A Very Bad Thing by J. T. Ellison

November 5, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Very Bad Thing by J. T. Ellison
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.

With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.

Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?

She couldn’t have written a better mystery herself. But when world renown author Columbia Jones is murdered on her own book tour, who’s left to solve her murder? With no one trusting anyone else, it’s a race to the finish line for the daughter, the reporter, and the detective.

Every character in this book intrigued me in some way. Columbia Jones, of course, because she’s the hugely successful author who has a secret past that no one, not even her daughter, knows about. Watching that backstory unravel was worth the price of admission.

Riley and Darian are two sides of the same coin. Both are strong and independent women, successful in their jobs, but also struggling to find their true selves. In the beginning, I liked Riley a lot more than I did Darian. But as the story unfolds, you get to know Darian better and she becomes a more sympathetic character.

Probably my favorite part, however, was how you get a glimpse into the past through a short story that’s presented chapter by chapter throughout the narrative. It’s an unusual way of imparting information and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’d love to see more of this kind of thing in novels overall.

What a twisty rollercoaster of a ride this story was. I’m never very good at figuring out who the culprit is, but I definitely had no clue this time around. Just as you think one suspect is eliminated, they’re drawn back under the spotlight. This is a good thing in my opinion. I like to be led astray in a novel because it makes the reveal even more rewarding in the end. And the author seems to be very adept at doing exactly that. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work in the future. The two I have read so far have both blown me away.

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

All I Know by Holly C. LaBarbera

September 30, 2024 By Leave a Comment


All I Know by Holly C. LaBarbera
Publisher: Buckberg Mountain Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mainstream fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Despite childhood trauma and tragedy, Kai Martin has never given up, rising from devastation to rebuild her life over and over again, in this inspiring story of strength and resilience.

Kai sees her life as a series of concentric circles—her twin brother Kade occupying the center sphere with her, their parents surrounding them in the next, and the Tyler family in the outer loop, a connection Kai plans to make official by someday marrying Josh Tyler. The Martins and Tylers share memorable times together, but under the surface, they are two dysfunctional families struggling with alcoholism, depression, and abuse, all of which leads to a horrifying event that knocks Kai off her axis and makes her doubt everything she thought she knew.

Josh is there through it all, and Kai eventually gets the romance she dreamed of, embarking on a life of travel and adventure with the boy she always loved. Yet reality is more complicated than any childhood fantasy, and when painful family patterns are reenacted between them, Kai must decide how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice for Josh.

Ultimately, Kai must confront the heartbreaking truth that as much as we try to help the people we love, we can only truly save ourselves.

Kai’s life hasn’t ever been easy, but it has been consistent. The presence of her family and their friends, the Tyler’s, is the most constant thing in her life. Neither family is perfect, but they are always there for each other, in their own awkward, dysfunctional way. For Kai, Josh Tyler, her best friend’s older brother, is a light in the dark throughout it all.

Despite living through tragedy and a childhood full of dysfunction, addiction, and violence, Kai never let it deter her from living the life she dreamed. She really blossoms into her own person when she manages to leave home to attend college in California. Reacquainting herself with her childhood crush – Josh Tyler – is the final step in her transformation. However, her strong will and independence are often sapped whenever Josh is around.

Throughout the entire story, Kai is pushing for Josh’s love, wanting what she’d dreamed of having since she was six years old. At times, it blinds her to the truth, and at others, she’s able to see more clearly and accept things as they truly are. She follows a desperate track, one that drags her into a vicious cycle of happiness that turns sour and nearly ends in destruction. It’s heartbreaking to watch Kai struggle and succeed, only to fall back into old habits.

Told through Kai’s eyes, as well as through a series of letters, All I Know, is an engaging and heart wrenching story of growing up and moving beyond your past to find the true you. Sometimes that means making bad decisions and owning up to them, something that Kai becomes an expert at by the end of the novel. A fantastic, if often tough, read, All I Know touches on some rough topics, but in a very real way, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the harsh truths of life.

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

Doctor, Doctor by Will Okati

September 12, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Doctor, Doctor by Will Okati
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Love isn’t easy and it’s rarely simple. More often than not it takes practice. Lots of practice.

It Takes Practice (Doctor, Doctor 1)
Dr. Nathan Rey has had a case of broken heart syndrome since his wild, bad-boy lover disappeared. He still can’t forget Fitz, and no one he’s met since could begin to compare. Then Nathan’s nurse elopes overnight and the temp agency sends him, certified and licensed, Fitz himself, with far more than work on his mind. Fitz means to convince Nathan seven years isn’t too long to wait for a second chance at the love of a lifetime.

