Nannion by Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis

September 3, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Nannion by Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (320 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

On a secluded Greek island in the 1950s, an enormous abandoned mine is filled with sea water for a major international experiment in marine biology. It is intended to study natural selection and, perhaps, evolution in a new aquatic ecosystem. However, the experiment and the island are eventually abandoned. Decades later, a sailor’s photograph of the corpse of a large shark prompts a team of biologists to visit the island. The team discovers unique environments, including an underwater brine lake. The life forms act in ways that affect the fauna on the island as well as themselves. The new ecosystem is dangerous. How to cope with it? The biologists will need some form of interspecies communication with the sea life and even with a cat that has been stranded on the island. It’s simple in theory…

Any large lake is bound to have a mystery or two.

The pacing of this book was steady and thought provoking. I originally assumed it would have a faster pacing, but I appreciated the time the author took to explain the history of the abandoned experiment and to set the scene for what the scientists and cat found when they arrived on the island. This was a slow-burning novel in the very best sense of the term. There were plenty of opportunities to savor what was happening in the plot, and I became pretty thankful about that by the time I’d reached the mid-point of the storyline.

I would have liked to see a little more time exploring what was happening in the strange portion of the island. The narrators built up to this moment so much that I was expecting them to understand it all a bit better than they did. With that being said, I was definitely interested in the things they learned and felt like the majority of my biggest questions about it were answered.

It was interesting to see how the role of the narrator was shared among the characters. Nannion, a stray cat, explained much of the storyline, but the parts of it she couldn’t understand or wasn’t around to observe were seamlessly picked up by the scientists and researchers who were attempting to discover what was really happening on the island. This was a great example of how multiple narrators can enhance the audience’s understanding of a tale.

Nannion is something I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys thoughtful science fiction.

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

A Wolf’s Tale by Suzy Shearer

September 2, 2019 By Leave a Comment


A Wolf’s Tale by Suzy Shearer
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Short story (107 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When veterinarian Emily Brownstone, 55, finds a poisoned wolf on the roadside, she doesn’t realize the chain of events that will follow.

Someone is trying to kill off the native wildlife, and Emily’s action in saving the wolf will threaten her life, but will also bring her the man of her dreams.

Tate Collins, 57, can’t believe his luck—he’s finally met his soul mate after all these years. All he has to do is tell her his secret—and it is a big one! He just hopes she won’t freak out when she finds out he spends a lot of his time running around on four legs!

But even if she does accept him, will they find each other only to be torn apart by the danger that threatens the wildlife—and Emily?

Emily was in a rush to get home before the snow hit – but not in so much of a hurry she wouldn’t stop for an injured wolf on the side of the road. Unable to lift the large animal into the back of her jeep, she flags down help in the form of two brothers who were passing by. Despite the strange vibes Emily gets from them, she needs their help to rescue the wolf, and the large animal is more and more becoming a priority for her.

I found this to be an interesting and slightly mysterious paranormal romance. I enjoyed the writing style and was pleased with the faint air of thriller/mystery surrounding the story as a whole. I felt the plot of poisoning wolves and the tension between the humans and wolves was quite well drawn and not too clichéd. There were a few minor parts where I felt the writing was a little jarring and could have been smoothed out a little – like how Caleb and Raff – the two brothers who helped Emily load Tate, the wolf she rescued into her jeep – appeared to be menacing and intimidating to her one minute, then suddenly somehow managed to switch on the charm and Emily felt she could trust them. Even after a quick re-read I couldn’t understand the reason behind that sudden shift in Emily’s reading of the two men. I also found it jarring how Emily initially called the wolf “wolfie”. It felt odd to me considering the wolf was extremely large – far too heavy for her to maneuver – and a wild animal as well. The slightly babyish style of pet name “wolfie” kept pulling me out of the flow of the story.

