Review of Silenced by Allison Brennan

Rating - 4

 A number of known prostitutes--with scores of high profile clients--are turning up dead all over D.C. Is this the work of a depraved killer? Or the result of an inside job? Lucy's investigation will take her into an underground network of prostitutes, the chambers of the country's most powerful players, and her own dark past to confront an unknown enemy who's always one step ahead of her. With the help of her P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan, Lucy must find and protect the only witness who can identify the killer and end the conspiracy, but can the witness be trusted? Lucy will risk everything to expose the truth and ensure justice is served, even if that means putting herself in the line of fire ... (Desc. from Amazon)

The Lucy Kincaid series is my favorite of Brennan's numerous series. The characters of Lucy and Sean are nuanced and finely drawn. Each book in the series explores their characters more deeply. As a writer, Brennan is a master of complex plot twists. Once started, her books are hard to put down.

Review of Sleepwalker by Karen Robards

Rating = 3 

While house-sitting for her Uncle Nicco, policewoman Micayla Lange catches Jason Davis in the act of stealing money from her uncle's locked safe. When they both find incriminating photos that implicate Nicco in the murder of a city councilman, Mick and Jason hurtle into a race for their lives (LT Desc.). This was an exciting, suspenseful novel through most of the story, but the ending fell flat. The suspense builds and builds and then everything is easily resolved in the last few pages.

Review of Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Rating - 3
ARC - On sale 4/30/2013

On a hot southern night, a family is shattered. Three daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Now, a prosecutor, Savannah is the first one back when a case in Nashville leads her to seek shelter in the once grand Wilde mansion.  While she's home, Savannah decides to start going through the mansion, preparing it for sale. When she finds some old letters left by her father, she begins to realize that her parents' death wasn't what it seemed. As she starts asking questions, she realizes that her life is in danger. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy and her first lover, is now the new police chief. Working together to solve the mystery, Zach and Savannah realize that the chemistry they had as teenagers is still there.

 

This was an entertaining, romantic, suspenseful book. I thorougly enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

Review of Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

Rating - 3

 Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella and his estranged wife, Eden Gillman, are set on saving her brother even if that means reconciling with each other to prove to a court that they can give better care to the young teenage boy. Just as their hearts begin to mend, the makeshift family gets caught up in saving another youth from a crime ring in Las Vegas and ends up with a group of dangerous men on their trail.

It's sad to see the end of the Trouboeshooters series. This was probably not the best of the series, but it had Brockmann's characteristic suspense, romance and the brotherhood of the SEALs. I look forward to reading whatever Brockmann comes up with next.

Review of If I Should Die by Allison Brennan

Rating - 4

While helping their friends stop malicious vandals targeting their new resort, aspiring FBI agent Lucy Kincaid and her P.I. boyfriend, Sean Rogan, stumble upon a dead body, which then disappears, leading them into the middle of a violent conspiracy.

Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres and I enjoy reading Brennan's stories about the Rogan and Kincaid families. They sre suspenseful, romantic and fast-paced. What's not to like?

Review of Kiss Me, Kill Me by Allison Brennan

Rating - 4

Sean Rogan, a private investigator and Lucy Kincaide are investigating a missing girl case. FBI agent Suzanne Madeaux, working with the NYPD, is investigating a serial killer case, dubbed the "Cinderella Killer" because the murderer takes one shoe from each victim. Soon, Sean and Lucy meet up with Suzanne when they realize that the missing girl was somehow involved with the most recent victim. Sean, Lucy and Suzanne realize that they must learn to trust each other if they are going to solve the case before there's another victim.

This 2nd book in the Lucy Kincaide case is suspenseful with plenty of action and romance. It was hard to put down. Recommended for lovers of the romantic suspense genre.

Review of The Evil Inside by Heather Graham

Rating - 4

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now… A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for the chief suspect, a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill. With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hill to pinpoint who – or what – is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

(Retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Jun 2011)

This is the 4th book in the Krewe of Hunters series. They are great romantic suspense novels with a touch of the paranormal. This one takes place in Salem, MA during halloween. Halloween in Salem is the perfect setting for this tale of serial killers, bloody, gory crime scenes and the ghosts who help solve the crime. This is a great series and look forward to #5.

Review of Love Me to Death by Allison Brennan

Rating - 4

Six years ago, Lucy Kincaid was attacked and nearly killed by an online predator. She survived. Her attacker did not. Now Lucy's goal is to join the FBI and fight cyber-crime, but in the meantime, she's volunteering with a victim's rights group, surfing the Web undercover to lure sex offenders into the hands of the law. But when the predators she hunts start turning up as murder victims, the FBI takes a whole new interest in Lucy.With her future and possibly even her freedom suddenly in jeopardy, Lucy discovers she's a pawn in someone's twisted plot to mete out vigilante justice. She joins forces with security expert and daredevil Sean Rogan, and together they track their elusive quarry. (Desc. by Fantastic Fiction)

This is the first book I've read by Allison Brennan and I really enjoyed it. Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres so I'm happy to have a new author to read. "Love Me to Death" is the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series. Luci and Seth have family members who appear in previous novels by Brennan, but this is their first book together. The novel has good character development, taut pacing and plenty of suspense. Highly recommended for romantic suspense lovers.

Review of Sacred Evil by Heather Graham

Rating - 4

The details of the crime scene are no coincidence. The body—a promising starlet—has been battered, bloodied and then discarded between two of Manhattan's oldest graveyards.