It Takes Three (Doctor, Doctor 2)
Three med students. Geoff’s wound tight as a cheap watch. Ross is, too, but unless it’s got to do with math or science he’s oblivious. Aurélien’s uber-zen, uber-practical. With exams coming up fast, they’re all in desperate need of some R & R. What better way than getting a little action? Together. Multiple times, and in multiple ways. Once they get started these guys “work” well together. Maybe a little too much so. Aren’t things like this supposed to be hard? In this case, the answer to all their questions is three.

In It Takes Practice. Dr. Nathan Ray is attempting to keep his head above water. Operating an on-call service to those in need and those who are unable to make it into a traditional doctor’s office, he buries himself in work as a way of forgetting his past. That is, until his past unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep one morning.

Nathan thinks he finally has a handle on everything – minus his love life – until he sees that familiar face again. One glance at an older, but still handsome, Fitz nearly knocks him off his feet. Fitz is both different and all too much the same as he’d been back in college, something that confuses and intrigues Nathan. I loved watching Nathan and Fitz rediscover each other, even if Nathan’s determined to get through the day and leave Fitz in the past. Even though I think he knew from that very first moment that he could never manage to do that.

Second chance romances are one of my favorites. It’s so much fun to watch the couple relearn everything they thought they once knew, as well as adjust to their older, more worldly, selves. It Takes Practice hits all of these notes for me in both bittersweet and hilarious moments. This was by far my favorite of the two, and I’d love to know how Nathan and Fitz are doing today.

It Takes Three is a different sort of novel completely. While desperately trying to study for an important upcoming test, Geoff has managed to stress himself out completely. Something that I, unfortunately, can relate to a little too well. However, Geoff’s not alone in his frustrations. Someone else – two, in fact – are right there with him in the stress ball called medical school.

As I mentioned, Geoff’s the one I can relate to the best. Everything to him is a major moment and he acts accordingly. He’s stressed, but unwilling to stop studying for a bit of fun, because the test is a major factor in whether he graduates or not. Aurélien is the complete opposite of Geoff. He’s very mellow and unconcerned with tomorrow, he’s more focused on today. Aurélien is exactly the kind of guy Geoff needs in his life to help balance him out. Ross, by far, was my favorite of the three, mainly because he was unexpected. He appears to not be very bright. Instead, he’s thoughtful and careful with his words and actions, which can often make someone unfairly think you’re less intelligent than you are. The three of them together is a fun-filled bout of sexy times and even some studying. I was definitely rooting for them by the end.

Both stories in Doctor, Doctor, combine romance, humor, and steamy scenes into well-rounded and enjoyable stories about men trying to find their way through life. Medical romances aren’t something I read often, but after these two, hot, short stories, I might need to make an exception and start to seek more out.

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

Found by Chance by Gareth Chris

August 30, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Found by Chance by Gareth Chris
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ,
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Chance has an unexpected attraction to his neighbors—a gay couple—and this unconventional relationship could end Chance’s career and family relationships.

Chance Findley is a successful marketing executive until his career is jeopardized by a disastrous presentation to a Chamber of Commerce member.

During a mandated recuperative break, Chance’s suppressed same-sex attraction reawakens when he bonds with his new neighbor, Arlo, despite Arlo having a physician partner named Charlie and a surprising job as a cam performer. Chance secretly subscribes to Arlo’s fan page. Guilty about his invasion of Arlo’s privacy, Chance avoids his neighbor until an acute medical problem brings Arlo and his doctor boyfriend—the same Chamber of Commerce member who hated Chance’s presentation—to his doorstep. An attraction grows between the three men.

But when Charlie’s attempt to mend Chance’s relationship with his boss backfires due to a potential conflict of interest, and Chance’s parents learn of his relationship with Arlo and Charlie, Chance finds himself out of a job, at odds with his family and struggling with Arlo and Charlie. Will the three of them be able to find a happily-ever-after, despite everything that stands in their way?

Forced to take leave from a job he loves, Chance is lost. And then he meets his neighbor, Arlo, who rolls into his life like a breath of fresh air and tidal wave of joy. But when Chance starts to feel attraction towards Arlo, he begins to question everything he knows about himself and his life. What if the two men next door are the answer to everything he needs?