I found the main characters really well drawn and I genuinely enjoyed the plot of the story – I was thrilled that it wasn’t just a token effort but really thoroughly woven in. Readers who enjoy paranormal romance should find this book as satisfying as I did. There’s plenty of chemistry and insta-lust burning between Emily and Tate, and although there’s a number of steamy kisses and heat between them, they don’t consummate their relationship until the very end of the story. I wouldn’t describe this story as erotic or overly explicit – nor the single consummation scene over the top. Readers happy with a strong plot, plenty of chemistry and connection, but satisfied with only the one fairly brief (only a few pages) sex scene should find this as enjoyable as I did.

I found the plot surrounding the poisoning of the wolves to be interesting and complex enough to retain my attention throughout the story. I would have enjoyed it had the conclusion and solving of this part of the mystery to have been a little slower-paced. A short time after finishing my first read I found small parts of this conclusion had escaped my memory and I needed to re-read these sections more slowly to really assimilate what had occurred. Usually this means that the pacing (for me, at least) was too fast While I love a good, fast-paced action sequence I’m not as keen when it’s so fast-paced these important parts blur in my head and I can’t remember them properly.

With a solid plot, a number of interesting and intense characters – and hopefully the potential for further books with other characters down the line – I found this to be a good and page-turning paranormal romance story. A good new-to-me author and someone I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.

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

Dreamcatcher by Julia Rohatyn

August 28, 2019 By 2 Comments


Dreamcatcher by Julia Rohatyn
Publisher: Neve Ilan Books
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full length (254 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

An invitation to spend the weekend at her friend Ron’s Maine country inn ends in murder and sends Rebecca Bauer scurrying back to Boston, but when he is accused of murder, she organizes a team of lawyers and detectives. They solve a two-hundred-year-old crime to get the clues that will crack the case. The search for information about the Abenaki Indian victim leads to breathtaking discoveries about the people who were here first. The dark Maine forests that surround the inn hold mysteries and unexpected dangers for Rebecca whose nosiness risks a murderous response by the killer. There is no shortage of suspects. Maybe it is the selfish, apparently promiscuous, trophy wife, or the victim’s violent cousin, or the suspicious partner. Her search will reveal another kind of secret when she discovers, to her amazement, that the native tribes who still live in small groups in New England have been here for thousands of years. Their ancient legends and dreams open a way to solutions to both murders.

What a good read. Not a long, heavy novel, but rather a short book that I could not put down. I liked the setting…an Inn with a haunted room (or so the proprietress thinks) and a manager from a big hotel who is there to visit and advise a little. The whole thing sort of mixed cozy and business together, and I liked it. Both the owner and Rebecca have some business they need help with. Thus, starts a story of twists and turns, a little humor, and a little murder, at the Greenwood Inn.

Rohatyn’s characters were well-defined. Some quirky, some practical and business-like, some hard workers; just a whole mix and match of interesting people. The characters were crafted so well, you could picture them. This book does have a few chapters of swinging back and forth between the 1700’s and the present. While this can sometimes be confusing that was not true at all here. The two stories while clear, were not totally connected but rather one sort of set the stage for the other.

I think you can recognize my appreciation for this story already but to summarize… it was a fun and very quick read. One well worth my time.

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

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

August 23, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (400 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

Ilona Andrews has done it again. She’s written a thrilling, gripping, and electrifying story. I’m blown away by her mastery of the descriptive word. The action, the suspense, the not knowing and the twist and turns of Prime politics is dizzying in its scope. 400 pages aren’t enough, and yet, they are. I feel like I am on the ground floor of something big, momentous and altogether dangerous. The Hidden Legacy series is a must read and Sapphire Flames just proves my point.

