Sam is a train wreck headed for a major collision
938061
We don't get a lot of background on Sam from the first two books in this series, except for her relationship with Trent. While reading about that, I remember thinking that this girl is a little out there. She definitely lived up to that and more at the start of this book. Sam was a complete train wreck. Kicked out of school and her mom's house, she ends up on her best friend's couch. Jonathon is a crazy rocker, who gets her a job at a gentleman's club. Exotic dancing, no stripping, and many strict rules to follow. I thought, o.k., this may not be too bad. Then, on her first night there, she meets Harrison Yates. They have an instant attraction and chemistry that oozed off the pages. When I say they were hot together, I mean smoking hot. And, this was with no sec involved. I had hoped she would adhere to the rules, but her attraction with this sexy man wins out. And what happens next, will completely blow your mind. I definitley did not see that happening. I don't want to give any spoilers from here on, because I want everyone to experience the same WTF just happened moment I experienced. And believe me, you will have one. From this point on, things get even crazier for Sam. Danger, seclusion with the man who makes her feel more than anyone ever has, confusion about friendships and loyalty, and wonder about her future may hold. This story really had it all, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
3727306
Barney, sams grandfather is in trouble. He is being blamed for a "hit" on a magician spoiler. the only problem is, he knows the spoiler and had at one time took him under his wing.

Puluzzi and his brother are on the outs! Cal, his brother is in town to hlep with the renovations of the Heartmates/Pulizzi investigations. He is on leave from firefighting after being blamed for jumping on a man and beating him up.

The investigation turns sour when barney realizes it could be a person in his Triple M magic club that had the hit man hired and worse yet it could be a good friend.

Sam of course gets into all kinds of trouble, and she a Gabe have a huge fight. To make matters worse, her assistant, Blaine, has a long lost wife show up and he's not happy.

The ending is very surprizing and very good with a nifty twist.. Promise in the future of Sam's long lost father whom she knows nothing about is a good teazer for another book.
3303324
Lt. Samantha (Sam) Holland is whisked away from the scene of a murder investigation by Secret Service agents. It all happened so abruptly that neither she nor her partner, Freddie, could stop them or get answers to their questions about what was going on. Sam finds herself locked down in a safe house along with the rest of her extended family. She eventually learns of the credible threat against them (especially the children) after shes joined by her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano. Needless to say, Sam is very verbal in her displeasure over being locked down and unable to pursue the investigation or her other cases. She insists on going to work in spite of the danger to herself and others.

The police procedurals in these cases are always intriguing. I enjoyed following the evidence along with Sam and other detectives as they worked together to solve this case. I love these characters and have enjoyed reading about their lives. However, there are things occurring that just don't work for me. Sam is the Second Lady  the Vice Presidents wife  and yet she roams around the city easily recognized without protection of any kindbecause she stomps her foot and demands it be that way. Theres no consideration for Nick or anyone else  just Sam doing what Sam wants to do. I loved that she continued to work after becoming Second Lady and think the plot has great potential, but its becoming harder to suspend belief and accept the fact that no agent covers her, and its never been more evident (or over-the-top) than in this book. Sams continued blatant attitude, along with some other issues, was so profound in Fatal Threat that I found myself shaking my head a few too many times. It lessened my enjoyment of this book.

Im a fan of the series. Ive loved the journey with Nick, Sam, and Scotty as well as the awesome support cast. Im intrigued with their lives and future and am really hoping to see a more believable stance going forward. Yes, even Romance/Suspense has to be believable to a point. The saving grace for this book is the Bonus Story at the end concerning Avery and Shelby. I loved it and them!
2433617
Its like watching a bad train wreck. You end up watching the whole movie but you have no clue why
3567443
A little rough and tumble, I hope this is not the future
1552058
This novel is based on a real plane crash that occurred in 1962 as a French plane was taking off for Atlanta.  Virtually all the passengers died in the crash and their remains were burnt beyond recognition.  Almost all of the passengers were from Atlanta, having completed a European tour and now heading home.  The novel is told from the points of view of those who lost loved ones in the crash or were connected to the deceased in some way.

Robert is married to Lily who is due to give birth in about one month.  He was having an affair with Rita who died in the crash.  Robert is now a lost soul who has turned to drink in order to assuage his pain.  He's left Lily and is hanging out with Raif, a despicable character whose parents died in the crash.  Raif has inherited a fortune but is aimless and without an ethical center.  Raif spends his days drinking and drugging and Robert is along for the ride.

