4 Star – Page 54 – Books-n-Kisses

March 4, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Six Years by Harlan Coben

TITLE: Six Years
CHARACTERS: Jake Fisher
AUTHOR: Harlan Coben
PUBLICATION DATE: March 19, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Harlan Coben, the master of domestic suspense, returns with a standalone thriller in the vein of #1 bestsellers Hold Tight, Caught and Stay Close that explores the depth and passion of a lost love . . . and the secrets and lies at its heart.
Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd. But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for . . . but she is not Natalie.
Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life—a time he has never gotten over—is turned completely inside out. As Jake searches for the truth, his picture-perfect memories of Natalie begin to unravel. Mutual friends of the couple either can’t be found or don’t remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years. Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart—and who lied to him—soon puts his very life at risk as it dawns on him that the man he has become may be based on carefully constructed fiction.
Harlan Coben once again delivers a shocking page-turner that deftly explores the power of past love and the secrets and lies that such love can hide.

REVIEW:
What just happened….. That is pretty much what I felt the whole way through this book. There is so much that goes on and so much to process, but I never felt lost. I did enjoy Jake’s journey to find his lost love. But honestly after the first time someone tried to kill me I think I would have quit. Jake is one determined man. He may be a little stupid but he is determine.
This was my first Harlan Coben book and I can see why so many people enjoy his stories. He has a way of sucking you into the events on the page and makes you stay up to late reading to solve the mystery. I am really sad that I waited so long to read this story. But happy that I finally did. I am looking forward to reading another of Mr. Coben’s stories soon.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Dutton Adult in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 3, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

TITLE: Alice in Zombieland
SERIES #: White Rabbit Chronicles #1
CHARACTERS: Alice Bell & Cole Holland
AUTHOR: Gena Showalter
NARRATOR: Natalie Gold
RUN TIME: 13 Hours & 6 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2012
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies

REVIEW:
I am ashamed to admit that I have been eyeing this series since it came out in 2012 and I am just now getting to read (listening to) it. Please don’t ask my way I waited to so long. All I got is that I get to read (listen to) all four books in a row (see there was a method behind my madness).
Where to begin? Where to begin? Alice Bell has always thought that her dad was just crazy. Seeing monsters in the dark. Being afraid of the dark. And teaching Alice how to fight. But what Alice didn’t know was that her life was forever going to change and she is about to learn that everything her father saw and believed is true.
I don’t want to give you more then that. You need to discover the truth for yourself. I loved Alice. She is feisty, determined, loyal and about to change the world. I can’t wait to see what happens next to her. Cole Holland. How to tell you about Cole. Think one badass, zombie-killing, dark, serious, determine and totally and utterly in love with Alice. So Cole is pretty much awesome!!!!! I am a little scared to see what Ms. Showalter makes Alice and Cole go through, but I trust it will all work out.
Let’s talk Kat. No not a meow, meow kitty. Kat, Alice’s new best friend. I want a Kat that will follow me around and tell me how awesome she is and how lucky I am to have her as a friend. Kat is just awesome. She lended so much comic relief to this story. Oh and her love story with Frosty is sweet and firey!!!!!
I really can’t wait to get started on book to Through the Zombie Glass!!!!
Ms. Gold does a really nice job bring Ms. Showalter’s words to life. I enjoyed listening to her tell me this story. My only issue is that there was not enough differentially between the male voices and the female voices.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 29, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Bearly Accidental by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Bearly Accidental
SERIES #: Accidentals #12
CHARACTERS: Cormac, Teddy and the OOPS Crew
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: February 13, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At the request of their friend Antonia (Accidentally Ever After), Wanda, Marty and Nina find themselves trekking up a snowy mountainside, in search of Toni’s brother. Wanted by the mob, Cormac Vitali is hiding out in the Colorado Wilderness, where the ladies from OOPS finally catch up to him…freshly tranq’d by a bounty hunter.

Bear shifter Teddy Gribanov realized Cormac was her life mate about five minutes after shooting his big muscly bod with her trusty dart gun. She’d be shocked by that revelation, if she wasn’t too busy getting stabbed, shot, and hunted down by a crooked cop and the Russian mob. Oh, and her psycho ex, freshly sprung from the pokey, and hell bent on making Teddy pay for putting him there.