Catalina is growing up before my eyes. In the original three books in the series, she was just Nevada’s beloved younger sister with a very unique power. In this newest book, she’s owning her power, shouldering her responsibilities and starting to accept her role as Head of House Baylor. Her growing pains are real because her injuries are real. So much is thrown at her that I’m very grateful for her 3 years of training. And yet, she’s faced with so many decisions that can hurt or help the people she loves, it’s a bit overwhelming. How the author had her handling things, making the kinds of choices she did and giving me a chance to see inside Catalina’s thought processes made it very personal to me. The heroine is a heroine because she does what needs to be done in spite of her being scared, terrified and sometimes wishing it would all go away. I also appreciated that she was loyal to her family and those she calls friends. That loyalty was sure put to the test.

Alessandro is an enigma. Yes, he is sexy, strong, and off the charts magically talented. I have no idea what he can actually do but I received teases and hints with his interaction with Duncan. I get the sense that unlike his previous fiancés, he might be serious about Catalina. I hope so because I actually like the guy, even though he’s super secretive. I also think he’s really good for and with Catalina. I wish I could get into his head but this novel is first person POV so I only know what the heroine knows when she knows it. I’m as intrigued by Alessandro as she is. I totally cracked up when he sneaked a bite of Catalina’s veggie. That was one of the funniest moments in the story.

There was action, action and more action in this book. I never knew who was going to turn into what and I worried for some of the characters in harm’s way. I really wanted the heroine to rescue Runa’s family member and that was a great part of the mystery. Who did it and why? How did they do it and how can they be stopped? Tagging along with Catalina and Alessandro as they chase the clues was exciting.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the hints of romance between the two heats up in the next book. The two of them were practically smoking from the sparks of their passion. I was worried that it would be unrequited. I worried for nothing. It’s there, it’s brewing and it’s oh so powerful. I can’t wait to see them explode. I hope they do. I had a taste of it and it wasn’t enough. I want Catalina to be 100% herself and I want the same for the hero. That would be fun because the hero is just so yummy and I think he’d make her very, very satisfied.

I assure you, Sapphire Flames is loaded with stuff to share. Like how she got a dog, what those icky bug things did, why it was so important to help Runa and how cool of a character Duncan really is. The dialogue was great and the pace was consistently well balanced. I tried to read this book in one day. I tried so hard but there was too much goodness and not enough time to take it all in. I didn’t want the story to end. I wanted to see what would happen next but the epilogue proved to me that it was impossible. I was teased with something so fascinating and unexpected I was stunned. That was when I realized what was needed – another book.

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed this novel to the max and highly recommend it. The world that Ms. Andrews has created is incredible!

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

Season, Unforgettable by Keta Diablo

August 23, 2019 By 1 Comment


Season, Unforgettable by Keta Diablo
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (239 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Would you forsake your mother to save the woman you loved?

Season Scrimshaw isn’t selling the land her parents left her when they died, not even to the gorgeous Rann Brogan who saved her life in the forest. Especially not after she finds out he was in the woods surveying her property.

Rann’s mother, Charlotte, owns a large land development company. She wants Season’s property to put up a strip of luxurious, lakefront condos and Charlotte always gets what she wants. She sends Rann on a mission to seal the deal. To say Rann and his mother have had a normal mother/son relationship would be a stretch…a big stretch, but he’s always done her bidding.

This time it’s different. Rann hasn’t been able to get the beautiful Season out of his mind. While on his mission to secure the property, he realizes how much Season loves the land, and…he realizes somewhere along the line, Season has stolen his heart.

He soon discovers his mother will go to any length to get what she wants…including murder. Lives spiral out of control, secrets and lies take center stage. Rann is forced to choose between his mother and the woman he loves.

And he’s forced to become as dangerous and as lethal as Charlotte.

Did you ever read a book and not want it to end? This is how I feel about this book. I actually feel like re-reading it right now. I feel like the suspense/mystery parts were so intense that I read them too fast to find out what would happen next. Now that I know how it all played out I’d like to read it slower without the anxiety and soak it all in. I also want to re-read it again because I loved Rann Brogan, the hero. I want him to talk to me the way he talked to Season, the heroine. By the way, I loved her name. Between her name, their relationship and the suspense, this is an unforgettable book. I can’t think of a better title than Season, Unforgettable, because it was.

