Spotlight & Excerpt from My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

I’m happy to be here at Books-n-Kisses, the second stop on the My Highland Spy Teaser Tour! Thanks for having me.

My Highland Spy is the first book in my new Highland Spies’ series, and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. We left off yesterday with Ravenna being in The Devil’s Tavern. Let’s see what other trouble she can get herself into.

My Highland Spy

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown
Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do-he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…
Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess—a job easier said than done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first
Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

Chapter One (excerpt 2):

The establishment was notorious for housing smugglers, cutthroats, thieves, and pirates. If Lord Cobham was meeting anyone here to further promote his illicit behavior, she was going to find out.

Without warning, Ravenna was roughly pulled down onto a lap. The man’s breath reeked of ale and he smiled, fingering her locks.

“This place keeps getting better and better. I haven’t seen you here before.” He lowered his head and sniffed down her body. “Mmm…you smell of lavender.”

She didn’t think it wise to tell the man what he smelled like so she politely nodded. When she tried to stand, he pulled her back down and held her with a firm grip.

“Let me tell you a little secret.” He lowered his voice and leaned forward. “I think you are by far my favorite.” His hand encircled her breast, and it took all of Ravenna’s might not to slap him. And that’s when she looked up and noticed the men.

Dear God.

Lord Cobham was walking straight toward her. She hastily glanced to Cobham’s right and saw Charles Paget. What was he doing here? She couldn’t risk being spotted, so she did the first thing that came to mind. She turned in the lap of the man who held her and brought his lips to hers.

The man’s comrades cheered him on, and his hands roamed all over Ravenna in places they shouldn’t. She had to endure quite a repulsive kiss and felt as though she needed a cloth to wipe away the slobber that had escaped the man’s lips. How she despised this part of the masquerade! Only when she was confident that the two men had departed did she dare pull back, attempting not to think about the bile that rose in the back of her throat.

She placed her finger to the man’s lips. “I have something for you. I’ll be right back.” When the man nodded, as she knew he would, she made her escape to the back room. She didn’t want to spend another moment in that place. Grabbing her cloak from the corner, she bolted out the door.

She did not look back.

What was Lord Cobham doing with Charles Paget? She thought Paget was still in Paris. No matter, she would simply give the information to her uncle. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself as the cool breeze whipped her cheeks. She walked with long, purposeful strides, clutching the dagger in her pocket. She didn’t like walking the streets of London by herself, let alone by the docks in the darkened hours of the night. One of these days her luck was going to run out. She prayed it was not at this moment.

Her uncle’s carriage waiting at the end of the dimly lit street was a welcome sight. George climbed down upon her approach and extended his hand. He was a large man with graying hair at the temples and stood well over six feet tall. He always aided her when she needed protection from places like the Devil’s Tavern.

“Lady Walsingham, did you find what you were looking for?”

“Thankfully, yes.”

“Home, my lady?”

“Yes, please.”

Ravenna climbed into the coach and breathed a sigh of relief. She sat back, closed her tired eyes, and fell asleep to the gentle, rhythmic movement of the carriage and the sound of clomping hoofbeats. When the carriage suddenly stopped, she was jolted awake.

“My lady, we have arrived.”

She took George’s hand and climbed down. “Thank you. Could you please ask my uncle to pay me a visit on the morrow?”

He nodded. “Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Lady Walsingham.”

*****

What the people are saying:

“An exciting Highland tale of intrigue, betrayal, and love.” —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author of Highland Master

“Roberts’ newest features a surprise-laden, quick-paced plot, replete with unconventional and fiercely independent characters. Her lyrical prose grabs readers’ attention, and the high level of emotional tension simply adds to the depth of the story. This book begs to be read and reread.” —RT Book Reviews

A little about Victoria:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania. Visit her at Website | Facebook| Goodreads|

*****

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of My Highland Spy to a lucky commenter (US and Canada only, please.)

To enter please tell Victoria the name your favorite spy movie.