Piedmont is a young black man who Raif hires to drive him home in his Thunderbird.  Raif then asks Piedmont to return his car.  A black man driving a Thunderbird is a total anomaly in Atlanta at this time and so Piedmont is stopped and beat up by the police.  He manages to call Robert's phone number, which Robert had provided in case of an emergency, and Lily gets him out of jail.  Piedmont and Lily form a friendship that is close and tender but considered inappropriate in the south.

Anastasia is a young woman who doesn't have much going for her other than her looks and diving ability.  Raif's sister, who also lost her parents, takes Anastasia home with her.  Anastasia has no idea what she's getting in to.

We're also privy to the mayor of Atlanta who is trying to do right by his grieving city while also taking care of his mentally ill wife who is staying in bed all day, most likely due to depression.

I can't say I liked any of the characters except Piedmont and Lily.  The others tended to be without scruples and thinking about how the deaths of others could benefit their own lives.  The writing was good and I found the book to be a page turner.  It would be a great beach or airplane read for those who  like literary fiction.
2288308
The second book in the Dr. Sam Owens saga is better than the first.  Sam is showing signs of recovering from the loss of her husband while settling into her new life in D.C.  Xander Whitfield is with her and their chemistry grows as they both struggle to rejoin the world.  When Sam is thrust into the middle of a biological attack in the Metro, readers are along for the ride.  Is this a terrorist attack or something else?  Without a doubt in this day and age, this topic is all too realistic.  Once again Detective Fletcher plays a predominant role and readers watch him grapple with his feeling for Sam, his desire to do a good job and his belief that the task force may not be on the right track.  Sam thought she had given up her life as an investigator, but this story thrusts her back into the role and into the realization that she likes investigating and will continue to do that in the future, which is good for us who love these stories.
3232471
We have already seen Sam and Lizzy already going through some challenges. The prologue of this one starts right after the big revelation at the end of Something Reckless. Then this story shifts forward as they try to pick up the pieces. Oh the drama, separation, miscommunication, hurt, and angst. Neither of them cope very well. Lizzy runs and throws herself into work and isolates herself. Sam has a few issues to deal with but also is spending quality time with a bottle. And just as these two miserable souls are thinking they should do something about it, they are hit with a new challenge.

Now they are thrust in the middle of a messy situation and in the spotlight. There are underlying political agendas, lies, manipulation, blackmail, and betrayal. But also love, lust, and passion between them that won't die. It is hard to tell who to trust. And they get swept all up in it again just as they are trying to come to terms with what they really want and need to be happy. But this new situation is one that might be the biggest challenge of all.

During this series I never doubted Sam and Lizzy's true feelings and connection. They had really good chemistry and they were definitely compatible in the bedroom, but I also always felt the underlying closeness and deep feelings they had for each other. But their happiness always seemed to be ruined by outside influences. It seemed like every time they were about to get to a happy place , something else would happen to pull them apart. But they also did have some conflicts that were exacerbated due to their own personality traits. Sam had a tendency to overreact, want control, could be stubborn, jealous, and unapologetic. But he also had his own set of insecurities and trust issues. But some of Sam's issues also came from his need to protect people and he would try to do "the right thing" but sometimes that ended up being the wrong thing for him and Lizzy. She was smart, sassy, and strong, but also insecure and tended to be a runner. And they were both so strong-willed that they hesitated to the be the one to make the first move at fixing situations.

And there were so many different people with their own agendas and motivations that were causing dissension in Sam and Lizzie's lives. It was truly a tangled web. But for all of the people that were against them, they also had a big group of supporters in New Hope as well. All of Lizzie's sisters and their spouses are a tight group that will stand together but will also be very honest in their opinions. Nix, Max, Cally, and Will rounded out their tight knit group of friends.

They have had a rocky road with lots of outside interference. Can they finally break away from it and just find a way to be happy together?