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it—and when it’s least convenient. Join Wanda, Marty and Nina, manservant Archibald, sweet zombie Carl, and demon Darnell as they hatch a plan to bring down everyone standing in the way of Teddy and Cormac’s accidental happily ever after.

REVIEW:
Another very fun adventure with the ladies of OOPS. This time around the are on a bear hunt and end up with a few grumpy bears on there hands. And of course a few bad guys that are determined to end them all. But like all Accidental stories Nina, Wanda and Marty figure out a way to save the day with grand fanfare and hopefully minimal injuries.
Well….. minimal might not be true in this one. Shot… I almost gave you too much…..
I have really enjoyed this series and can not wait to see what is next for the ladies of OOPS and the crew they call family.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dakota Cassidy in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 25, 2016February 20, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Friends We Keep by Susan Mallery

TITLE: The Friends We Keep
SERIES #: Mischief Bay #2
CHARACTERS: Gabby, Hayley & Nicole
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this insightful and compelling story from book club favorite Susan Mallery, three close friends test the boundaries of how much a woman can give before she has nothing left

After five years as a stay-at-home mom, Gabby Schaefer can’t wait to return to work. Oh, to use the bathroom in peace! No twins clamoring at the door, no husband barging in, no stepdaughter throwing a tantrum. But when her plans are derailed by some shocking news and her husband’s crushing expectations, Gabby must fight for the right to have a life of her own.

Getting pregnant is easy for Hayley Batchelor. Staying pregnant is the hard part. Her husband is worried about the expensive fertility treatments and frantic about the threat to her health. But to Hayley, a woman who was born to be a mom should risk everything to fulfill her destiny—no matter how high the cost.

Nicole Lord is still shell-shocked by a divorce that wasn’t as painful as it should’ve been. Other than the son they share, her ex-husband left barely a ripple in her life. A great new guy tempts her to believe maybe the second time’s the charm…but how can she trust herself to recognize true love?

As their bonds of friendship deepen against the beautiful backdrop of Mischief Bay, Gabby, Hayley and Nicole will rely on good food, good wine and especially each other to navigate life’s toughest changes.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the second in the Mischief Bay but you do not need to read that one first to read this. I love Mallery’s work. The Fool’s Gold series is one of my favorite series of all time. But every year Mallery throws in one book from another series and while I enjoy them they just aren’t the same as the FG series.

These books are not as light hearted and easy as the FG series. There is more to these. There is a moral to these stories for lack of a better word. There is more life to these stories… More reality. The characters from Mischief Bay have a lot going on. First there is Gabby. Gabby is just ready to go back to work after her twins start school. Heck she is just ready to go to the bathroom alone without interruption which any mom understands. But her husband, step-daughter and his ex just seem to add so much drama in her life that I have to say I wondered why she wanted to be there. Her hubby is wrong for the way she is treated versus the way the daughter is treated and I really just wanted to slap him.

Then there is Nicole. Really I didn’t like her at first. She had a preconceived notion of her son’s favorite author and I was just bored with this part of the story. Yes we end up with HEA of course but it is pretty predictable.

And finally there is Hayley. This was a hard part of the story for me. Having gone through fertility treatments I got it. I understand her want of a child but to risk her life for one was just idiotic and I wanted to slap her as well. Again it works out. Hayley hits rock bottom and starts to rise again with a new lease on life but in the meantime she was so desperate that I had a hard time.

Now after all of this I want to say I enjoyed the story. I love anything that Mallery writes but I am glad to get back to Fool’s Gold and visit with the town I love.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 24, 2016February 20, 2016

Kimberly reviews Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster

TITLE: Fighting Dirty
SERIES #: Ultimate #4
CHARACTERS: Merissa & Armie
AUTHOR: Lori Foster
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With the life he’s led and the muscles he’s gained, Armie Jacobson isn’t afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter’s effect on him. It’s not just that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that’s all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It’s a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they’re both about to learn what’s truly worth fighting for…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This might be my favorite from the series. Maybe it was because of Armie or Maybe because of Rissy but most likely because from book one we knew these two had a connection. Yeah it was the typical “can’t be with my best friends little sister” kind of story… but there is so much more to it.

Armie has been the playboy of the series. Sure the other guys were too but Armie was more so but once we, as the reader, knew where his heart really belonged it was sweet torture waiting for their story to come out. But it was well worth the wait. Merissa is adorable. She is sweet but also a fighter and I don’t mean in the MMA way. She wants to be independent but is just so head over heels in love that she is almost starry eyed for Armie. They belong together.