Follow the whole tour here:

8/18 – The Reading Café

8/19 – Books-n-Kisses

8/20 – Fiction Vixen Book Reviews

8/21 – Long and Short Reviews

8/22 – From The TBR Pile

8/25 – SOS Aloha Book Blog

8/26 – The Bookish Babe

8/27 – Fresh Fiction

8/28 – Harlequin Junkie

8/29 – Urban Girl Reader

August 19, 2014August 17, 2014

What releases the week of August 18th? Check here!

Happy Release Week!!!!

Check Out These Great Reads That Come Out This Week!

And there are so many more to choose from.

Just click on a link to see what books are available.

August 19, 2014August 17, 2014

Kimberly reviews One Hot Second by Stacy Gail

TITLE: One Hot Second
CHARACTERS: Parker & Chandler
AUTHOR: Stacy Gail
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Parker Radclyffe is up against a wall. Thorne Mansion, the mysterious Italianate castle she’s come to Texas to restore, isn’t the problem. No matter how intriguing the relic is, it’s merely an ember compared to the blazing magnetism of its owner, Chandler Thorne.
When his family mansion burned down, Chandler had to watch over a hundred years of proud history go up in smoke. After more than a year, he finally has everything in place to rebuild, including a renowned conservation architect to oversee the restoration. But when he lays eyes on Parker he realizes he’s gotten more than he paid for. Maybe more than he can handle.
Parker is a military brat who never sits still long enough to get burned. Chandler is her opposite, a man with deep roots and deeper family secrets. It won’t be easy to find the common ground it takes to build a home together, but Chandler is a thorn in every sense. He plans to stick with Parker until she sees that love is more than worth the risk.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is another really good story by Gail. I have enjoyed her other stories and enjoyed this one as well. Is it my favorite? Probably not but it was still enjoyable… and hot.

Parker is a great. Someone I would like to be friends with. She can be pretty funny. Chandler is blown away by Parker and I can understand why. They really have a connection that sizzles. I really enjoyed everyone in the story – yes except the Mayor who no one seems to like for obvious reasons.

Parker and Chandler would be a couple I would enjoy going on a double date with.

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

August 19, 2014August 17, 2014

Kelly reviews The Lost by Vicki Pettersson

TITLE: The Lost
SERIES #: Celestial Blues #2
CHARACTERS: Griffin Shaw & Katherine “Kit” Craig
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
PUBLICATION DATE: March 19, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Griffin Shaw and his wife were both murdered fifty years ago. Now a minor angel, Grif’s been granted permission to solve the mystery of his own death… if he helps the Pure angels guide those souls who might otherwise be Lost.

Souls like Jeap Yang, a drug addict in his final moments of life. Grif knows that death is coming, but he cannot intervene. However, Grif’s mortal lover, reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig, isn’t constrained by angelic protocol. If she can stop a death, she will.

But as Kit is about to find out, there are things more traumatic and evil than murder. A strange new drug is literally eating tweakers’ flesh from their bones, and Kit’s crusade to get it off the streets is set to propel her and Grif into a battle with a vicious drug cartel. They’ll have to scramble to stay alive, stay together, and choose their own fate… before it’s chosen for them

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts In The Lost we pick up where we left off with Grif & Kit trying to solve the mystery of “Who killed Griffin Shaw”. But along the way they are sent on a wild ride of ups and downs and tests to their very fragile relationship.

This was another good book by Vicki. This book was filled with a lot more emotional ups and downs for me. It made me love and hate Grif just a little more with each page. But I will say the very last chapter just flat out broke my heart.

If you are interested in r reading this series you really need to start from the beginning. Starting here will just be confusing. On to the conclusion of the Celestial Blues Trilogy. I know what I am hoping for but we will see what Vicki has in store for me.

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

August 19, 2014August 15, 2014

Yasmine Galenorn’s Flight From Hell Release Day Blast

“Yasmine Galenorn creates a world I never want to leave” – Sherrilyn Kenyon

Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld series is long running, best selling, and has unique, well developed world building. This rich environment has more than one story to tell… and it’s time for a new one to begin.

FLIGHT FROM HELL IS OUT TODAY!!!

