Romance · Thriller/Horror

Murder list – Julie Garwood

107769.jpg| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: When Chicago detective Alec Buchanan is offered a prime position with the FBI, it is the perfect opportunity to leave the Windy City and follow in his brothers’ footsteps to the top echelons of law enforcement. But first he must complete one last assignment (and one that he is not too happy about): acting as a glorified bodyguard to hotel heiress Regan Hamilton Madison. The gorgeous exec has become entangled in some potentially deadly business. Someone has e-mailed her a graphic crime-scene photo–and the victim is no stranger.

Regan suspects that the trouble started when she agreed to help a journalist friend expose a shady self-help guru who preys on lonely, vulnerable women. In fact, the smooth-as-an-oil-slick Dr. Lawrence Shields may be responsible for the death of one of his devotees, which was ruled a suicide. Hoping to find some damning evidence, Regan attends a Shields seminar.

At the gathering, the doctor persuades his guests to partake in an innocent little “cleansing” exercise. He asks them to make a list of the people who have hurt or deceived them over the years, posing the question: Would your world be a better place if these people ceased to exist? Treating the exercise as a game, Regan plays along. After ten minutes, Shields instructs the participants to bring their sheets of paper to the fireplace and throw them into the flames. But Regan misses this part of the program when she exits the room to take a call–and barely escapes a menacing individual in the parking lot.

The experience is all but forgotten–until the first person on Regan’s list turns up dead. Shock turns to horror when other bodies from the list start to surface, as a harrowing tango of desire and death is set into motion. Now brutal murders seem to stalk her every move–and a growing attraction to Alec may compromise her safety, while stirring up tender emotions she thought she could no longer feel. Yet as the danger intensifies and a serial killer circles ever closer, Regan must discover who has turned her private revenge fantasies into grisly reality.

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My thoughts: This was really an 3.5 in rating but since you can’t choose half stars at Goodreads I rounded up to four stars. Just so you know. 😉

This is the fourth book about the Buchanan-Renard family. This is about Alec, who (if i’m remembering correctly) we have not met in the earlier books. The book is an typical romantic suspense in the kind of old school feeling. We meat a strong woman who is just a little to nice to everyone around her and never puts her self first. We got that man who is strong, large and everything it seems a woman seeks in a man. He is her bodyguard, she just tries to stay sane and together they fall in love. Yeah you know. The same old story in a new way.

Anyway, it was a good book. Not great but not bad either. It was a little to slow but I like that even if the murder story was slow, it was also slow between Alec and Regan. They did not jumped in bed the first thing and the emotions grew between them first. It felt real and sweet and made the story just better. If it had not been because of the “real life” feeling, the book would have not been that great.

I could not say that this is the best book in the series so far, but i do really love Garwoods writhing. It is warm and you just get that fuzzy good feeling when you read one of here books. And I am still gonna read all the book in this series.

Romance

Twisted – Mandi Beck

34820438| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: Three friends walk into a bar . . . One walks out the fake girlfriend of a hot, bearded Scotsman.

Fannin McGuire is up for promotion at Tate and Cane Enterprises, but first she has to make it through her stepsister’s wedding. To Fannin’s ex. Yep. Her ex-fiancé is about to be her new brother-in-law. One big happy family. And lucky her, she also gets to work with him.
While Fannin is putting all of her energy into her career, her ex is putting all of his energy into making her life hell. Just when Fannin is sure she’ll be attending the wedding without a plus one, in walks Jasper James to save the day. He’s the bartender at the Iron Flask, the account she’s trying to land, and everything she didn’t know she needed or wanted. Before Fannin knows what’s happening, Jasper is playing knight in shining armor and she likes it. And him. A lot. With his smooth Scottish accent, ridiculously good looks, and that beard? She doesn’t stand a chance.
Jasper isn’t in the habit of rescuing anyone. But when Fannin is confronted by her ex about her lack of a date for his upcoming nuptials, Jasper can’t help but step in. Her wild hair, violet eyes, and killer legs have him doing a few things he normally wouldn’t. Never mind that he shouldn’t be getting involved with the woman in charge of making the bar a global success.
Their fake relationship becomes more real than either thought it would. Now they’re at the mercy of their feelings when truths are twisted, and the lies don’t taste as smooth as the whisky

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My thoughts: This was so great. I mean, it was funny, sexy as hell and an exciting story. My only complain about it is really that it was way to short. I want more. I wanted the time to really get to know Jasper and Fannin. I wanted the time so that Fannins ex really could get that “up yours” because what a prick. I did not feel satisfied with it all. It just was to short.