Arlo is a whirlwind to say the least. He blows into and right back out of Chance’s life several times during the week Chance is moving in. He’s bright, he’s cheerful, and he’s positive no matter how bad the situation seems. While I appreciated such a light hearted character, he did push the limits of my patience at times. However, he was probably my favorite of the three simply because he refused to let life get him down.

Charlie, on the other hand, is very grounded and steady. Considering he’s a doctor, this is to be expected. He’s serious, but doesn’t take himself too seriously either. Truthfully, I can see how he and Arlo wound up together, they create a great balance for each other. One holding the other to reality while the other gives a reminder that things don’t have to always be so serious.

I wasn’t sure how or where Chance would fit into their already functional relationship. Eventually, I figured that Chance’s personality fell smack in the middle between Charlie and Arlo, allowing him to have his crazy moments as well as his more serious ones. I was impressed with how he handled his emerging same-sex attraction to Arlo and Charlie, and how he embraced it rather than fighting it.

Found by Chance is an engaging and uplifting story of finding your way, learning about yourself, and taking on the haters in the world. When you have someone who loves you, and always has your back, you can do and overcome anything, from bigots in the street to hateful family members. You might lose someone in the process, but you’re bound to find someone even more special along the way.

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

The Lies Among Us by Sarah Beth Durst

April 2, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Lies Among Us by Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

After her mother dies, Hannah doesn’t know how to exist without her. Literally. In fact, Hannah’s not even certain that she does exist. No one seems to see or hear her, and she finds herself utterly alone. Grief-stricken and confused, her sense of self slowly slipping away, Hannah sets out to find new purpose in life—and answers about who (and what) she really is.

Hannah’s only remaining family is her older sister, Leah. Yet even Leah doesn’t seem to notice her. And while Hannah can see and hear her sister, she also sees beautiful and terrible things that don’t—or shouldn’t—exist. She learns there’s much more to this world than meets the eye and struggles to make sense of it all.

When Hannah sees Leah taking the same dangerous path that consumed their own mother—where lies supplant reality—she’s desperate to get through to her. But facing difficult truths is harder than it looks…

What happens to a lie after the liar is gone?

For two decades, Hannah’s only focus has been on her mother. But when her mother dies, Hannah’s world and everything she knows is shattered. How does she find her way without the most important person in her life?

Hannah is one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever met. While she stumbles a bit after her mother’s death, she eventually finds her direction after a chance meeting. Sylvie is everything Hannah never thought she could be, and together they alter each other’s perception of the world and the reality they live in. They are truly the biggest catalyst for character development in each other, which was really fascinating to watch.

Leah, on the other hand, doesn’t handle her mother’s death very well. There were so many unresolved issues between them that it’s extra hard for her to process the loss. She lashes out, acts erratically, and attempts to shut out everyone who cares about her while she struggles through her grief. It was heartbreaking to watch, but very real and extremely visceral.

The thing that will stick with me long after I’ve put this book up on my bookshelf is how Hannah reinvents herself after her mother dies. She finds new purpose and new adventures, all while holding onto her past. In addition, there is so much insight into how humans work in this novel. A favorite quote, “Who we are is who we’ve been. And who we’ve known.” That hit me right where it hurt. Every person we meet, even peripherally, becomes a part of us in a way.

The Lies Among Us is one of the most interesting and unique stories I’ve read in a long time. It’s hard to even review it properly. Beautifully written and strewn with intriguing characters, I couldn’t stop reading once I started. We all know that we’ll inevitably lose someone who means the world to us, but we’re never quite ready for it, even when we have advanced notice of it. This novel shows you both the horror and beauty of love, loss, and moving on in a relatable and emotional way.

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

Smoke and Mirrors by Pelaam

February 7, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Smoke and Mirrors by Pelaam
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Two may be company, but four is pure magic.

Leo thinks he’s scored the scoop of a journalist’s lifetime when he secures an all-expenses paid trip to write in-depth articles on the magic act Three of Wands.

However, American billionaire and recluse, Paul, who commissioned the articles, isn’t all he seems, and soon Leo is plunged into a situation where things are not what they appear to be.

Leo falls in love with all three men of Three of Wands—Lucien, Xanto and Ahad—and they are equally keen to take him as their fourth.

When evil strikes Leo and Xanto, will even the combined powers of Lucien, Ahad and their familiar, Salem, be enough to save them?