FLIGHT FROM HELL is the novella bridge-piece that loosely links Yasmine’s existing Otherworld series with her upcoming Fly By Night series. To help celebrate the release of the novella, Yasmine has a contest happening on her site, and today is the LAST DAY to enter!!! Click HERE for prize details and instructions for entering.

When Carter, half demon, comes to Menolly and her sisters, asking for their help, they think he’s just had a tiff with Shimmer, his blue dragon girlfriend.

But after talking to Alex Radcliffe, the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency where Shimmer works, they suspect that she has been kidnapped by an old enemy of Alex’s.

Now, Alex joins forces with the D’Artigo sisters in a desperate race to find Shimmer before Julian, a powerful vampire from Alex’s past with a grudge to settle, can use the dragon to wreak havoc on Seattle as revenge.

Next summer, in the Fly By Night series, we’ll meet new characters and have new adventures, but each book will have Yasmine’s signature depth and edge. Answering questions about the similarities and differences between the two series, Yasmine recently posted this on her blog:

They ARE both set in the same universe/same city/same time.
The Fly By Night Series is NOT just another venue for the D’Artigo Sisters. The focus will be on Alex and Shimmer—there will be crossover of minor characters, but the two series are definitely their own and Fly By Night belongs to Alex and Shimmer.
The Fly By Night Series will be from Shimmer’s viewpoint, and she and Alex hang out in vastly different circles than the D’Artigo sisters overall.
FLIGHT FROM HELL is an OTHERWORLD novella that introduces Alex and Shimmer to you—here, the characters do interact but the Fly By Night Series will be focused on the Fly By Night world.
Fly By Night is more of a mystery/thriller series. I’ll give you these spoilers:

Alex and Shimmer are not privy to the demonic war going on.
The FBN books will be more standalone. While the characters will evolve, there’s not all that much of an overwhelming series arc.
The FBN gang is a little more humorous, though the series is not really ‘lighter’ than Otherworld.

You can read the rest of this post on Yasmine’s blog HERE.

Click on the FLIGHT FROM HELL cover above to see its info page on Yasmine’s site (with excerpt and playlist). And each of the covers below will take you to their individual pages. Now is a perfect time to get to know the Otherworld series, or catch up where you left off!!

Witchling Book 1	Changeling Book 2	Darkling Book 3	Dragon Wytch Book 4	Night Huntress Book 5	Demon Mistress Book 6
Bone Magic Book 7	Harvest Hunting Book 8	Blood Wyne Book 9	Courting Darkness Book 10	Shaded Vision Book 11	Shadow Rising Book 12
Haunted Moon Book 13	Autumn Whispers Book 14	Crimson Veil Book 15	Priestess Dreaming Book 16

Here is a little peek into Flight from Hell.

August 18, 2014August 18, 2014

Interview with Marie Harte

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome fellow Oregonian Marie Harte to the blog for her first visit. We are talking about Luke Evans, bucket lists and her new release How to Handle a Heartbreaker (The McCauley Brothers). So please make Marie’s visit wonderful.

Marie, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Hi. I’m Marie Harte. I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a hundred books to my name, and I have no intention of slowing down. I’ve had a varied career. After majoring in English from Penn State, I served in the Unites States Marine Corps, then worked in the IT field before moving on to supervise about sixty truck drivers during my time working for a trucking company. (Talk about stories!) I finally segued into writing fulltime after quitting the trucking company to raise my children. I now live in Central Oregon with two young boys who are threatening to eat me out of house and home. My days are spent writing, staring at snow-capped mountains, and imbibing ludicrously large amounts of coffee.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

YES.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

I do a bit of both. Typically I flesh out my characters, have a basic premise of plot, and go—a pantster (writing by the seat of my pants). But when writing proposals for my publishers, I have to submit a synopsis. Surprisingly, I find I follow the synopsis, though minor points in the story may change—hence the plotter path. But I have to admit I usually write fastest when the story has been percolating in my brain for a few days/weeks before simply writing. So in a sense, I plot mentally, then just let the words flow.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m a fast writer. I can’t think about it; I just have to write. When I think too hard, I mess myself up.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

How to Handle a Heartbreaker is such a funny, sexy, and emotional book. I made myself cry (in a few spots) while writing this, and I’m not a crier. Most of the time, though, I was laughing or fanning myself. Here’s a short blurb that describes How to Handle a Heartbreaker best:

It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier and, despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

Abby isn’t having it. She’s still trying to put her last disastrous relationship behind her and overcome the flaws her ex wouldn’t let her forget. But somehow Brody isn’t getting the hint. It doesn’t help that when writing her steamy novels, she keeps casting Brody as the hero.