This book packed a punch. I felt a gamut of emotions as I was reading – from happy, joy, fear, laughter, sad and, my favorite, love. The cast of characters were well developed and very relatable. I adored Season’s grandfather, Duna, who was very sweet and kind. I especially got a laugh from one of Rann’s friend’s name which is totally irrelevant to the story but I have to share. I had a secret crush on a boy all four years of high school named Heath. I’ve never met another human with that name. Seeing it in print made me laugh. Like I said, totally irrelevant but it was a flashback for me. Season, Rann and his friends also played a drinking game that I played back in the day that I haven’t thought about in years. Sharing those similarities made the book more special to me.

If the synopsis sounds interesting to you then I definitely suggest taking the time to read it. This book is impossible to predict which makes the story all the more fun and interesting. There were a couple of plot twists that I never would have guessed in a million years. This is my first Keta Diablo book and I would definitely read another book written by her. I absolutely loved Season, Unforgettable!

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

The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger

August 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger
Publisher: Bloomsbury Caravel
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (306 pages)
Heat rating: sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Opening with the shooting of Lady Virginia ‘Ginie’ Courtauld in her tranquil garden in 1950s Rhodesia, The Dragon Lady tells Ginie’s extraordinary story, so called for the exotic tattoo snaking up her leg. From the glamorous Italian Riviera before the Great War to the Art Deco glory of Eltham Palace in the thirties, and from the secluded Scottish Highlands to segregated Rhodesia in the fifties, the narrative spans enormous cultural and social change. Lady Virginia Courtauld was a boundary-breaking, colourful and unconventional person who rejected the submissive role women were expected to play.

Ostracised by society for being a foreign divorcée at the time of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, Ginie and her second husband ,Stephen Courtauld, leave the confines of post-war Britain to forge a new life in Rhodesia, only to find that being progressive liberals during segregation proves mortally dangerous. Many people had reason to dislike Ginie, but who had reason enough to pull the trigger?

Deeply evocative of time and place, The Dragon Lady subtly blends fact and fiction to paint the portrait of an extraordinary woman in an era of great social and cultural change.

What could be better than admirable characters doing things that require courage in an exotic setting? Throw in a little bit of history and a sprinkle of the paranormal, and you have the makings of an exciting story such as this one.

The author has created a story rich with vivid details and based loosely on real people doing extraordinary, selfless things for others and at their own peril. Also, one is treated to meeting a famous person or two who happen to be acquainted with the protagonists, Ginie and Stephen. The fun will continue later if a reader decides to do research on the real people in the story.

As for the setting, Ginie and Stephen are world travelers and live in incredible times. They have the money and freedom to get involved with the world falling apart around them and provide financial and other support.

Readers get a peek inside an English castle, meet royalty, and get to watch as Stephen and Ginie deal with German bombs during World War II. One also gets to go back further and become immersed in the world decades before that, as Ginie marries into the Italian nobility. Most of the book is set in the 1950s, in Africa. Ginie and Stephen buy property there and befriend local people. They take up their cause against the horrible racist treatment they are facing and pay the price. There are some truly scary moments for them.

Relationships are explored during this realistic adventure. There are triumphs and tragedies, enough to keep the pages turning. Readers will love Ginie and Stephen and are not likely to ever forget their story.

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

The Black Hand by Jonathan Dunne

August 14, 2019 By 10 Comments


The Black Hand by Jonathan Dunne
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

In the aftermath of Ireland’s most deadly gang war, Dublin’s ruling family has scattered to the wind.

Into the void steps a criminal genius known only as The Black Hand. His organisation’s powerful grip is ruthless, bloody and barbaric.

With Europe’s biggest crime in play, The Devil needs a distraction. And The Black Hand needs Jacob Boylan to return to Irish shores. He will stop at nothing to provoke Dublin’s most lethal criminal out of hiding.

