocol or oversight, leading his loyal team of Elite Ops agents to fight terror at all costs. A legend in the field, Jordan’s true identity has remained a mystery even to his own men…until now.

Tehya Talamosi, codename Enigma, is a force to be reckoned with. A woman this striking spells nothing but trouble for Jordan. Armed with killer secrets—and body to die for—she’ll bring Jordan to his knees as they both take on the most deadly mission they have ever faced. Because this time, it’s personal.

Live Wire is part of the Elite Ops series and I believe it's the last book in the series. I have not read any of the other books in the series. I don't think you necessarily need to read the other books in order to enjoy this one but there was obviously a lot of history between all of these characters. Tehya's been on the run for most of her life until the day, 6 years ago, that Elite Ops helped her take down her father, an infamous and cruel criminal lord. Since then she's become a valuable member of team. Jordan Malone is the leader of Elite Ops, a man who has sworn never to feel or love again after losing one of his teammates in an op. He thinks that getting too close means getting sloppy and he doesn't want to make another mistake again. Of course, the two are insanely attracted to each other but Jordan insists on maintaining his distance.

This book was just an OK read for me. There wasn't anything really wrong with it but it also had a hard time keeping my attention. It was a little too long and there were slow periods where not much happened. It was certainly steamy enough and the two main characters had a lot of physical chemistry and some intense love scenes. Those were fun to read but I also felt that some of the love scenes were a little long (I never thought I'd say that about a love scene) and, at a certain point, became repetitive.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Jordan's. I get why he didn't want to fall in love but he treated Tehya pretty poorly. He warned his teammates and friends to stay away from her but he never made a move on her himself. He wants her to give him everything but holds himself at a distance. Tehya's a really interesting character. She had a really brutal childhood but managed to survive and do well for herself. But her past has definitely left a mark on her and she often feels lonely and unloved. She's a fighter though and I admired her. I liked that she called Jordan on his BS.

The plot wasn't terribly interesting to me. I wanted to find out who was after Tehya but it felt like we were taking the long road to figuring it out. I wish it had been a little more fast paced as I think it would have kept my attention better. Fans who have read other books in the series will probably enjoy this one, having more invested in the characters. This book just failed to fully engage me and I found myself reading it just to finish it rather than because I was really interested in the outcome. Fans of romantic suspense might still want to check it out. It just wasn't for me.

---

Visit the author online at loraleigh.com and Facebook.

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

Review: The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton

Title: The Heart of a Killer

Author: Jaci Burton
Publication Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

No one said coming home would be easy. But for Dante Renaldi, it's murder.

Before the Special Forces hero has even unpacked his bags from twelve years of active duty, he's embroiled in murder—corpses bearing the brutal trademark he's seen only once before—on the worst night of his life.

The last time Detective Anna Pallino saw Dante Renaldi, they were in love. Now, he's part of the connection to a string of fresh homicides and a horrible assault Anna only survived thanks to him.

More than anything, Anna wants to trust Dante. But as the bodies and the coincidences stack up, Anna will have to decide, and fast: Is the man she owes her life to the very same one who wants her dead?

Anna and Dante were once in love, until the night that changed both their lives forever. During a brutal attack on Anna, Dante and his three foster brothers accidentally kill her assailant. They decide to cover up the crime and go their separate ways, Dante leaving town for good. Twelve years later, he comes back to celebrate the wedding anniversary of his foster parents. But on the eve of his return, another brutal murder takes place, drawing them all back to that night twelve years go. Now a detective, Anna is called in to investigate the murders that implicate Dante and his brothers. And while Anna's attraction to Dante has only grown, she doesn't know if she can trust him or if he is the one she's trying to catch.

The Heart of a Killer is a romantic suspense novel by popular romance writer Jaci Burton. This was one of the first Jaci Burton books I ever read. While not my favorite of her books, it gave me a taste for her writing and eventually lead me to her Play by Play series, which I am a big fan of. 