Brody is more than happy to serve as her muse and eager to help make sure her “research” is authentic. But when their research turns into something real…will she choose her own happily ever after?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wrote The Troublemaker Next Door and Sourcebooks accepted it. Hurray! But Flynn had three brothers, two by blood, one of the heart. Brody—Flynn’s “twin”—had to have his story told, and he had hidden depths I was eager to explore. After writing this book, his behavior in the first story made much more sense. Abby too made me love her all the more when I met her family and saw what she’d gone through to get so far. Man, I can’t STAND that Kevin jerk.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I’m currently working on a military romance novella for inclusion in a military bundle with some extraordinary authors. The project hasn’t been announced yet (and it’s KILLING me) but it should release soon.

I’m also working on edits for Served Hot, the second in my Best Revenge trilogy for Samhain Publishing. Three friends decide to get back at the men that did them wrong with some unintended, steaming hot results. Served Cold, book one, releases September 16^th.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Johanna Lindsey, because her book, A Gentle Feuding, was the very first romance I read and the book that got me hooked on the genre. So to Ms. Lindsey, thank you.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

To believe in yourself and never give up. There are enough people in the world ready to tell you no. Only you can make yourself believe in yes.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Well, first on my list was one day going to Europe. Check. Then it was hitting the New York Times list. Check. (And super big surprise/thrill just a few short weeks ago!) Now I think it’s a toss-up between learning to play the piano and learning martial arts.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m on tenterhooks waiting for the next Guild Hunter book from Nalini Singh and Thea Harrison’s next Elder Races novel. I love those series!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

A Wrinkle In Time. I loved that book as a kid and love it even more now. Talk about writing outside the box. Madeleine L’ Engle was one of the greats.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I absolutely love fall. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and the weather is just perfect. Jeans and sweatshirt weather, hot cocoa and football. Plus school is in session, and I’ve always loved academics. What’s not to love when the leaves change color and float to the ground?

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Hmm. Lately I’m on a Luke Evans kick. He’s hot, pretty dark and broody in his roles, and hell, he plays a human hero in the next Hobbit movie as well as the title character in Dracula Untold. What’s not to love? If I met him? I’d ask for a signed autograph. That’s about it. I’m not uber-impressed by fame. I would drool while staring at him, though. LOL

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me! I have releases ongoing through the rest of the year, as well as a Facebook reader group. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter (scroll to the bottom of my website to subscribe) to keep up to date on releases and contests. 🙂 I enjoyed my time at Books-n-Kisses. Great questions. Thank you!

A little more about Marie:

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after.

Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

*****

HE CAN’T GET HER OUT OF HIS HEAD

It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first, Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier, and despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

SHE CAN’T GET HIM OUT OF HER BOOKS

August 18, 2014August 17, 2014

Natasha reviews Fireborn by Keri Arthur

TITLE: Fireborn
SERIES #: Souls of Fire #1
CHARACTERS: Emberly, Rory, Sam and Jackson
AUTHOR: Keri Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 7/1/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From New York Times bestselling author Keri Arthur comes a brand new series featuring heroine Emberly Pearson—a phoenix capable of taking on human form, and cursed with the ability to foresee death…
Emberly has spent a good number of her many lives trying to save humans. So when her prophetic dreams reveal the death of Sam, a man she once loved, she does everything in her power to prevent that from happening. But in saving his life, she gets more than she bargained for.
Sam is working undercover for the Paranormal Investigations Team, and those who are trying to murder him are actually humans infected by a plague-like virus, the Crimson Death—a by-product of a failed government experiment that attempted to identify the enzymes that make vampires immortal. Now, all those infected must be eliminated.
But when Emberly’s boss is murdered and his irreplaceable research stolen, she needs to find the guilty party before she goes down in flames…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I am in love with all of Keri Arthur’s work so I could not wait to read this new series! I love the whole idea of the Phoenix and am super excited this series will focus on them. Emberly is a strong female lead, and I enjoy her interactions very much. You can see she’s a genuinely good person who was handed a super bad lot in her many lifetimes. I adore Rory, and love their interactions and connections together. It reminded me a lot of the comradery we saw in the Riley Jensen series! The love interests: Sam and Jackson. I HATE SAM! Let’s just get that out there. I don’t buy the whole wounded animal persona; he’s a flat out jerk and doesn’t deserve an ounce of the emotion he gets from Emberly. The constant pull and attraction she has to him, even with the horrendous things he’s done is frustrating. I really could do without that, it just makes me want to slap them both! Now Jackson, that’s a great character. I love his personality and overall ability to brighten up the pages. I hope he sticks around in the series for a while. Some situations and phrases seemed repetitive but overall the story was interesting and I’ll follow the series.

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

August 18, 2014August 17, 2014

Kelly reviews The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

TITLE: The Taken
SERIES #: Celestial Blues #1
CHARACTERS: Griffin Shaw & Katherine “Kit” Craig
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
PUBLICATION DATE: June 12, 2012
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife .

REVIEW:
Giffin Shaw has been stuck in the past for a very long time, 50 years a long time. But when his latest Take is not ready to leave. Grif breaks the rules for her and changes his whole world. Now Grif finds himself back on earth and having to witness his next Take be murdered.

Kit is a by the facts reporter who lives in a world of her own. But when her best friend is murdered Kit will stop at nothing to find out who did it. Only problem is the ones who did it are not out for Kit.

This is not my normal genre of reading but I did enjoy The Taken. There is a lot going on in this new world that Vicki has created. I found the world to be slightly confusing to keep up with all of it, but as I read on the world started to make since. I found that I liked Grif and Kit. I loved learning what a rockabilly lifestyle was (all new to me). Maybe because it was the first book but both Kit & Grif are a little stand offish. But even with that I am looking forward to book 2 The Lost and the continuation of Grif & Kit’s story.

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

August 17, 2014August 15, 2014

Kissin the week of August 11th -16th Goodbye

8.11.14

Kelly’s interview with Maya Banks

Kelly reviews Wild Dream by Donna Grant

Kelly reviews Wild Need by Donna Grant

8.12.14

Blitz Day for Dark Fates Release

Kimberly reviews What A Lady Craves by Ashlyn Macnamara

What releases the week of August 11th? Check here!

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle

8.13.14

Jennifer reviews Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

Jennifer reviews Return To Homecoming Ranch by Julia London

8.14.14

Kimberly reviews In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

Thursday’s Thought…

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Cursed Awakened by Cecy Robson

8.15.14

Kelly reviews Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Kelly review Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

8.16.14

SINsational Saturday Series

Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy Series

August 16, 2014July 30, 2014

Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy series

Lord and Lady Spy

Lord and Lady Spy #1

Let the games begin…

No Man Can Outsmart Him…

Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England’s most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn’t the only one with secrets…

She’s Been Outsmarting Him For Years…

Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he’s not who she thinks he is after all.

*****

The Spy Wore Blue

Lord and Lady Spy #1.5

An exciting new novella in the popular Lord and Lady Spy series. Blue, an elite spy, tracks an assassin to Naples and the theater where his estranged wife performs. As he falls in love with his Helena again, Blue races to apprehend the assassin before he destroys them both.

*****

True Spies

Lord and Lady Spy #2

He’s Getting Tired of Deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him, and his wife has given up on him.

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue…

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew.

*****

Love and Let Spy

Lord and Lady Spy #3

Her name is Bonde, Jane Bonde . . .

A beautiful and eligible member of the ton, Jane has more than a few secrets: she’s one of the Crown’s most elite agents. She may be deadly, but she doesn’t know a thing about fashion, flirtation, or love . . . until Dominic Griffyn shakes up her carefully stirred world and asks her to be his bride. He’s exactly the kind of man she’s not looking for. And he’s dangerous, because falling into his arms is so much more satisfying than saving England from her enemies.