But has the wily genius misstepped? As all eyes are on Jacob, the Dublin exile carefully plans a gangland wipeout, for he is nobody’s pawn.

This book is told in two parts, but is actually one complete story. The world is organized crime… two major organized crime families, but behind them is the shadowy Black Hand that is actually directing things…. much like a puppet master…the Black Hand is controlling things with no one even knowing what’s going on.

There is non-stop action with Jacob being somewhat of an anti-hero as he takes care of business when his sister is in danger. As I was reading it, I could so see this being an action-thriller on the big screen. There are many characters, but the author does a wonderful job at keeping them all separate and unique.

Because this book is completely steeped in the darkness of organized crime, it is dark, gritty, violent, and bloody, but there is also an element of family loyalty and love present. I found myself rooting for Jacob even as he was taking out his enemies, and I’m not normally a bloodthirsty type!

The book is well plotted and well written… I hated to put it down and stayed up way too late to read this. And, I have to say the ending caught me off guard…..good job, sir. Very well played. This is my first book by Jonathan Dunne but it certainly will not be my last one.

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

The Meerkat Murders by R.J. Corgan

August 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Meerkat Murders by R.J. Corgan
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Adventure/Action, Contemporary
Length: Short story (96 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

After an old friend calls in a favor, geologist Kea Wright joins a team of biologists studying meerkats in the Kalahari.

Seduced by the expedition’s luxurious accommodations, state-of-the-art equipment, and daily baskets of fresh muffins, Kea begins to wonder if she picked the wrong field of research. Until people start dying…

Kea is on an expedition with two close friends, trying to mentally and emotionally recover from another expedition the previous year that had gone horribly wrong. Determined to put the past behind her and get her life back on track, she is struggling but determined to make it work. Only Kea has been called in to help keep this African project safe from people with no qualms about using violence to get exactly what they want.

I found this to be a really interesting story, filled with realism and excellent descriptions that proved to me the author had not only done his research, but also experienced much of the African landscape and settings detailed within the story. I was impressed how this story was woven together, with descriptions and details that really made me feel present – but not so heavily over-the-top to slow the plot or action down. It’s a delicate balance that isn’t easy to achieve and I feel the author managed this really well. While there aren’t an enormous number of characters, I felt there were enough of them – and very well drawn and defined – to make the story interesting and kept my attention throughout.

While it’s clear there is a previous story featuring Kea, I was equally relieved and pleased that the author gave enough history so the reader could pick this story up fresh and understand what Kea was trying to recover from without being beaten over the head with the previous story itself. I felt like I got enough details on Kea and her situation to get a good feel for the character without feeling like I was missing out and that helped this story feel stand-alone.

I feel this story will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy adventure and archaeology styles of stories – part Indiana Jones, part Tomb Raider I loved how the story blended scientific fact, real-life expedition adventures and the action-based storyline too. The main characters and plot itself while well-written weren’t unique enough to make the story outstanding, but I feel certain this story will stick out in my mind because of the realism and exceptional details of the African exploration and adventure side of the story as a whole. The author did an amazing job taking me to the African desert and I enjoyed every moment of the experience. The mystery unfolded at a good pace – and I feel this aspect of the plot was well developed and should help retain most readers attention coupled with all the other interesting elements of the story.

A well-written story with interesting characters and fantastic attention to detail that really had me feeling like I was travelling alongside Kea. There’s enough adventure and mystery woven among everything that I feel this should be a good and enveloping read for most and I’d happily try other stories written by this author.

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

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

August 9, 2019 By 1 Comment


Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (369 pgs)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.

And then she was gone.

Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.

Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?

“…because then everything about them, about Floyd and Laurel, all of it would be squashed and remade, like a clay pot on a wheel. And it’s such a lovely pot and she’s worked so hard on it and so much depends on it staying exactly as it is.”