When Leo sets out to interview the renown magic group Three of Wands, he thinks it’s going to be his big journalistic break. After all, who’d fly him all the way from New Zealand to the US if they didn’t think he could handle the job? However, he’s about to discover that the Three of Wands have more than his career in mind – like possibly the rest of his life? But when danger strikes, it’ll take all four of them working together to make it out alive.

Of all four, Leo was by far my favorite character. His attachment to his grandmother was sweet, and I enjoyed how he approached everything he was faced with. Even when he was nervous or afraid, he put himself out there, ready to face it head on. The way the Three of Wands took to him was fun as well, each welcoming him almost immediately into their group. Each magician is different from the other and their wildly varying personalities make their little group a joy. Leo fits right in, too.

However, there were a lot of things going on for such a short novella. At times, it made it hard for me to follow and keep track of who was doing what. There was also the issue of the tentacles. Which simply isn’t my thing, even if it did add an air of exoticness to the story.

Overall, Smoke and Mirrors was fast paced and exciting. The moments between the boys were smoking hot as well, making you eager for the next time they have a minute to be alone. Also, the addition of the mythological aspects was intriguing. I’d love to read more about where the four of them are now and what they’re doing with the magic show and, of course, each other.

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

Candy Magic by M. C. Roth

January 25, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Candy Magic by M. C. Roth
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, LGBTQ, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Sweeter than candy—hotter than magic.

Crean is trying to leave it all behind—the closet, his overbearing family and, of course, his magic. In a world where vampires and shifters are hidden among humans, Crean is the odd one out. Born as a human to a family of shifters, he’s been hiding his orientation and his magic for his entire life.

In search of a new start, he sets out on a journey to a different province. The only condition is he has to live with his brother and his three roommates.

Living with a vampire, a werewolf and a faerie is bound to be a disaster, and Crean does his best to avoid the strangers. But everything he’s been told about others is wrong, and his life is about to change forever.

What would you do in order to be free? To stop having to hide all that you are? For Crean, that means leaving home and moving in with his younger brother, Rian, and his roommates. What starts out as a risky and possibly disastrous situation turns into more than any of them could have ever imagined.

Crean is a fun character. I enjoyed watching him grow into his sexuality and really own it. His interactions with his brother are fun and very realistic. He also has very different relationships with the other roommates, too, which I appreciated.

Rian’s roommates were a crazy bunch. A vampire, a wolf shifter, and a faery. Even more amusing is that Rian’s a panther shifter himself, so a dog, a cat, a biter, and a fae all in the same house. This diversity of paranormals makes for an enjoyable bit of banter throughout the story, as well as different experiences for Crean as he bonds with each man. It’s hard to choose a favorite, too, because each had a fun or quirky personality trait that endeared them to me.

One small thing that bothered me with the story is that Crean’s magic wasn’t really addressed. He hid it from everyone, but even his lovers don’t know about it. While reading, I assumed that the reason why Nate could feed off him and be sated for a long period of time was due to the magic. The same goes for what transpired with Tristan as well. But it’s a small thing and didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of the story overall.

Candy Magic is a super steamy, funny, and magical romance. Mixing an awkward, inexperienced ‘human’ in with a house full of more experienced paranormal beings is indeed a recipe for disaster, but it can also be a recipe for love, passion, and joy. I’d love to know more about their lives after this story ends, I just couldn’t get enough of Crean and his boys.

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

The Manor House by Author: Gilly Macmillan

January 5, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Manor House by Author: Gilly Macmillan
(Narrators: Ethan Reid, Nathalie Buscombe, Clare Corbett, Fenella Woogler, Josh Dylan, Ben Allen, Sian Thomas)
Publisher: Harper Audio
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Be careful what you wish for…

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident, or was it something worse?

Nicole is devastated. Tom was her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. And is Nicole’s life in danger as well?

Nicole’s beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass bowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.

Nicole and Tom thought that their lives were perfect. They’d won the lottery and had moved into a beautiful home of their own design. The neighbors seemed pleasant, and all was looking up for them. And then Tom turns up dead. What will become of Nicole now that her soulmate is gone?

There are a lot of points of view in this book. Nicole, the widow, Ollie and Sasha, the neighbors, Kitty, the housekeeper, Anna, via a journal, and Hal and Jen, the police officers. You even get Tom’s perspective the morning of his death, which was probably my favorite of all the views we got. Nicole was another favorite character of mine, seeing everything unfold in front of her while she’s dealing with her grief was both exciting and heartbreaking.

I chose the audio version of this novel and was happy with the narration. There are different narrators for each point of view, which makes it easier for me to follow the story. Each narrator brought their character to life, giving them a distinctive perspective and voice. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I honestly prefer those with more than one narrator, and this is the reason why. It feels more like an audio production than simply someone reading a novel to you.

I’ve read a couple of books by this author and have enjoyed them both. However, The Manor House exceeded expectations by a long shot. There are several red herrings weaved into the story, things that had me pointing my finger at a suspect, only to be surprised later. As with all thrillers, there are a couple of unexpected twists that caught me by surprise. The ending left me both satisfied and unhappy at the same time. Overall, it’s still the best book of hers that I’ve read to date and makes me eager to pick up more by her.

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

There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin

August 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy’s a capable person—how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It’s not like she has a choice; her life couldn’t get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.

As a single mom, she’s rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn’t sew, and she doesn’t know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.

Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she’s always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Poppy Lively sure is desperate. By trusting the wrong person at the wrong time, her entire life has been sent into a tailspin, one she doesn’t think she’ll be able to pull herself – or her daughter – out of in time. So, what does a mom do when there’s nothing left to do? She accepts a job from a man she hasn’t seen in over a decade and moves across the country for a job. Of course she does, right?

Poppy Lively is your typical Midwestern mom. Hardworking, loving, and dedicated to her only child, So dedicated that she does everything in her power to make sure that her daughter has no idea that they’re about to lose everything. Her journey from single mom in Wisconsin to the costume department on a move set in Los Angeles is one that so many make, but never for the reasons she chose.

Her transformation is amazing. When she arrives in LA, Poppy is uncertain, confused, and hopeless. She has no one and nowhere to go, so she sneaks about trying not to get caught surviving. The more desperate her situation becomes, the less she starts to care about what others might think and sets her eye on the prize. Along the way, she gets some very unexpected help from a movie star, an arrogant but traumatized young woman, and a dog that was thrust into her care.

Packed full of laughter, life lessons, and a ton of spunky characters, There’s No Coming Back from This is an entertaining adventure of one woman who is out of her element. Poppy is a brilliant light in a city full of burnt-out bulbs. Even in her lowest moments, I was rooting for her and knew she’d succeed in the end.

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

Retribution by Robert McCaw

May 30, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Retribution by Robert McCaw
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

As people around him come under attack, Chief Detective Koa Kane wonders if he might be the real target

In the back alley of a bar on Hawaii Island, a young man is found stabbed to death. When Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane begins investigating the crime, the murder weapon is recovered only a few feet away from the body. Crime scene technicians find fingerprints on the knife — they are a perfect match for Koa’ s younger brother, Ikaika.

As the brothers scramble to prove Ikaika’ s innocence, another crime sends shockwaves through the Hilo police force. A sniper tries to take out Makanui, Koa’ s closest colleague. As Koa tries to figure out whether these crimes are linked, the sinister force continues their killing spree, threatening Koa and his loved ones at every turn.

Could Koa be the real target? If so, who is behind this trail of retribution? With his own secret criminal past, Koa confronts an all-out offensive against those closest to him and his police force to which he has devoted his life. As the bodies pile up, Koa finds himself the ultimate target of a ruthless adversary and must risk it all to survive.

First, it was one of the detectives under his command. Then it was his brother. But before long, Chief Detective Koa Kane began to wonder if there was more to it. Random attacks that just happen to surround him, or was he a connecting thread tying them all together? There was only one way to find out and Koa was determined to uncover the truth.

Retribution is the kind of detective novel that I enjoy the best. A group of detectives working together to solve a crime as a team. The camaraderie and friendships between them are often more important to me than the actual crimes. Koa has a great relationship with his team, with the forensic team, and the local prosecutor as well, which is a huge plus for me.

Koa himself is a tough but fair boss, who strives to do his best while bringing out the best in his squad. He’s a smart and effective detective as well. The way he worked through what was going on and actually listened to the thoughts and advice of others only made me like him more. The rest of his team was well put together and likable as well. The combination of experienced officers with a less experienced one worked well for the story.

The setting is what drew me to Retribution – I’ve not read a book set in Hawaii before now. However, the cast of characters is what kept me reading. Good, honest detectives and some pretty frightening bad guys came together to create an engaging and intense story. Once I picked it up, I didn’t want to stop reading. The bad guy reveal surprised me as well. My only complaint is that this is the fifth book in the series and I’m only just now discovering it. Time to hit the library for the first four.

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