But if we not are focusing on that, the book it self was great. Great writing which is easy and flowing. There is humor and the way it is written just makes you smile trough out the book. The author did a great job and if it was at least 100 pages more I would be so happy. The first sex scene was a little to much for me but I just skim read that part.

Contemporary · Romance · Suspense

Mackenzie´s Mountain – Linda Howard

662323| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: A small Wyoming town is about to learn a few lessons from a new schoolteacher with the courage to win the heart of a man who swore he had nothing to give….

Mary Elizabeth Potter is a self-appointed spinster with no illusions about love. But she is a good teacher and she wants Wolf Mackenzie’s son back in school. And after one heated confrontation with the boy’s father, she knows father and son have changed her life forever.

Still paying for a crime he didn’t commit, Wolf Mackenzie has a chip on his shoulder the size of Wyoming. But prim-and-proper Mary Elizabeth Potter doesn’t see Wolf as the dangerous half-breed the town has branded him. Somehow she sees him as a good, decent, honest man. A man who could love…

Wolf’s not sure he or the town of Ruth, Wyoming is ready for the taming of Wolf Mackenzie.

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My thoughts: I’m so disappointed. I did not have any high hopes for this book but I generally like Howards books even if it is almost as old as me. But here it just did not go all the way. The book it self is predictable and the characters not that great. Wolf and his son is like the same character with the same voice. And it frustrating me like hell that they keep talking about that they are Indian and half breed and the racism. I understand that, i do, but it is the same thing through out the book and nothing with it is an eye opener or that could help me as an reader and non Indian understand how it actually really is. It dose not explain anything. It is just words and excuses for them to not do anything about there situation. They feel sorry for them self and the excuses just poring out.

The book is also kind of boring and riddled with cliches that makes me cringe. No. This was not a great book and not a book I would recommend. I give it a 2 in rating just for the humor in the book and that the first 40 % of it actually was really good.

DNF · Romance · Suspense · War/Military

DNF – Renegade by Catherine Mann

6587714| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: X|

Goodreads synopsis: Untamed and Undercover: Third in the Dark Ops series.

Tech Sergeant Mason “Smooth” Randolph lives to push boundaries. But he never anticipated how far outside the box he would land when an in- flight accident sends him parachuting into Nevada’s notorious Area 51- and into the handcuffs of sexy security cop Jill Walczak.

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My thoughts:
Nope, nix, nada, never! I did not finish this book. Reason? Well it is boring. There is really nothing that keeps me going. The characters is stereotypical with no depth. The whole serial killer story is just not as center of attention which it should be when four/five is dead. The whole “in the killers mind” is just childish and not wherry believable and I think most of it is because of poor writing skills.

Sorry Catherine but I just don’t think your books is anything for me. This was the third book. I was not that excited after the first two but when I´m not even able to finish this one, I just feel that i have tried my best and it is time to devote my reading time to something that i would enjoy.

Contemporary · Romance · Sports/Games · Young, New adult/College

The Wall Of Winnipeg And Me – Mariana Zapata

29367958.jpg| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

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My thoughts: I have had like three books by Mariana Zapata in my electronic library for ever and when I finally read this, I certainly do not regret it. I dont know why I hesitated so to read her books. This one for example has an 4,34 in average rating and over 30.000 people have rated it and there is over 3000 reviews on the book. It should say something. But after my experience I do not often like the stuff that “everybody else loves”. But I did love this one. Not 5 star loved it but still loved. And I shall explain why.

First of, the book is on like 700 pages, but that I hardly noticed because the story captured me from the beginning. I love the characters and the dynamic in the book. I love the fast, funny banter between them and how it all just evolves. I love the up and downs and I specially love the female character Vanessa. That is a girl with skin on here nose and when you think on here childhood and the person she has evolved till, you cant stop loving her even more. Aiden however is so silent and closed for the major part of the book that its hard to get to know him, but also he is a great characters and you will see that as soon you get to know him.

The reason the book not got a full pot is because it was kind of slow. Not boring slow really, but still slow. Some things could have happen a lot sooner and some stuff should have been said earlier. Due to this it made me not get that 100% connection with the book that I need to have to be able to give a five star review. But the book is pretty damn close and I certainly will be reading more from her.

DNF · Romance · Sports/Games · Young, New adult/College

Bender – Stacy Borel

21971980| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: All Keegan wanted was a roommate who was quiet, minded their own business, and paid for part of the rent. Instead, she got Camden Brooks.

Camden, with his sinful body, sharp tongue, and the inability to stay out of Keegan’s personal space, couldn’t seem to curb his interest in the new girl who wouldn’t put up with his domineering ways.

Feelings were running rampant, sexual tension was thick, and both were struggling to let go of control.

To some people, getting a roommate simply meant living with another person. But to both Camden and Keegan it was a curve ball that neither was prepared to swing at.

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My thoughts: My good! I will not waste much more time on this one because i really hate it. Hate it!. Wow I do not say that often about books and I realize now that I should just have ended it and marked it as DNF (did not finish), but you fellow readers probably understands me when I say that I hoped that it would get better. I really did and so wrong I had. I need to start listening on my gut feeling. I saw early in the book that this would turn out to be nothing for me.

The writing is bad, the story is bad, the characters is bad. I wanted just to jump in the book, get in Keegans face and scream “GROW UP“. My god! I felt like I was back in high school there some moments and in the end all I wanted to do was:

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Which pretty much says it all. So no more from me about this piece of crap. Over and out.

Adult fiction/Erotica · Contemporary · Romance

Thomas – Liliana Hart

18907480.jpg| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Cat Randolph is the best cat burglar in the world. But when a job goes wrong and she’s shot, it’s Doctor Thomas MacKenzie that comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, it’s a lot harder to keep secrets when you’re risking the life of someone you love.

Thomas MacKenzie knows Cat is keeping secrets, but getting her to trust him with them is a slow and steady process. But time isn’t on his side. Convincing Cat to stay in Surrender, Montana is harder than he could have imagined. He just has to make sure that their lovemaking is more addictive than the adrenaline rush she craves.

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My thoughts: Yeah I know that it is a short story and it suppose to be a short, erotic story. But in this one I could not stop thinking on how fast it was going. One minute she was one place and he another, next they where together and before you know it, they have sex and says I love you. Come oooon! It just got a little to much unrealistic for me to really enjoy the book. But if I try to not think about that and just the story itself it was great. Cat is a knock out girl with a lot of courage and skin on her nose. Thomas is a little meek and careful bot overall the book is okey.

 

Romance · Suspense

Exposed – Suzanne Ferrell

26164240.jpg| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: U.S. Marshal Frank Castello is on medical leave and feeling restless. While at his friends’ wedding he finds himself attracted to Sydney Peele. Problem was, the cute, sassy blonde is the photographer for the weeding. Frank hates photographers. They’re a hazard to his profession, especially when he’s on witness protection duty.

Sydney Peele enjoys teasing the grumpy Marshal at her friend’s wedding, even when the big, sexy man begrudgingly offers to take her home afterwards. Her pleasure is short lived when her home and life is literally going up in flames. Her brother had been staying at her home and there is no sign of him anywhere.

When Sydney goes into a state of frozen shock, finely honed instinct has Castello rushing her from the scene to safety at his home. A visit to the fire scene the next day confirms his suspicions when the firemen on the sight show them not only was it an arson case, but someone had guaranteed her home would be destroyed by adding in a bomb.

As Frank and Sydney search for answers about who might’ve started the blaze, questions arise about her brother, also a photographer. Was he responsible for the fire? Or has he exposed his sister to something far more sinister?

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My thoughts: This is the fifth book in the series about the Edgars family and this last book is about Frank Castello. You meet Frank in the second book about Katie who is in the witness protection program. Frank is her handler and after that book he becomes one in the family but still is a little on the outside. So it was really nice to finally be able to read the book about him.

Frank is an grumpy man of few words. He loves his job and do it well, but he is kind of lonely (in my opinion). On a wedding in the family he meets Sydney. She is the wedding photographer and Frank heats photographers. When Sydneys home goes up in flames and her brother is missing, Frank can´t let his personal opinion to stand in the way to help a fellow human being. And then there is just full speed trough out the book.

And it is really good. I love Sydney who is a great character and she brings out more of Frank and the book is really funny sometimes. The book would have been a clear five star if it was not for the loose ends and questions I had in the end. No cliffhangers but it was just some small thinks that made the story unfinished. According to Ferrells answers on Goodreads, she will write more about the Edgars family in the future, but it may be some changes to series and what nots. So i´m really excited about that.

Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense · Thriller/Horror

The Dollmaker – Mary Burton

30168629| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s her job to aid the agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged husband.

Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy destroyed Dakota Sharp’s world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’s devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings them together—and raises his suspicions that he’s crossed paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just have their second chance. But it seems Dakota’s not the only one who wants to make Tessa his own…

She may be the Dollmaker’s next target, but Tessa has no intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly playdate?

My thoughts: If I remember correctly I did like (not love) the first book in the forgotten files series. But this one, who have a more exciting story, do not even get as far up as to like it. It is an average book. It did not bore me to death, but it also did not do that much for me. It´s kind of blaha for me. And that´s to bad. A book with that high rating and reviews should fall in my taste more than this one did.

The books story about the Dollmaker is actually kind of good. It is gross and makes you cringe. That however is the only ting. The killers story in the book makes no sense and how it all hangs together feels a little far fetched. There is no suspense in the hunt for the killer, Dakota feels real and human but Tessa does nothing for me. She is kind of gray and mellow. Not very exciting. And to bad that the book is to predictable. It could have been so much better.

Romance · Young, New adult/College

Kid – Marie James

29613668| GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY RATING: ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: When Khloe Devaro’s best friend and fiancé is lost to the war in Iraq, she’s beyond distraught. Her intentions of joining him in the afterlife are thwarted by a Cerberus Motorcycle Club member. Too young to do anything on her own, the only alternative she has now is to take Kid up on his offer to stay at the MC Clubhouse. As if that’s not a disaster waiting to happen, but anything is better than returning to the foster home she’s been forced to live in the last three years.

Dustin “Kid” Andrews spent four years as a Marine; training, fighting, and learning how to survive the most horrendous of conditions. He never imagined that holding a BBQ fundraiser for a local fallen soldier would end up as the catalyst that turns his world upside down. Resisting his attraction for a girl he’s not even certain is of legal age was easy, until he’s forced to intervene when her intentions become clear. All his training is wasted as far as he’s concerned since none of that will help him when it comes to Khloe.

Will the self-proclaimed man-whore sleep with a woman in every country he visits as planned, or will the beautiful, yet feisty girl living down the hall throw a wrench in his plan?

My thoughts: Terrible. Is it just me who is getting old and don´t find this type of books that believable and frankly, quite excessive. I mean, come on! It had all the potential to be good. Here you have a young, strong but broken girl/woman who lost her best friend and fiancé. Completely alone in the world and not yet old enough to do something about her situation, makes the depression a factor and the will to live not that strong anymore. In comes the good guy. The good hearted, good guy who just want to help. The guy who sees beyond the walls and layers of barbed wire. They fell in love and….. there it ends. The rest is just immature drama and not really exciting.

The story gets immature and sexually excessive. There is a lot of talk about the same thing from both Kid and Khloe. Then a situation happen and it all just gets worse. And nothing seems real for me anymore. And the whole sexual atmosphere is just to mature and don´t fit in with the characters and its just wrong. No! No, no no. I liked the first book, but this one, no. And quite frankly, I don´t even know if I want to read more of her books now.