What happens to a family after a child goes missing?

In this story the author reveals the break and unravel of the Mack family. The author slowly reveals the unbalance of one mother as she deals with the aftermath of year after year of the devastating impact from the void of her missing daughter Ellie. Unfortunately, the healing wound will be reopened.

You’ll need a “do not disturb” sign because you’ll want to read this book in one sitting. This is a very entertaining book with a well laid out plot. The writing and pacing is excellent with a unpredictable plot twist.

Laurel Mack is Ellie’s mother. Ellie has been missing for 10 years. Since Ellie’s absence from the family her parents have divorced and the relationship between her mother and her sister Hanna is at odds due to the distance between the two. My favorite character is Laurel because her natural instinct is to protect and shelter her home, children and family. Laurel is caring, and has a love for others which is noted on several occasions through out the book. I wanted good things to happen to Laurel, but I know whatever that is it wouldn’t replace her daughter.

How far would a woman go to have a child? When evil shows up it’s sometimes not easy to recognize it. After being in its presence it will eventually show its ugly head. Ellie saw this glimpse of evil and when she tried to be rid of it, it struck back. Without a doubt a reader could very well predict what happened but shouldn’t reward themselves too soon because the full story isn’t told until the very end.

I enjoyed reading the different perspective’s of the characters. The author masterfully weaved the characters’ voices to give a full complete story. Their various perspectives give the story full dimension. The present and past viewpoints helped me fill in the coordinates with the thoughts and voices of Ellie and Noelle.

Highly recommend to readers who enjoy a brilliant plot twist that includes some dark subject matter.

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

One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell

August 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment


One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (376 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Xeranthemum

Ready.

Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny’s dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There’s only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe’s brother Andrew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndon.

Aim.

This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Drew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Drew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.

Desire!

But Mina is no damsel in distress. She’s daring, intuitive, passionate…and halfway to melting Drew’s cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Drew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?

This was a one day read filled with excitement, daring-do and a remarkably energetic romance. I enjoyed myself tremendously and the epilogue left me feeling bubbly and happy. What’s not to like?

One Fine Duke has adventure, danger, an unusual spunky heroine and a hero in need of saving. Mina is afraid of never living life, of being put behind a wall for her safety and staying there, forever, while Drew is already behind a figurative wall and is afraid of coming out from behind it. What they both want isn’t what they need and what they need they don’t think they want. This novel explores how their lives are turned upside down, shaken up and tossed upon a path of discovery, shocking revelations and sensual exploration. For a reader that means one word: Fun.

The sparks fly pretty quickly between Mina and Drew. There is the trope of the bored duke being intrigued by a woman who flaunts the norm and gets past his ennui enough to inspire some out-of-character actions. That’s how their relationship begins but nowhere near where the author takes a reader. Ms. Bell takes that platform and creates well-rounded, flawed, quirky and fallible characters that attract, charm and beguile the reader. The heroine is clever, has a goal and a dream to achieve and her methodology is unconventional yet effective. The hero has never had a chance to reconcile his fears from being kidnapped when he was a kid and his coping mechanism, though changed through the years, has yet to get the job done. Between the two of them, they can have it all, but first, they have to solve a mystery, save Drew’s brother and avenge the death of Mina’s parents.

How the story unfolds, the dialogue between the hero and heroine and what Mina’s extraordinary curiosity leads her to discover, all make for a frequent tendency to flip the pages at a furious pace many times throughout the novel because it’s just so exciting! The part with the chair is hilarious, the shed scene sealed Mina’s fate as far as I’m concerned, and Drew’s daisy dream is attached to something wickedly delicious.

I’ll be absolutely shocked if One Fine Duke isn’t a best seller. I enjoyed it so much, smiled so often and even blushed a time or two; I really believe readers are going to enjoy the romance between Mina and Drew as much as I did. Ms. Bell has a winner.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »