Vixen in Velvet by Fern Michaels

June 16, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Vixen in Velvet by Fern Michaels
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (212 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Infamous Deception…

The tumultuous saga of beautiful, adventurous Tori Rawlings, an aristocrat of breeding and virtue. When she exchanges identities with a tavern wench to escape a repugnant marriage, Tori finds herself in league with a band of brigands and at the mercy of Scarblade, the most notorious highwayman in England.

…Raging Desire!

An unforgettable novel of a young woman’s surrender to excitement darker than she’d ever imagined…and a love more passionate than she’d ever known.

She’s pulling the wool over someone’s eyes, but it just might be her own!

I’d never read anything by Fern Michaels before I picked up this copy of Vixen in Velvet. I will certainly read more by this author. I enjoyed the author’s style and the characters were interesting, too. I couldn’t put the book down. I have to state right away this book was published in 1976 and does show a bit of it’s age. There is the occasional head hopping, which could be a tad jarring, but not terrible.

Tori wants to be in a marriage of love, not convenience. I get it. She wants to be loved and not by someone who essentially bought her. She’s headstrong and sometimes almost too much for her own good. I liked her willingness to get into trouble and to put in work. Then there’s Scarblade. Honestly, he’s a pill, but he could’ve been worse. I rather liked him. The attraction happened rather fast, but it’s romance and I liked it.

If you want a book that’s original, then this is the one for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ripples Through Time by Cassandra Jamison

June 16, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Ripples Through Time by Cassandra Jamison
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (185 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

Is it possible to fall in love with somebody who no longer exists?

Tess Corbin, a modern-day American heiress, stumbles into the year 1900 where she meets the infamous Heywood Paxton. She never expected to fall in love, but soon finds herself torn between the obligation to her fiancé back home and a taboo romance with this dairy farmer from another century.

After discovering her way back to the future, Tess realizes that she has changed the past and Heywood’s life has been brutally cut short by a new serial killer – a killer who did not exist until her time travels. Now Tess must find her way back to Heywood and hunt down this century old murderer to stop the killings before they begin.

The only question is how long can Tess remain in a time that is not hers, and will it be enough to change history again?

Ripples Through Time is completely captivating. It has a plot that is dripping with wonderfully crafted tension, and the execution of the story is something that has the reader speeding through the pages hoping to jump through time with Tess Corbin as quickly as possible!

Tess Corbin is a powerful female lead who does not waste time waiting on a man to be her hero. Instead she takes the heroism into her own hands and proves that she is a force to be reckoned with and that she knows what she’s doing. A tough as nails, educated doctor who proves over and over again that she is more than her gorgeous blonde hair and sparkling green eyes!

Her story is full of strength and her resilience as a woman struggling to be heard in two different timelines, modern and not so modern, opening readers eyes to the shocking similarities of history repeating itself as it pertains to the treatment of women. Tess jumps in feet first to any and all conflicts and while the audience is cheering her forth in her endeavors, they are also rooting for the connection between Tess and Heywood, two people who seem to have been fated to meet.

Heywood Paxton’s life seems to always be in some sort of turmoil and it is absolutely breathtaking to watch as Tess helps him away from his burdens. Their budding and taboo relationship thrills and tenses the audience leaving them to wonder how everything is going to turn out. Will Tess and Heywood really be able to beat the odds together? This forceful pull between them is what keeps the pages turning, along with the fast paced plot that gives us more than enough twists to keep us on our toes.

After finishing this novel in a day and a half, pausing only briefly for sleep, I’m so invested in the lives and the story of the characters that I have to remind myself that I have already completed the book, seeing as I am still caught up in the excitement of wanting to know what happens next. I may just have to read it again immediately to keep myself at bay!

Ripple Through Time not only gives readers a fast paced mystery packed inside of some of our wildest fantasies, but it also delivers an sensual slow-burn romance that commands the reader’s attention at the simple mention of our main characters’ names on the same page together. Cassandra Jamison does an excellent job of working in both time periods, and makes an unbelievable tale feel realistic and natural within the world of her story. Even her side characters have deep development and connection to the leads that keep the audience wondering how they will all possibly fit together in the puzzle that is Tess Corbin’s life. The passion Jamison has for writing is felt within the love that this story is unfolding, and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from her. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Let Tess and Heywood show you how their story is absolutely worth your time.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James

June 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
The Wildes of Lindow Castle,Book 5
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (396 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A shy wallflower meets her dream man–or does she?–in the next book in New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James’ Wildes of Lindow series.

Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.

So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke.

Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man.

A vicar, no less.

Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.

Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

I adore the Wildes of Lindow Castle. They are a wonderful family, very supportive, unconventional and always loving. The heroine of Say Yes to the Duke certainly needed every ounce of care, patience and support in the early parts of the novel. She had good reasons for her fear and the resultant tumultuous tummy, but at the same time the occurrence of the reason made me grin. It certainly was memorable for me too.

Viola was a delightful heroine. I enjoyed her penchant for befriending a crow, defending cows, and her other general personality traits. She has a self-esteem issue initially and her sister, Joan, was a huge help, but it’s the man she encounters that starts her on the path of getting over her fears.

Devin, the hero, is the character that does the most growing, changing and discovering. He discovers that he can actually smile, he discovers *gasp* feelings! Devin also has had a horrid childhood that shaped how he deals with anger, relationships and responsibilities but it’s his interactions with Viola and the rest of the Wilde clan that make him realize that love, banter and ‘tender feelings’ do not make him weak. That whole journey was a joy to watch because during it all he’s falling in love with the heroine. It was majorly entertaining and I relished every moment.

I really enjoyed the play. I felt it was the turning point and the culmination for so many plot threads. It was a delight to read. Like Devin said, it was the ‘fifth act’ and it was great because it included quite a few giggles. Of course, those earlier counted ‘acts’ (1-4) were fun, saucy and quite entertaining between Devin and Viola.

The novel ends with a most adorable and sweet epilogue that is like icing on a cake. I have a happy book buzz after reading it and a smile on my face. To confirm that this novel made me feel that happy, I read it again before writing this review. Truly, Say Yes to the Duke is a charming and delightful read and one I encourage romance readers not to miss.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense by Judy Penz Sheluk (Editor)

June 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense by Judy Penz Sheluk (Editor)
Publisher: Superior Shores Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Historical, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (302 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Lovers and losers.

Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth.
And behind every half-truth lies a secret.

Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk. Featuring authors Sharon Hart Addy, Paula Gail Benson, James Blakey, Gustavo Bondoni, Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Rhonda Eikamp, Christine Eskilson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Flora, John M. Floyd, J.A. Henderson, Blair Keetch, Steve Liskow, Edward Lodi, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Joseph S. Walker, James Lincoln Warren, Chris Wheatley and Robb T. White.

Half of the truth is better than nothing, right?

Dave had lost nearly everyone dear to him by the time “Blackjack Road” began. His hopelessness at the thought of living the rest of his life with so little companionship shone through the storyline beautifully. It made the arrival of a dangerous fugitive on his property even more poignant. Threatening someone who has nothing left to lose isn’t an easy task, especially when they’re someone as stubborn as Dave. I devoured this story and was left yearning for more. Reading it was such an immersive experience that I felt both satisfied and eager to find out what happened to him next.

Horror wasn’t a genre I was expecting to find in this anthology. That made “So Long” an unexpected treat! This tale was composed of a series of voicemails left at the apartment of a woman who had completely withdrawn from the outside world for reasons that were soon made clear. While I do wish some of her doctor’s actions were explained better, I still had a wonderful time slowly unravelling the mystery of why she wasn’t responding to calls from her employer, relatives, and other folks in her life who were perplexed by her disappearance.

“Pink Hearts Pierced by Arrows” followed a character named Crystal whose best friend was worried about infidelity. What I liked the most about the plot from that point was how much it twisted and turned around as Crystal tried to find out what was really going on in her friend’s life and marriage. Even though I did have a hunch about what was happening, it was still a great deal of fun to see if my prediction was correct.

Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense was a rock solid anthology that everyone who loves this genre should check out.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Wolf Under Fire by Paige Tyler

June 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Wolf Under Fire by Paige Tyler
Publisher: SourceBooks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (320 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Dryas

For the cases no one else can solve, they send in the Special Threat Assessment Team

Supernatural creatures are no longer keeping their existence secret from humans, causing panic around the globe. To investigate, monitor, and—when necessary—take down dangerous supernatural offenders, an international task force was established: The Special Threat Assessment Team.

STAT agent Jestina Ridley is in London with her team investigating a suspicious kidnapping. Over her radio, Jes hears her teammates being savagely attacked. She runs to help, but she’s too late. The only survivor, Jes calls for backup and gets former Navy SEAL and alpha werewolf Jake Huang and his new pack. Convinced that the creature who butchered her teammates was a werewolf, Jes doesn’t trust them. But if they’re going to uncover the facts and make it back home alive, she’ll need Jake’s help. And with everything on the line, Jes will have to accept Jake for who he is, or lose the partner she never expected to find…

Jestina Ridley is in London working on a kidnapping case of 14-year-old Olivia Phillips, who is the daughter of a high-ranking member of MI5 (the British Security Service). She works for STAT, a government agency that deals with cases involving supernatural creatures. She was following a lead which ends up costing the lives of her two teammates to a supernatural creature she had never seen before. Her boss, McKay, is having her become a member of a mixed team of humans and supernatural creatures. This team is going to be a trial run to see just how well it could work out, maybe better than just a human force.

Jake Huang, a former Navy SEAL, cop, and a werewolf, had been chosen to be the pack/team leader as he has the most experience leading a team besides Jes, and Jes doesn’t know as much as he does about how to work with other supernatural creatures. He meets the rest of his team: A female Alpha werewolf named Harley Grant, a male omega werewolf named Caleb Lynch, along with a human named Forrest Albright and a woman with a cool ability named Mistal Swanson.

The author has some great new ideas and changes to the ‘normal’ ideals of a werewolf and an ability that I think is been overlooked for a long time. The author has her werewolf’s eyes change color based on what type they are: gold for Alpha, blue for Beta, and green for Omega. Also, their Omegas are completely different from others I have read about. They are considered loners, and much closer to their animal side which can cause them to have control issues. Betas rely on their Alpha’s to protect them, although they will protect themselves if it is an extreme issue. This author’s werewolves are born with a genetic abnormality that causes them to change into their were form after trauma.

Each character has their own personalities, which actually seems to make the team better. Jake is a strong man, full of compassion, the ability to make choices quickly, and had that special something that pulled people together. As an Alpha, he felt the need to protect his people–even Caleb who could be a trial. Jes is a wonderful woman that anyone would be proud to have on their team. She has nerves of steel, the ability like Jake to take in a situation and make a quick decision. She does have her faults. She doesn’t trust people easily as she has lost many teammates.

The plot is full of suspense, action, shoot-outs, evil plots, and strange supernatural creatures that are supposed to not exist. I liked just how matter-of-fact the werewolves find it to kill, especially if they are threatening someone they consider theirs. Also, the way they fight is much different as they actually use and prefer guns to teeth and claws if they can help it. The end was rather explosive, and I loved it. The romance between Jes and Jake was sweet and hot, I love the soulmate angle and just how protective they both were. It was rather fun watching them squirm whenever they were apart, not wanting to lose the other. I adore just how protective Jake was through the story. He hates to let her out of his sight. Unfortunately, their romance had to take a back seat to the mission. In the end they became a strong family, ready and willing to take on the world.

I loved this plot and the variants that the author added about werewolves and other abilities and creatures. It was interesting watching the team build themselves into a pack, ready and willing to kill whoever tried to hurt one of theirs. The action was incredibly done, and I was drawn along for the ride, feeling their adrenaline and shame when their missions kept falling apart. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Just Me by Deidre Huesmann, Roxas James, Madeia Sharif, and Kate Larkindale

June 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Just Me by Deidre Huesmann, Roxas James, Madeia Sharif, and Kate Larkindale
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (186 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Love is in the air…
JUST ME is a hand-picked collection of stories about self-discovery and being true to yourself. This LGBTQ+ young adult anthology is not afraid to take on real issues facing today’s teens.

“Witty, fast-paced, and well written.”

Wilde Girls by Deidre Huesmann
Broken Rules by Roxas James
Bullet Me by Medeia Sharif
We’ll Always Have This by Kate Larkindale

Coming out isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding.

Aislynn got a summer job working at the same shop as her bully in “Wilde Girls.” There were so many plot twists from this point forward that I continued to be delighted by what happened when each of them were revealed. One of the other things I enjoyed about it had to do with the backstories of the two main characters. They were both far from perfect people, but the reasons for behaving the way they did made their previous choices understandable if nothing else.

Slogging through a busy shift at work while nursing a hangover isn’t fun, but it’s exactly what Bastian had to do in “Broken.” In between bussing tables, the question of what really happened at the party the night before loomed in his mind. It was so much fun to see him wrestle with this issue and search for clues. While Bastian could be a little impulsive at times, deep down he was a good kid who wanted to make the right decisions in life. Getting to know him was a treat.

Lonetta was hiding a crush on her best friend in “Bullet Me.” When another student discovered her secret, she had to decide whether she’d give in to his blackmail attempts or allow the whole school to find out what she’d been hiding. This tale was filled with moral dilemmas that were as complicated as they were fascinating. I was especially interested in the ways the adults in Lonetta’s life behaved. Some of them were kind while others were dangerously dismissive. Knowing that she had to be careful about who she trusted only made her limited choices even more important.

After his brother tried to commit suicide, Leo spent the night in his brother’s hospital room looking out for him and talking to the other visitors at that facility in “We’ll Always Have This.” As much as I loved seeing this character’s dedication to his sibling and entire family during this crisis, it did feel a little odd to me to have such a sombre setting for the beginning of a romance. This became even more true once I realized the sad truth behind why Leo’s love interest was spending so much time at the hospital. I wish these subplots could have been separated into individual, related stories. They were all well done, I simply thought they weren’t good matches to be all mixed into the same tale.

Just Me was the perfect thing to read as summer begins. Anyone who is in the mood for something breezy should definitely check it out.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Wrangler by Pamela Britton

June 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Wrangler by Pamela Britton
Publisher: HQN
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (224 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Time’s running out for Samantha Davies.

If it’s the last thing she does before losing her sight completely, she has got to find out whether Montana’s wild, Baer Mountain mustangs are real or simply the stuff of bedtime stories. And nothing—not even a bullheaded, devilishly handsome wrangler named Clint McAlister—is going to stop her.

How could Clint stop a firecracker like Samantha? So what if her eyes are as green as spring grass? Or that she sits a horse like a cowboy’s sweetest dream. Clint almost got his heart broken by one high-toned city girl. All he has to do is keep his hands and his heart to himself until this one goes back where she came from and leaves him—and the mustangs—alone.

She’s losing her sight and he wants to keep a precious view hidden. Things shouldn’t work for these two, but they somehow do.
I picked up this book because, well, I liked the guy on the cover. Then I read the blurb and decided this was something I needed to read. She’s losing her sight? He’s got land with wild Mustangs? Um, yes, I want to read this.

Pamela Britton does write a good story. It’s polished and flowed well for the most part. There were moments I thought were rather cliché, but it happens. The ending was a little too… fast? I don’t know. It was rather abrupt. Boom, done, kind of abrupt.