I also enjoyed the suspense part of the story. It’s not a who dun it kind of suspense since the reader knows pretty quickly but it keeps the story really moving and while a lot happens it is not overdone. The story really flows well and keeps your attention.

But the best part of this story is the bro-romance. The guys from the gym are family. They have each other’s backs and no questions asked are there to support them and yet the ribbing they give each other is sweet in a masculine way. And the connection between Cannon and Rissy and Cannon and Armie are beyond wonderful. Everyone should have a brother and friend like Cannon. The humor that Lori Foster puts in her books makes me smile which doesn’t happen a lot.

I look forward to the new series with some familiar faces. As much as I love Armie. I think Leese just may steal my heart away and I can’t wait.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 23, 2016February 20, 2016

Kelly reviews Stone Cold Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

TITLE: Stone Cold Cowboy
SERIES #: Montana Men #4
CHARACTERS: Rory Kendrick & Sadie Higgins
AUTHOR: Jennifer Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: February 23, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With their hearts’ desires on the line, nothing can stop the Montana Men

Sadie Higgins has a bad habit of bailing her brother out of trouble. But when he rustles a herd of cattle from the tough, honorable Kendrick brothers, it’s Sadie who’s in for it. Because the cowboy tracking them down is big, silent, and forbidding as hell.

Rory Kendrick is on the hunt to find out who’s been stealing from him. When he stumbles upon Sadie in the woods, he barely recognizes the quiet, vulnerable beauty who has always taken his breath away. His mission shifts in an instant: He will do anything it takes to keep her safe . . . and make her his.

Sadie has always protected her family—no matter the price. But when Rory ropes her heart, she’s forced to take a look at her life and make a dangerous choice—one that could cost, or gain, her everything.

REVIEW:
WOW!!!
The start of Stone Cold Cowboy starts of and a very heartbreaking way. Sadie finds herself in a situation that only a miracle will get her out of.
I really enjoyed this book. Sadie is a trooper. Sadie is willing to do anything for those she loves including giving up her own happiness for them. But this last time with her brother was to much for even Sadie to handle. Thankfully she has a very stubborn cowboy in her corner.
Rory Kendrick is one tough cowboy who is about get his world turned upside down by a one Sadie Higgins and her family. Rory had two choices. Turn his back or Cowboy up.
I can’t wait to see what Ms. Ryan has in store for us next.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss & Avon in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 19, 2016February 14, 2016

Kelly reviews Redemption by Kate Douglas

TITLE: Redemption
SERIES #: Intimate Relations #2
CHARACTERS: Ben Lowell & Lola Monroe
AUTHOR: Kate Douglas
PUBLICATION DATE: December 29, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From bestselling author Kate Douglas comes a breathtaking tale of unraveling secrets, heart-stopping passion, and a love that conquers all…

SECRETS THREATENING TO CONSUME

Lola Monroe knows that appearances can be deceiving—even in the most beautiful of places and angelic of faces. She’s seen how the ugliest rumors and lies can destroy women’s lives and careers. So when roommate’s brother-in-law shows up at Lola’s doorstep—unannounced, unassuming, and unbelievably gorgeous—she can’t help but wonder if he’s hiding something behind that handsome face, that sly smile, and those tempting lips…

PASSION WORTH FIGHTING FOR

A battle-scarred veteran with devilish looks, Ben Lowell has spent his entire life running from his past, his family—and his deepest, darkest secrets. When he meets Lola, he knows in his heart he can trust her with the truth, even if it means baring his soul and losing her forever. Lola wants to help Ben find redemption by reconciling with his family. But when she discovers more skeletons hiding in his closet—and more dangers waiting in the shadows—the powerful love that binds them together could be the one thing that tears them apart…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Redemption picks up where Intimate left off. We got to learn a lot about Ben in book one of this series. But in Redemption we learn a lot more about Ben and his way of thinking. Ben has been battling the demons from his past. But now he has a chance to face those demons and slay them. Ben might be surprised by the reception he gets when he gets home.
I liked this story. It was a great continuation of Ben & Jake’s story. I was happy to see the brothers resolve some of their issues. I also really like Ben and Lola together. While the story line moved very face it was a good journey.
I am looking forward to the next installment into this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 17, 2016February 14, 2016

Kelly reviews Unexpected Rush by Jaci Burton

TITLE: Unexpected Rush
SERIES #: Play by Play #11
CHARACTERS: Barrett Cassidy & Harmony Evans
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: February 16, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the new Play-By-Play novel by the New York Times Bestselling author of All Wound Up, a football hot shot and his best friend’s sister are breaking all the rules.