The Heart of a Killer is one of those books that I read quickly and enjoyed but left no real lasting impression. Anna and Dante are both likable characters. I love stories about reunited lovers so it was fun watching them learn each other again. The chemistry was good and the buildup of twelve years of sexual longing created a lot of great tension between Dante and Anna.

While there were some interesting twists and turns, I didn't find the mystery to be very suspenseful. There were a few red herrings but I could see right through them. I figured out who the killer was before the end and didn't really buy the motive.

I don’t think The Heart of the Killer is one of Burton’s best and was an enjoyable but forgettable read. This would be a good book for an afternoon on the beach or a bit of light vacation reading.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

---

Visit the author online at jaciburton.com, Facebook and follow her on Twitter @jaciburton

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

Sins & Needles - Review

Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1) 
by Karina Halle

Publication date: 25 Jan 2013 by Metal Blonde Books

ISBN 10/13: 1479359084 | 9781479359080
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Category: Adult Contemporary Suspense/Romance
Keywords: Contemporary, romance, suspense, tattoos, damaged characters, scars
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

Review:

Let me first say that giving this book 3 stars does not mean that I didn't like it. I managed to finish it in less than 2 days so there's definitely something there. I just didn't love it as much as I was hoping to. With a tattooed hunk, a fierce female lead, and a title like Sins & Needles, this should have been a slam dunk for me. Unfortunately I had some issues with the characters and plausibility with parts of the plot in general.

I knew from the get-go that Ellie wasn't going to be an easy character to like. Conning her way through life, she's used to thinking of herself first and others later. While I felt for her and her tragic past, I found her actions to be generally selfish, leaving a path of victims in its wake. Cameron is one of those victims, both in the past and present. Her actions towards him as a teen were truly terrible. I think Cameron was right when he said that Ellie defined "justification." She used her past and her scars to justify her her life. The world owed Ellie and she was constantly trying to collect. Despite my frustrations with Ellie, I didn't find her to be totally irredeemable. There were moments when I thought she felt true remorse for some of the things she did and her affection for her uncle was sweet. She also redeemed herself a little at the end of the book, so she is not without hope.

Now we get to Camden. I was pre-disposed to like Camden from the beginning. I mean he's a smart, sexy tattoo artist who wears glasses. What girl wouldn't fall for him? But Cameron isn't without his issues. He's had a troubled past as well and has made a lot of mistakes in life. He has some anger issues. But despite all this, I can't help feeling for Camden. He's always been true to himself and has come a long way since high school.

Together, Ellie and Camden are a volatile mix. Each is holding on to old resentments and insecurities that are keeping them from moving on with their lives. Their relationship isn't easy but I do think there is something there. Even though they show it poorly sometimes, they do care about each other. I also liked the fact that they knew each others' darkest secrets and accepted them.

**This bit might be somewhat spoiler-y so skip if you haven't read the book yet**


I also had some issue with the fact that, for a con artist who is supposed to be adept at disappearing, Ellie does such a poor job of it when it counts. Once Javier finds out her real name and she goes on the run, I really cannot understand why she books a hotel in her name and later uses a credit card under the same. And they're so surprised when Javier manages to find them. Not to mention that she keeps driving around a stolen and extremely recognizable car.


**end spoilers**

All this said, I did enjoy this book. There is something compelling about these two characters and I want to know how their story ends. Even though I wanted to smack Ellie more than once, I can't help feeling that there is good in her (reinforced by what happens at the end of the book). This is a very unconventional and original romance. It's well written with a lot of unexpected twists and it definitely leaves you wanting more. So while I had my issues with it, I am coming back for book 2. I am hoping that Ellie and Camden continue evolving and can find happiness.