Still, Clint is a good character. He doesn’t want to admit he cares, but he does and he’s willing to go out of his way for her. I liked him. Sam had some issues I wasn’t thrilled about. She doesn’t want to be babied because of her condition, but she acts like it’s a big deal to hide it. It’s almost like she doesn’t give anyone time to process their reaction to it because she wants the situation to be normalized. Someone losing their sight is something you need time to process. The other thing that niggled me about this book was the loose ends. There were a couple story threads that just weren’t dealt with and it bugged me. I won’t give away spoilers, though.

The characters do have chemistry, so that’s good. I read this in the course of an afternoon and it was a good read. If you’re looking for something to pass the time, a beach read or something for a lazy afternoon, then this might be the one for you. Check it out.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Allister Boone by Torvi Tacuski

June 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Allister Boone by Torvi Tacuski
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (265 pages)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

ALLISTER BOONE is a controversial New York City psychiatrist who, incapable of lying, tells his patients exactly what he thinks they need to hear: the truth, no matter the consequences. And in a fragile society where the smallest truth can crush the hardest heart, his patients both love and hate him for it.

But Allister is more than an ear and a shoulder with a sharp tongue and a penchant for self-suffering. He is a sociopath in a suit and a smile; he’s addicted to this world but wants it to end; and since he is DEATH, his part in the apocalypse is always just a breath away.

While being Death has its advantages, being a jaded immortal wearing a human like a suit, and with a severe case of OCD, has many disadvantages. Especially when, in a moment of desperation, Allister agrees to play the game of all games with TIME, also known as the insufferable MORTY FINCH: “Let’s see how many lives you can save, while I work against you to end them.”

But Allister’s biggest disadvantage is his own deteriorating mental condition. With billions of souls trapped inside of him, he can only go for so long wearing the same body before the souls drive him mad and send him over a ledge of his own. Literally in a race against Time, Allister must not only save the lives of his patients–which is difficult to do when one has no empathy–but he must do the unthinkable to save himself and put balance back into the world.

This is a hair-raising roller coaster of a ride. Metaphors and similes do a great job at getting a vivid message across. We immediately despise the protagonist due to his words and thoughts towards others. We find out early on that Dr. Boone, acting as a psychiatrist, is the grim reaper—who has a bad attitude. This promises the makings of an interesting story. Death is friends with Time—even more intriguing, for the author has done a great job at humanizing important ideas. Sometimes the philosophical ponderings are hard to consider.

Time and Death set up an intriguing contest with each other that involves Death’s patients. Who will win in the end? They recruit supernatural friends who pull crazy antics.

There are important topics brought up, profound discussions, in between bouts of “fun” conversations–lots of food for thought. There are also many cleverly-said insights and pieces of wisdom mixed in with sharp sarcasm. The trick is to have people listen to the smart things when they are wrapped around snark.

During Death’s activities to win his bet with Time, he goes through a transformation. At times, there are confusing moments, but it doesn’t slow down the pace. The interesting patients provide entertaining ways to explore serious topics. However, Dr. Boone/Death is harsh in the way he talks to people. He may tell them what they “need to hear,” but he’s very judgmental and mean spirited. The ideas expressed in the exposition may contain much wisdom, but without compassion, it’s lopsided. The story condemns and shames average people. Luckily, Dr. Boone helps some people, and his truthful messages change lives for the better. The theme of mental illness and compassion is well played through the complex character that Dr. Boone is. The story is a great mix of creepy and highly judgmental, and the characters are fascinating.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

e-Pocalypse: The Digital Dystopia is Coming by Steve Bellinger

June 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


e-Pocalypse: The Digital Dystopia is Coming by Steve Bellinger
Publisher: Wordwooze Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (169 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Matty Williams’ retirement as a computer tech goes awry when he and his girlfriend Divvie discover that new social technologies are subtly affecting the minds of their users. As they delve deeper into the technological marvels revolutionizing the lives of virtually everyone on the planet, they are set on a course that leads directly back to their employer, Roydon Technologies.

Now there’s the latest gadget, augmented reality glasses known as “Augies,” that can literally recreate reality for the user, all controlled by the ruthlessly efficient global computer system with the deceptively reassuring name of NANA.

Will Matty, Divvie, and their super geek friend, Howard, save humanity from a life of programmed subservience, or will their attempt to thwart NANA result in something even worse?

Technology can be a double-edged sword.

Matty was a complex and fascinating protagonist. There were times when I wondered if he’d ever move past his deep-seated distrust of new technology and social media, but his rants about those topics did make sense when viewed in the context of his backstory. I liked the fact that his occasional surliness in these areas was so well explained. It gave his personality a lot of depth and made me wonder what would happen to him next no matter how far I read into his tale.

Sometimes I struggled to keep up with the large cast of characters. Part of the issue was due to how quickly many of them were introduced in the first few scenes. Another piece of the puzzle had to do with how often characters were introduced with only a few details about them as individuals. As much as I otherwise enjoyed reading this book, having a clearer understanding of who all of these folks would have bumped it up to a full five-star rating.

The pacing was well done. At first I found it a little slow to be honest, but I rapidly changed my mind about that once I realized how many subtle hints were embedded into the plot about what was really going on with the Augies and all of the hidden messages in the various forms of technology in this universe. This is something that should be read slowly and carefully. It expects readers to put in a certain amount of effort into piecing the clues together regardless of what does or doesn’t seem to be happening in the storyline. I was quite pleased with how Mr. Bellinger pieced everything together here so seamlessly.

e-Pocalypse: The Digital Dystopia is Coming should be read by anyone who likes reading about technology and the ways it can be misused.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Guilty Knowledge by Linda Griffin

June 9, 2020 By 11 Comments


Guilty Knowledge by Linda Griffin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (211 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review by: Poinsettia

Detective Jesse Aaron has no leads in the murder of Rosa Logan when pretty blonde Sariah Brennan claims to have seen the killer—in a vision. Unfortunately the man she identifies is dead—or is he?

Sariah is an unsophisticated small town girl, but her background and her motives are mysterious, and she seems to be hiding something. Jesse is increasingly convinced she has guilty knowledge of the crime, even as he finds himself more and more attracted to her. How can he unravel the web of secrets, without putting Sariah at risk, before the killer strikes again?

How much does Jesse really know about Sariah?

Jesse’s life changed the moment Sariah walked into the police department. She claims to have seen the killer in a vision. It would be easy to dismiss her as claims as crazy, and Camille, Jesse’s partner, is ready to do just that. However, Sariah knows details about the crime that weren’t released to the public. Did she have a vision, or is she somehow involved in the crime?

Sariah is a tough character to figure out. She manages to be both innocent and mysterious. Like Jesse, I wanted to believe her claims of having seen the killer in a vision, but something about her just didn’t seem right. Jesse tries to keep his relationship with Sariah professional, but something about her draws him in. Before he knows it, he’s falling in love with her. Their awkward flirty banter was cute at first, but her lack of honesty made natural interactions between them almost impossible. Consequently, it was hard for me to relax and enjoy their relationship. It just felt uncomfortable after a while. I shared Jesse’s frustration with Sariah’s secrecy. As I read, I continued to hope that Sariah would open up to Jesse before it was too late.

Ms. Griffin kept me guessing as I read. I was never quite sure how involved Sariah was in the mystery until everything about her past was finally revealed. My heart broke for Jesse when he realized how little he really knew about Sariah. Despite this issue, I am pleased to say I have a lot of hope for Jesse and Sariah. By the end of the book, Sariah is in a much better place. In the future, I believe she will be more open with Jesse. They have been given a second chance and I believe they will use it wisely.

I enjoyed reading Guilty Knowledge. The mystery is interesting, and Jesse and Sariah’s happy ending makes their bumpy beginning worth it. I recommend it to fans of romantic suspense looking for a quick read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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