All the Right Moves

For Barrett Cassidy, playing defense for the Tampa Hawks is a dream come true. And now he may have discovered his dream woman. Harmony Evans, once the sweet, gawky teenage sister of his best friend and teammate has grown into a smart, gorgeous woman with moves he finds hard to resist. But he knows he can’t get involved with his best friend’s sister—it’s guy code.

Harmony has always gone after what she wants with single-minded determination, from her independence to her education to her career in social work. She never expected her youthful crush on Barrett to develop into something deeper. And she’s not about to let some ridiculous man rules or her brother stand in her way.

When the chemistry is this combustible, lines tend to get crossed. And when Barrett and Harmony’s secret gets out, it just might be game over

REVIEW:
Another great Play by Play story from Ms. Burton!! We have got to know Barrett Cassidy over the last few book in this series. The whole Cassidy clan is great. But I will say that I always had a soft spot for Barrett. I was so happy that he got his story. Barrett is a tough talking, no nonsense defensive football player who is willing to do what it takes on the field for a win and willing to do anything family and friends. But in Unexpected Rush Barrett is going to realize that sometime the simplest thing you can to is speak the truth.
Harmony Evans is wonderful!!! I love her. She is the perfect match for a football player who doesn’t know that he is ready for a future. I loved the she put Barrett through the paces in this story.
I always love visiting this series. I love that Ms. Burton can take two things that I love romance & sports and write a story that always brings me to tears and laughter. I can’t wait to see what is next in this series, because Flynn and Drake both need stories. I am really looking forward to Drake’s story!!!!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 16, 2016February 14, 2016

Kelly reviews Dark Alpha’s Embrace by Donna Grant

TITLE: Dark Alpha’s Embrace
SERIES #: Reapers #2
CHARACTERS: Kyran & River
AUTHOR: Donna Grant
PUBLICATION DATE: February 16, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An exclusive new series from New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant!

There’s no escaping a Reaper. I’m an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

I’m a warrior. My unbreakable determination, my backbone of steel define me. As a Reaper who does Death’s bidding, weakness is a word I don’t understand. Until a stunning librarian stirs emotions deep within me I’ve never felt before. Her soft curves blunt the sharp edges of my soul, crushing my defenses – yet make me stronger. But underneath those wide eyes and fierce femininity, she has a weapon, one she won’t hesitate to use. And when the Dark begin their deadly descent, we’ll need each other’s love and protection…or risk fracturing apart.

REVIEW:
Dark Alpha’s Embrace picks up where we left off in Dark Alpha’s Claim. With the Reapers fighting an old enemy and learning how to cope with changes that they never thought would happen.
I enjoyed this second installment in the Reaper’s series. I love all the Reapers. They are so serious, loyal and fun!! I really enjoyed the addition of River to this series. It should be interesting to see how she copes with all the changes coming her way.
The end of this story reinforce my hate of a certain Light Fae. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. But I if I know Ms. Grant there will be much anxiety before the series is over.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 15, 2016February 14, 2016

Natasha reviews See Me by Nicholas Sparks

TITLE: See Me
CHARACTERS: Maria & Colin
AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks
PUBLICATION DATE: October 13, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
See me just as I see you . . .

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he’s determined to walk a straight line. To Colin, that means applying himself single-mindedly toward his teaching degree and avoiding everything that proved destructive in his earlier life. Reminding himself daily of his hard-earned lessons, the last thing he is looking for is a serious relationship.

Maria Sanchez, the hardworking daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the picture of conventional success. With a degree from Duke Law School and a job at a prestigious firm in Wilmington, she is a dark-haired beauty with a seemingly flawless professional track record. And yet Maria has a traumatic history of her own, one that compelled her to return to her hometown and left her questioning so much of what she once believed.

A chance encounter on a rain-swept road will alter the course of both Colin and Maria’s lives, challenging deeply held assumptions about each other and ultimately, themselves. As love unexpectedly takes hold between them, they dare to envision what a future together could possibly look like . . . until menacing reminders of events in Maria’s past begin to surface.