Side note that reading this book really makes me want to get a tattoo. :)

 

---

Visit the author online at http://experimentinterror.com/ and follow her on Twitter @MetalBlonde

Get A Clue - Review

Get A Clue by Jill Shalvis

Publication date: September 2005 (reprinted January 2008)
by Brava

ISBN 10/13: 0758211384 | 9780758211385
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense
Keywords: Romance, suspense, mystery, murder
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Library

Synopsis:

All in one day, city girl Breanne Mooreland gets left at the altar, takes the flight from hell to her honeymoon--alone--loses her luggage, and ends up snowed in at a Sierra mountains lodge run by the kookiest staff this side of the Addams Family. Oh, and there just happens to be a gorgeous naked man taking a shower in her suite who says he isn't going anywhere. Burned-out vice cop Cooper Scott is in serious need of this vacation, and he's not about to give up the only available room during a bad snowstorm just because an upset, okay, make that insane, woman is having a conniption fit. They'll just have to make the best of it--her side of the bed versus his. But when Cooper wakes up kissing the long, leggy Breanne, he has other thoughts. Part of him wants to prove that not all men are scum, and another part of him entirely wants to show her exactly what that honeymoon suite is intended for. But that will have to wait, because a screaming Breanne has just stumbled on a very dead body.

Review:

A snowed in cabin, a jilted bride, one sexy naked cop, a house full of suspicious servants, and one dead body all add up to a fun little read by one of my fave contemp authors.

A play on Clue, the story opens with Breanne making her way to her honeymoon cabin, without the groom. Stood up at the altar, she figures she can at least enjoy the paid for vacation. But instead of a cozy retreat, she finds herself snowed in with no power with Cooper, a very attractive ex-cop, and a hodge podge group of servants. When Breanne finds a dead body in the cellar, the inhabitants of the house have to figure out who the killer is before one of them is then next victim.

This would be a great beach read - fun, fast and not too serious. The murder mystery was not as exciting or scary as I had hoped. It was actually kind of slow and I wish it had been more suspenseful.

The best part of the book, for me, was the chemistry between Cooper and Breanne. They had some serious heat going on and I loved the smexy times. The book also had plenty of Shalvis's signature clever and oftentimes hilarious dialogue.

I really liked Cooper. Smart, sexy, and protective, I felt like he put with a lot when dealing with Breanne. She's pretty much afraid of everything and he kept saving her. She was a little neurotic for my tastes but again, the love scenes were hot, so it was worth it.

It's not my favorite Jill Shalvis book but I think fans will enjoy this peek into some of her early writing. Readers new to Shalvis should probably start with something more recent like her Lucky Harbor series.

 

---

Visit the author online at jillshalvis.com and follow her on Twitter @JillShalvis

Demonic - Giveaway (Kindle)

Garon Cockrell is the Pop Culture Beast. 

He has also penned a book called Demonic and Other Tales (doorQ.com publishing, 2011).

I know it's not our usual fare, but if you love horror, it's a must-read! I was trying to wait until an appropriately scary time, like mid-October, to get people in the freaking-out mood. But let's face it, if Cabin in the Woods can come out at Easter, you can have some horror in the middle of May. 

This collection of scream-worthy short stories includes "Demonic," "Eggs," "Home Alone," "What's Your Pleasure?," "The Strange Tale of Griffin Shard," "Looking Glass," "Interrogation," "Manny," "Prelude," and "Haven."

"Eggs" is also in the process of being made into a short film.

Garon also tweets about music, movies, and lots of other stuff, so don't feel like following him on Twitter 

is going to just lock you in to a bunch of tweets about the book ;)

You can enter to win a Kindle copy of Demonic!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Winner(s) will be chosen June 1. 

If at least 100 entries come in by the end of the contest, I will give away 2 Kindle copies.

If at least 300 entries come in by the end of the contest, I will give away 3 Kindle copies.

And if you don't win, relax! You can get it yourself for just $2.99 on Amazon.com.

Insert evil laugh [here]

---

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Tryst With Trouble - Advance Review (#2)

A Tryst with Trouble by Alyssa Everett  

Publication date: 1 April 2012 (postponed) by Dorchester Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1428516425 | 978-1428516427

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Keywords: Mystery, suspense, romance, Regency
Format: Paperback
Source:  e-ARC received from Netgalley

Jacket copy:

Dogged for years by painful gossip about his father’s homosexuality, the Marquess of Beningbrough—Ben, to his friends—has protected himself by becoming the ultimate man’s man. Passed over by suitor after suitor in favor of her pretty but vapid younger sister, clever, forthright Lady Barbara Jeffords has reached the disappointing conclusion most men are shallow, boorish clods. 