These two people definitely went on a roller coaster and ups and downs that covered a period of years. They had separations, miscommunication, hurt feelings, guilt, and situations that just got out of control. But all along I wanted to see them find a way to make it work. It was told in both points of view so we could understand their feelings and fears. There were definitely some twists and surprises throughout the series and this installment was no different. Some things definitely snuck up on me. I enjoyed the changing dynamics of the characters and how some story lines intertwined. There were several antagonists that I really disliked. And there were some others that did some questionable things, but I could tell had some good in them too. This was another engaging, sexy, emotional installment in the New Hope world. I loved touching base with all of the characters that we've come to know and love. Lexi Ryan teased a little bit with Nix and Max and I can't wait to see more of them in Playing with Fire.
2738254
Went from simple investigation to full blown international twist. Sam's character is on the edge of holding on to sanity and stepping over that dark line. But ,then, we all have moments that create that dark moment I guess.
1449409
A good read but too much information. I skipped over a lot of it. Why did you cut out so much of Sam's  family. Needed more action.
3063620
Mac Travis returns in a wild roller coaster of a ride. This is the conclusion of Wood's Wreck and it is a doozy. All the Wood's series are action packed but this one ramps it up to warp 9. It's got all the usual suspects, new accomplices, local color, current events. What more can you ask for? Okay, throw in Jesse, Rusty and having lunch at the Anchor as a bonus. (If you don't know them, check out Wayne Stinnett's excellent Jesse McDermitt novels) Each Mac Travis story gets better and  I can't wait to see what's in store next. Hopefully more interaction between Mac and Jesse? In the meantime, sit down, grab your hat and enjoy the ride in Wood's harbor, you won't be disappointed.
1848524
Track does not stay together well, the cars do not stay on the track long, the parts underneath the cars are always messing up
4446671
The collision of current events and the subject of this book unfortunately put me on overload.  I started reading this book while the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia was all over the news and social media.  I didn't read the blurb; I didn't know this book was going to involve hate crimes.  I think my enjoyment was affected by this overload.

I did enjoy the book, though there were some changes from previous books.  I was a bit dismayed that Kim and Bryant worked separate cases, but that worked out well.  It resulted in the pairing of Bryant with Dawson for most of the book.  I thought Bryant showed leadership and great restraint!  Also new was Stacey flying solo and getting a chance to shine on her own.

I'm not sure what to think of DI Tom Travis.  Hes written as a very loving husband and a good guy who is sorry for some past incident with Kim.  I'm not sure I'd have forgiven him.  I wonder if he'll be a continuing character.

I felt the pacing was a little slow until the cases started to resolve, and then I didn't want to set the book down.

Overall, a good book and I will definitely read the next.
3922702
Emmalee Gray sneaks and boards the train to Denver from Boston following her fianc when he does not tell her why he is traveling there on business. He is in first class and she stays in second class.  She doesn't go to the dinner car to eat, trying to stay hidden. Well, a when the train derails and she is injured, Clint Ryan, who is her fianc finds her when they are helping injured passengers.  She is taken to a motel where a doctor is summoned and deems her ok, just bruised. The next day Clint finds the minister and they are married, against her wishes. Clint takes and spanks her the next day and tells her she will stay they until he returns to get her, needless to say, she doesn't and follows him. Clint paddles her bottom multiple times on their trip.  But he also teaches her the relationship between a husband and wife.
4320647
James & Shiloh's story-he's Cheyenne's older brother, a sniper for the Army and eventually the fledgling Kilgore SWAT unit; Shiloh is Sam's half-sister, whom he only just found out he had! She ends up in Sam's care when his estranged father calls in a favor from Sam. We find out in this book the real story of Sam's father and why he pushed his kids away. James is taken with Shiloh from her first day around the group but she isn't fitting in and Sam is being a jerk toward her. This part of the story really irritated me because Sam has been such a loving, compassionate man until now and this was hard to read or accept. It fir there's the narrative so it was just drama thrown in for the sake of making trouble. The bigger picture involves Shiloh and Sam's father, her other brother, Sebastian, and some nasty vicious killers. On James' side, his ex-wife, Anna, is suing for custody of their 6 year old daughter, Janie, whom she has never known or shown interest in. There are regular anonymous charges called into child services against James, and it's escalating.

This is the final book of this series, except for a novella for Elliot & Blaine. It wraps up everything neatly and even builds the lead into the author's series, the Dixie Warden MC. The first book "LightS To My Siren" was the first book by this author I read. Having read this previous semi-connected series, I plan to go back and re-read the current 2 books of DWMC. I have made Lani Lynn Vale a must buy author for me.
1925504
I had been thinking this series was starting to languish, but this book was just so compelling.  The story line was gripping and I couldn't put it down.  It was really great to see Sam's children evolving in this book.  The introduction of the devil and more back story to her dark side inhabitant was really interesting.  Oh how I long for her to reunite with Fang, but alas Kingsley is still on the scene, albeit not central to the plot in this particular book.  Back on track JR.  Enjoyed it immensely.  I did receive an Advance Readers Copy for this honest review.
2310368
After The Fog Clears by Lee Thompson is one crazy mofo of a tale with several intersecting plot lines that come crashing together, destroying everything and everybody in its wake.

I am a big Thompson fan and have been reading him for several years now. He is definitely on my must read author list and I look forward to and have enjoyed everything I have read from him. ATFC is no exception.

The only real problem I had was that there seemed to be three novels worth of dysfunction here and it got to be exhausting after a while. Let the carnage commence and the emotional rivers run red with blood. 3.5 Amazon Stars

*As a member of the DarkFuse / NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.