One look and Detective Jude Crosby recognizes the tableau:
A re–creation of Jack the Ripper's gruesome work. But he also sees something beyond the actions of a mere copycat. Something more dangerous…and unexplainable.
As the city seethes with suspicion, Jude calls on Whitney Tremont, a member of the country's preeminent paranormal investigating team, to put the speculation to rest. Yet when Whitney and Jude delve deeper, what they discover is more shocking than either could have predicted, and twice as sinister…(retrieved from Amazon.com).
While an enjoyable read, this 3rd book in the Krewe of Hunters series gets bogged down by the amount of historical information provided about Jack the Ripper. It's still very suspenseful and keeps you guessing until the very end of the book. (Krewe of Hunters, Bk. 3).

Review of Phantom Evil by Heather Graham

Rating - 4

Jackson Crow, a former member of the government's Behavioral Sciences Unit in Washington, D.C., leads a covert group investigating a reputedly haunted New Orleans house. When Regina Holloway, the wife of a popular Louisiana state senator takes a fatal fall from the balcony of the couple's French Quarter mansion, her death is officially ruled a suicide, but could ghosts have been involved? Angela Hawkins, a Virginia police officer with the ability to detect paranormal activity, partners with Jackson professionally and romantically as she assists his team in discovering the truth behind Regina's death. (PW, Amazon.com)

Graham writes taught romantic suspense novels, often with a paranormal theme. This one doesn't disappoint. I listened to this one and the reader put me off a bit, but the story was good enough to keep going. (Bk. 1, Krewe of Hunters series).

Review of Heart of Evil by Heather Graham

Rating - 4

Outside of New Orleans, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends …and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks the Donegal vault. The corpse is discovered in nearly the same position as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War.
Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare, —often inexplicable, —intuition. Among the "Krewe of Hunters" is an old flame, Jake Mallory, a gifted musician with talent stretching far beyond the realm of the physical.The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried —even in death (desc. by Amazon.com)….

This is a great series if you like romance, murder, and ghosts. Very entertaining and suspenseful. This is Bk. 2 in the Krewe of Hunters series.

Review of Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

Rating - 4 

On the day Rose volunteered at her daughter's elementary school to help in the lunchroom, an explosion in the kitchen sets fire to the school. Rose manages to get two little girls out of the lunchroom and to the hallway which leads to the playground outside, then she races back into the fire to find her daughter who was in the bathroom when the fire occurred. Initially, Rose is hailed as a hero for saving her daughters life. But then it is discovered that one of the little girls Rose had led to the hallway was still in the building. She was rescued, but in serious condition. At that point, Rose is reviled as a woman who saved her daughter's life at the expense of another child. In the aftermath of the fire, tempers rage and lawsuits are threatened. Rose is afraid her family will be the target of a criminal investigation. As she tries to piece together what happened that day, she keeps discovering bits of information that don't add up. Apparently the fire which killed three employees, was not an accident at all and Rose begins to realize that there are far bigger issues at stake than an elementary school fire.

I really enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books. They are suspenseful and difficult to stop reading once started.  "Save Me" is no exception. She addresses the issues of bullying, the insularity of small towns, corporate greed and political cover-ups. It seemed at times that there were really too many issues addressed and sometimes Rose's actions seemed a little far-fetched for a stay-at-home Mom living in a small town. But, the suspense and fast-paced kept me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Review of Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson

Rating = 4

 
The murder of Julia "Jules" Farentino's father creates a bond with her younger half-sister, Shaylee Stillman. That bond is tested years later when 17-year-old Shaylee is shipped off to Blue Rock Academy, an Oregon school in the middle of nowhere for at-risk teens. Shaylee hates the school and believes there is a big problem there - people are dying. Shaylee secretly contacts Jules and begs to come home. Jules, worried about Shay's allegations, takes a teaching position at Blue Rock to rescue Shay. She discovers Cooper Trent, her ex-boyfriend, working there as an undercover PI looking into the murders.  Jules and Cooper work together to find the person(s) committing the murders. They are getting close, when a blizzard hits the area. Cooper, Jules and Shaylee are trapped at Blue Rock with a killer determined to kill them all.

Although this is not as well-written as some of Jackson's books (too many coincidences, shallow characterization), it's very suspenseful. The ending is a surprise, and it's a breathless ride to get there!!

Review: Sizzle by Julie Garwood

Rating: 3

Film school student Lyra Prescott unwittingly films the scene of a crime and now she seems to be a target for a series of dangerous "incidents". Her roommate and best friend, Sidney, has brothers in law enforcement who find Lyra an FBI bodyguard to watch out for her until she is safe. FBI agent Alex Buchanan is on a short leave from the Agency, but takes his responsibiity seriously. As Alex and Lyra spend every moment together trying to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill Lyra, they become attracted to each other. Alex is on leave for only a few days, but he realizes that no one else is good enough to protect Lyra.

Garwood is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. Her novels are usually very taut and suspenseful. This novel has several plot lines going which adds to the suspense, but also detracts. Sometimes it gets confusing as to who the "bad guys" really are. Sizzle is entertaining, but not one of my favorite Garwood thrillers.

Review: Pursuit by Karen Robards

Rating  4

When rookie lawyer, Jessica Ford recieves a call from her boss, John Davenport, to meet the First Lady at a D.C. Hotel, she is thrilled at such a high profile assignment. Two hours later, she lies near death in a coma, the only survivor of a terrible car crash that killed the First Lady. Even though Jess can't remember anything about the crash or what led up to it, she is suddenly the target of several attempts to kill her. The Secret Service don't believe her at first, but as everyone else involved with the situation begins dying around her, she knows she is in terrible danger. She finally convinces Mark Ryan, head agent on the case, to believe her, and he helps her escape to an unknown location. But Jess isn't sure who she can trust...even Mark.

This is a fast-paced action-packed book from start to finish. Karen Robards is one of my favorite authors because she combines a suspenseful story with a hot romance and seldom disappoints.