When a philandering footman turns up dead, the two square off: he’s sure she’s determined to pin the crime on his hapless young cousin, while she thinks he means to shift the blame to her sister. To find the real killer, Ben and Barbara must declare a truce that threatens to expose both their buried insecurities and their growing desire for each other.

Thuy's Review:

With two headstrong and charismatic leads, an engaging mystery and sharp dialogue, A Tryst with Trouble is must read. The book is written from the dual first person perspectives of Ben and Barbara, two characters who seem to have nothing in common. Ben, the heir to a dukedom, has lived in the shadow of scandal his entire life. Charming and conceited, Ben isn’t looking for any entanglements. Unfortunately he finds himself caught up in a murder investigation at the home of Lady Barbara Jeffords, an independent and determined young lady. They can’t stand each other which, of course, means that they are perfect for one another.

I breezed through this book in little over a day. Ben and Barbara are both extremely stubborn, each one not wanting to lose to the other. I love a good fight and this had plenty of them. The snappy dialogue between Ben and Barbara had me chuckling and Everett uses sarcasm and wit brilliantly. The physical chemistry between the two is intense, even if neither of them wants to admit it. The book is quite chaste by my standards (yes, my mind is in the gutter) with only one really major love scene. However, it’s a really good one and it’s still plenty hot so that I almost didn’t miss the love scenes. :)

It was nice to read a book that wasn’t overly dramatic and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Yes, there’s a murder plot and there were plenty of misunderstandings and even some tears, but it isn’t excessively angst-y. I had a good time watching Ben and Barbara fall in love while throwing insults at each other. The mystery was well thought out and not overly complicated. It kept me guessing until almost the very end.

I thought that the dual POVs might get annoying but it wasn’t at all. I enjoyed seeing both Ben and Barbara’s points of views. I think my only real complaint about this book is that I wanted more. More Ben, more Barbara, just more. Can I make a plea to the author for a novella or even some deleted scenes?

Alyssa Everette is a bright new talent in the romance world and I am excited to read more by her. I’ve already re-read my favorite parts of this book more than a few times. Luckily I only have to wait until May for Everett’s next book, Ruined by Rumor to come out. In the meantime, I was totally serious about more stories with Ben and Barbara. Pretty please?

You can also see Alethea's review of the book here.

*Unfortunately, Dorchester publishing is going through some financial pains right now (read more here) and the release date for A Tryst With Trouble has been postponed indefinitely. This sucks because the book is awesome sauce and I want you all to read it. Everett's next book, Ruined By Rumor, will be released by Carina Press in May.  It's available now on NetGalley for those who have an account.  Until then. learn more about Alyssa later this week when she stops by the blog for an interview.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

---

Visit the author online at www.alyssaeverett.com and follow her on Twitter @Alyssa_Everett.

Firelight - Review

Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

Publication date: 31 January 2012 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1455508594 | 9781455508594
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance/Paranormal Supsense
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, suspense, gothic, London, fire
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley

From goodreads:

London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . . 

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . 

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Thuy's Review:

Firelight is the thrilling and passionate debut novel from Kristen Callihan. The first book in her Darkest London series, Firelight is what would happen if a historical romance and paranormal mystery got together and had a book baby. An exciting, romantic, sensual and captivating (so many adjectives!) story that you won’t want to put down.

Set in Gothic London in the 1800s, Callihan does a great job of creating an atmospheric and mysterious setting for her story. Born with a gift of fire, Miranda has hidden her true self her entire life, afraid of what might happen if her secret is revealed or the devastation that could occur if she ever lost control of her power. Archer comes across Miranda in an alley one dark evening and witnesses her boldness in the face of danger. Taken by her beauty and strength, he vows to come back for her. When her returns to London years later, Archer makes Miranda’s father an offer he cannot refuse and she becomes his wife.

I fell in love with Archer and Miranda! They are both fantastically well drawn and complex characters. Both cursed in their own ways, they are forced to hide their true selves from society. However, they each find a counterpoint in the other, a person who understands them and accepts them for who they are. With Archer, Miranda’s power becomes her strength and she is able to see past Archer’s curse to the man inside.

Arch is perfect as the devilishly mysterious Duke. A cross between the perfect English gentleman and the marauding bandit, he’s charming but also moody and arrogant. There’s also an inherent sadness to him, brought on by years of isolation. I loved the vulnerable moments he had with Miranda. At first, Archer thinks he’ll be able to marry but also keep his wife at arm’s length. But Miranda is no wilting wallflower and won’t stand for a husband who keeps too many secrets. I loved how fearless and brave Miranda was. Even without her power, she is formidable fighter. With it, she’s a force of nature. Her red hair matches her fiery personality and she is also extremely loyal and clever.

The chemistry between Archer and Miranda was red hot! Their heated arguments and playful exchanges had me blushing and wanting more. But their connection is more than just a physical attraction and I loved watching them get to know each other and start to trust each other with their secrets. The weakest part of the book for me was the murder mystery/serial killer. I actually figured out who the killer was pretty early on, but I did like how everything ends up coming full circle.

It’s hard to categorize this book. Historical romance, suspense, fantasy, mystery - it’s all of those things and more. A truly original and surprising story, I fell in love with this world and the characters in it. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year. I am dying to read Book 2, Moonglow, which comes out in August. To tide myself over, I bought the short prequel to Firelight, Ember, available as an ebook. Do yourself a favor and pick yourself up a copy of Firelight NOW. You won’t be sorry. :)

P.S. - Keep an eye out for a giveaway of this book soon. We love it and want to share it with our readers. :)

Also available

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

---

Visit the author online at kristencallihan.com, follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan, or on Facebook

Night Tales by Nora Roberts - Review

Nigh Tales (Night Tales #1 & #2) by Nora Roberts

Publication date: originally published 1991, reissued 2005 by Silhouette
ISBN 10/13: 0373285108 | 9780373285105

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense
Keywords: Romance, suspense, mystery, stalker, vigilante
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

This is an early series by Nora Roberts from the early 90’s. Nora Roberts is sometimes a bit hit and miss for me (especially some of her older stuff) but, for the most part, I tend to enjoy her writing and am willing to give anything by her a try. While neither of these stories blew my socks off they were quick and entertaining reads.

Night Shift

In Night Shift, radio show host Cilla O’Roarke is being stalked by man who claims that she killed someone close to him. Detective Boyd Fletcher is called in on the case and quickly falls for the whiskey-voiced radio celeb. You know, I usually enjoy the bodyguard/cop falling for his ward romances. Though somewhat formulaic, the plot moved quickly and kept me interested throughout. Boyd’s your typical sexy bad boy cop. Cilla but she tries to keep him at arm’s length but that doesn’t last for long. Cilla’s successful and driven, having had to support her and her sister at a young age. I liked her I also wanted to smack her upside the head. She’s being stalked and Boyd keeps asking her if she’s had any jilted lovers or obsessed fans that they can look into. She can’t come up with anyone and the investigation is at a standstill.

***SPOILERS***


***THEY’RE COMING***


****Now it’s no one’s fault but your own if you end up spoiling it for yourself***

It’s not until almost the end of the book when she’s having a fight with Boyd does she blurt out something about a guy who was following her around and claiming that he loved her would die without her. And even after Boyd points out that he fits all the criteria that they’re looking for, she still doesn't think there's a connection! It's a good thing Boyd's around to protect her because she doesn't seem to have much common sense.

***END SPOILERS***

While I wasn’t all that impressed with the mystery in the story, it was suspenseful and the parts written from the stalker’s POV are pretty creepy. I also got a kick out of Cilla managing the radio deck with all of her cassettes. Ah – the 90’s.

Night Shadow

Night Shadow starts about 6 years after Night Shift and is the story of Cilla’s sister, Deb, who is grown up now and is a district attorney. She runs into the vigilante Nemesis one night when he saves her from an attack. She ends of falling for both Nemesis and his alter ego, millionaire Gage Guthrie. This story reminded me a lot of Batman with a slight paranormal twist. Again, this was a bit formulaic and a little less believable than Night Shift. It’s hard to believe that Deb could reconcile herself to quickly to being involved with a man who works outside of the law when she so clearly works within it and believes in its principles. Deb also does something very stupid near the end of the book that seemed out of character. The ending is rather abrupt and it would have been nice to have a couple of pages wrap things up.

What I really found interesting about this story though were the parallels to Roberts’s Eve Dallas series. Go with me on this one. Deb and Eve are both no nonsense workaholics with a strong sense of justice, though Eve is a much more complex and interesting character. Nemesis and Roarke are both cocky, charming, millionaires with secret workrooms where they do their research. Both men have experience in illegal activities. Both even have butlers (personally I prefer Somerset’s cantankerous ways to Frank’s more amiable demeanor). Deb and Nemesis/Gage end up working together to solve a crime, very similar to what Eve and Roarke do in the In Death series. And Deb’s last name is O’Roarke. Coincidence? Maybe or maybe not.

 
This definitely wasn't my favorite Roberts read.  The stories are somewhat dated and the mysteries are not as exciting as what I usually expect from Roberts.  I’d recommend getting this from the library if you're interested or, better yet, skipping straight ahead to the Eve Dallas series.

---

Visit the author online at www.noraroberts.com 

Cry Wolf - Review

Cry Wolf by Angela Campbell  

Publication date: 31 October 2011 by Carina Press

ISBN 10/13: 1426892519 | 9781426892516

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Keywords: Mystery, suspense, weres, romance
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

Thuy's synosis:

Andrea Lockhart's job as a reporter for cheesy tabloid The Naked Truth isn't exactly where she thought her journalism career would end up. She's determined to make the best of it, but when her editor sends her to Woodbine, South Carolina, to investigate a werewolf sighting, Andrea decides the ridiculous assignment will be her last. Until she meets Sean Hunter.

The last time she saw Sean, he had just beat her out for the position of editor of their college newspaper, and told her she'd never make it as a reporter. Given his grand ambitions, she's shocked to find him editing theWoodbine Weekly. Once they start competing for leads on the werewolf, Andrea becomes determined to break the story first—she can't let Sean beat her again.

As they each get closer to finding the source of the rumors, the only thing more surprising than the truth are the feelings Sean is able to stir in her, feelings she thought she had left behind.

Thuy's review:

Cry Wolf is fun and sweet romantic mystery with a paranormal-ish twist. Andrea “Andi” Lockhart is a reporter for a famous tabloid magazine who is sent to the small town of Woodbine, SC to investigate the local werewolf sightings. Unfortunately she finds that her old competitor and the man who beat her out for editor of the college newspaper is now living in Woodbine and runs the town paper. As a young man Sean Hunter felt that Andi was too soft and said some cruel things to her for what he thought was “her own good.” Now Sean’s the last person Andi wants to see or work with but she has to if she’s to crack the story and find out the truth about the Woodbine Werewolf.

I was pleasantly surprised by Cry Wolf. I am a huge fan of paranormal books. Give me a vampire or demon and I’ll read it. It was a nice change of pace to read a book that had was about werewolves but wasn’t necessarily a paranormal story. The plot was well written and well paced and I was totally sucked into the mystery. I wanted to find out if the werewolf was real just as much as Andi did.

I loved the romance in this story. Andi’s got a big chip on her shoulder from what happened with Sean in college. I don’t really blame her at first. Sean’s words were cruel and, to the insecure young woman that Andi was, I can see how much it would have hurt. Even though it’s been years and Andi is a successful journalist now, she still feels like she has something to prove to Sean and perhaps to herself. Sean, on the other hand, isn’t the big time editor he set out to be. Seeing Andi makes him realize that a jerk he was in college. The years have changed Sean and he’s no longer the selfish, ambitious man he used to be. Actions speak louder than words and Sean does everything he can to help Andi and keep her from becoming werewolf bait during the investigation.

As rivals, Sean and Andi have that great antagonistic chemistry that I love to read. While Sean and Andi have great chemistry, the loves scenes themselves are pretty mild. Don’t get me wrong, they did get hot and heavy a few times but, just as things were really heating up...it would fast forward to the next morning. Personally I prefer a little more smut in my romance books but those who like their hanky panky on the lighter side will enjoy this.

I had a great time reading this. The small town setting was perfect for the mysterious werewolf sightings. It was fun following Andi and Sean on their investigation and meeting all of the quirky townspeople. And the story definitely keeps you guessing right up to the very end. A fun debut novel from Angela Campbell. I am excited to see what she comes up with next.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

---

Visit the author online at www.angelacampbellonline.com 

Caught In The Act - Review

Caught In The Act (PI & Men To The Rescue #3) by Lori Foster
Publication date: 01 September 2001 by Harlequin
ISBN 10/13: 0441013813 | 978-0441013814

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense
Keywords: Contemporary, realistic, romance
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

COINCIDENCE?

Not.

Mick Dawson, undercover cop.

He's got his hands full with a pushy broad who claims she's just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Except all the perps seem to know everything there is to know about her. Who're you going to believe? Only one way to find out. Get real close.

Lela DeBraye (aka Del Piper), mystery writer.

She's as confused as he is, but mostly because he's got the sweetest smile, when he smiles. Still, he's sticking with her twenty-four/seven — is this love or duty? Is he her protector or her captor?

Thuy’s review:

Mick’s been watching Del for a couple of weeks. He first spotted her in his old neighborhood and immediately developed a small obsession for the dreamy mystery writer. The day Mick decides to make his move, Del’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. During an attempted robbery, Mick gets shot saving Del’s life. As drawn to him as he is to her, Del offers to take Mick in while he recovers. However, things about the robbery don’t quite add up and Mick isn’t sure if he can trust Del so he keeps her close while trying to unravel the mystery.

Caught In The Act is a light, fun romance with a little bit of mystery thrown in. Foster can be a bit hit and miss for me. I like some of her books a lot and other are just OK. I didn’t like this one as much of some of her other book. It was somewhat predictable but I still enjoyed it - good for a quick read. Caught In The Act is actually a part of a series, which I didn’t realize when I picked it up. I don't think you need to read the series in order though, as I was able to follow along perfectly fine.

This is definitely a case of love at first sight romance. Mick’s absolutely enthralled by Del and she seem to share the same attraction. Usually in romances (especially novella length ones), the falling in love is fast and hard. And normally I can suspend disbelief and go with story. However, in this case, the fast fall was a little too fast for me. Mick and Del barely know each other and he’s already moving in. Maybe it’s a bit of gratitude on her part and obsession on his but I wish they would have developed the relationship a little more.

Mick’s your typical romance lead - big, handsome and aggressive. He makes no qualms about telling Del exactly how he feels about her and is sweet and protective. His cop instincts get the better of him though and he makes a big blunder with Del. Even though I could see it coming, I wanted to smack him upside the head when it happens. Though I didn’t love Del, I did like her and find her to be a unique character. She’s a bit of an odd bird - a mystery writer with her head in the clouds and, while I couldn’t relate to her, I liked that she wasn’t your stereotypical romance heroine.

Mick’s two friends, Zack and Josh, provided some comic relief. Their scenes with Mick had a real feeling of camaraderie and their conversations were pretty funny. I would love to read more about both of them. Good thing they each have a book of their own.

This book wasn’t anything new or groundbreaking but it’s a quick and entertaining read with some good moments. I am picking up Josh’s book after this. :)

say "twee!"

---

Visit the author online at www.lorifoster.com and follow @lorilfoster on Twitter