As a series of threatening incidents wreaks chaos in Maria’s life, Maria and Colin will be tested in increasingly terrifying ways. Will demons from their past destroy the tenuous relationship they’ve begun to build, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour?

Rich in emotion and fueled with suspense, SEE ME reminds us that love is sometimes forged in the crises that threaten to shatter us . . . and that those who see us for who we truly are may not always be the ones easiest to recognize.

REVIEW:
I enjoyed this book a lot. I almost always love a Nicholas Sparks book, and frequently find myself sobbing hysterically at the end. I will say, this book did not make me cry, nor did it pull particularly hard on my emotions. It was however intriguing. I enjoyed the suspense aspect and the mixed race couple – I am happy that Sparks is at least attempting to bring diversity into his characters. All supporting characters were fun and made the book hard to put down. If you’re a Sparks fan give it a go!

Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 3, 2016January 31, 2016

Kelly reviews The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

TITLE: The Shadow
SERIES #: The Florentine #2
CHARACTERS: William York & Raven Wood
AUTHOR: Sylvain Reynard
PUBLICATION DATE: February 2, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel trilogy comes the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Raven, a sensual novel set in Florence featuring the dangerously intoxicating coupling of Raven and William…

Raven Wood’s vampyre prince has returned, pledging his love and promising justice for every wrong done to her. In the wake of their reunion, Raven is faced with a terrible decision—allow the Prince to wreak vengeance against the demons of her past, or persuade him to stay his hand. But there is far more at stake than Raven’s heart…

A shadow has fallen over the city of Florence. Ispettor Batelli will not rest until he uncovers Raven’s connection to the theft of the priceless art from the Uffizi Gallery. And while the Prince hunts a traitor who sabotages him at every turn, he finds himself the target of the vampyres’ mortal enemy.

As he wages a war on two fronts, he will need to keep his love for Raven secret, or risk exposing his greatest weakness

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts In this second installment of The Florentine series we get to see William and Raven’s relationship grow. When we left William and Raven at the end of The Raven it was unclear as to what the future would hold. In The Shadow we learn more about The Prince’s enemies. We also finally find out who the traitor is. And we get to see William become very vulnerable when it comes to the women he loves.
There is a lot that happens in this book, both good and bad. It was great to be back in the Prince’s world. I really enjoy the world the Mr. Reynard has created for us in Florence. I can’t wait to see what is next for William and Raven.

Favorite line: “On the contrary, I was rewarded with both. Now I must save her.”

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 1, 2016January 31, 2016

Kimberly reviews Breakdown by Jonathan Kellerman

TITLE: Breakdown
SERIES #: Alex Delaware #31
CHARACTERS: Alex Delaware
AUTHOR: Jonathan Kellerman
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/02/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman’s thrilling new blockbuster Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis investigate the murder of a Hollywood actress pushed to the limits of sanity.

Psychologist sleuth Alex Delaware is surprised to get the call when well-known TV actress Zelda Chase turns up half-naked, half-mad in the LA’s rural Westside. He has little connection to the starlet, save a psychiatric evaluation he performed on her adopted daughter several years ago, a child who has since vanished without a trace and whom Zelda refuses to talk about. When the actress turns up dead a few weeks later without a scratch on her, Delaware calls in police lieutenant Milo Sturgis to help him crack the case—or at least the wall of silence surrounding it. When the body of a second actress turns up with the same mysterious cause of death, Delaware and Sturgis start to wonder—is this a copycat case or a coincidence? When they uncover the death of another actress, a star from another era who vanished decades ago, never to be found, they realize they’re facing one of the their most baffling, mind-bending cases yet.

REVIEW:
This is the latest in the Alex Delaware series. Actually number 31 to be exact. Delaware is a character that a reader will never tire of. He is a child psychologist and this time he is asked by a friend to look at a child of one of his friends clients. All seems fine until five years later when the child goes missing and the mother is murdered. Alex and his friend team up to find the missing child. As they move along in their search they find more deaths and more mystery.

I have always found this series to be very interesting. Alex is a compelling character that no matter how many times I read about him I find I enjoy him. The mystery is always well written as well. I usually have an idea of what happened but I am not always right which makes me enjoy it even more.

The one thing is the books are not action packed but more of a methodical mystery. And don’t worry about it being #31. You can start right in and still understand it just fine.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.