He’s an improper gentleman who needs a wife. . .

Tall, dark, and tortured, Dominic Griffyn is haunted by demons from his past. When his stepfather insists that he marry, Dominic allows himself to hope that the beautiful but mysterious Miss Bonde might help him forget his troubles. As they grow closer, it’s clear that there’s more to Jane than danger. She might be just what his neglected heart needs.

August 15, 2014August 10, 2014

Kelly review Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

TITLE: Cop Town
CHARACTERS:
AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter
PUBLICATION DATE: June 24, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Karin Slaughter, author of the New York Times bestselling Will Trent novels, is widely acclaimed as “one of the best crime novelists in America” (The Washington Post). Now she delivers her first stand-alone novel: an epic story of a city in the midst of seismic upheaval, a serial killer targeting cops, and a divided police force tasked with bringing a madman to justice.

Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.

Kate isn’t the only woman on the force who’s feeling the heat. Maggie Lawson followed her uncle and brother into the ranks to prove her worth in their cynical eyes. When she and Kate, her new partner, are pushed out of the citywide search for a cop killer, their fury, pain, and pride finally reach the boiling point. With a killer poised to strike again, they will pursue their own line of investigation, risking everything as they venture into the city’s darkest heart.

Relentlessly paced, acutely observed, wickedly funny, and often heartbreaking, Cop Town is Karin Slaughter’s most powerful novel yet—a tour de force of storytelling from our foremost master of character, atmosphere, and suspense

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Is it wrong to want to start opening fire on a whole bunch of characters? Because that is exactly how I felt just a few chapters into Cop Town. I really struggled with the setting of this story (mid-70’s in the south) and the way the men believed that they could behave. I do realize that sadly in our very short history as a country this is how things were back then. But I can honestly say that I would not have been a good lady in the south in the 70’s. I would have gotten myself in a lot of trouble. But anyways back to the review.
But as I pressed on reading Cop Town it became clear that this was a book about more than just murder. It was about the characters finding out who they are, who they are to become and who they really don’t want to be. While the beginning was a little slow and hard to stomach. Karin did an amazing job wrapping up this story with a nice little bow. If you like mystery, suspense and not afraid of a bunch of sexist, racist royal pain in the ass characters you need to pick up a copy of Cop Town.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group – Bantam Dell, Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

August 15, 2014August 15, 2014

Kelly reviews Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

TITLE: Shield of Winter
SERIES #: Psy-Changeling #13
CHARACTERS: Vasic & Ivy Jane
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
NARRATOR: Angela Dawe
PUBLICATION DATE: June 3, 2014
RUN TIME: 15 Hours & 46 Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts

We all know (that is if you have read the first 12 books) that the Psy are a very cold race. They like everything perfect. There is no room for flaws of any kind. Flaws have been dealt with swiftly and harshly over the last 100 years. But with the fall of Silence in (bk 12 Heart of Obsidian) the Psy race is now fighting a new killer. One that does not care who or what stands in it’s way. There are two ways to save the Psy race: 1. Cut out the affected and kill millions or 2. Hope that the E-Psy will awake in time to stop choice number 1.

As always Nalini writes a story that sucks me in and makes me not want to leave no matter how bad it gets at time. Vasic and Ivy’s story is both amazingly filled with hope and heartbreakingly sad at the same time. I honestly had my doubts on Vasic based off prior books. He is the perfect Psy in all ways. Ivy Jane was new to me, but I loved her the minute she stepped on the page. These two are just flat out amazing together. Yes, I laughed, cried and wanted to kill the leaders of the Psy from 100 years ago. I want to say so much but don’t want to spoil it for you. Just know the manuals are very important!!! 🙂
I did listen to this book on audio as I have done with all of Nalini’s Psy-Changeling books. Ms. Dawe does a great job again with the voices of each character. My only issue was that the audio file I had seemed to go in and out. At times it seemed muffled at time. I am not sure what it was. But even with this I loved the story.

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