A Cold Case, Deadly Danger And Romance
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DiAnn Mills in her new book, "The Chase" Book One in the Crime Scene: Houston series published by Zondervan introduces us to Kariss Walker and Tigo Harris.

From the back cover:  To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot story...  A story that needs to be told.  And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget.

Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston Apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel in order to find justice for the child.

Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges both partners in over their heads. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag?

Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

A Cold Case is a case that could not be solved when the actual events occurred.  So all the files are boxed up and put in storage not under closed but under inactive.  Five years before Kariss Walker had reported on the case of a young girl found starved to death.  Walker is looking for a storyline to use for her new venture into suspense writing and also, justice for the little girl.  Five years are a long time for a case to remain idle but Walker teams up with FBI agent Tigo Harris and they begin to unearth clues that were missed in the initial investigation.  However, if you murdered a child and didn't want to be discovered initially you certainly don't want to be discovered five years later.  "The Chase" is a thriller in that the lives of both Walker and Harris are put in deadly danger through the course of this investigation.  It is also a lot of fun as the writer and the FBI agent slowly begin to warm up to one another and the beginnings of romance develop.  I think this is Ms. Mills best work yet and her characters are well-defined.  Once the action gets going Ms. Mills revs up the thriller quotient considerably which will have you reading and flipping pages as fast as you can.  Don't start this book late at night because it will be very difficult to put it down or stop thinking about it.  I recommend this book highly and am greatly looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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Award-winning author Irene Hannon pens a new romantic suspense series featuring the McGregor brothers settling into civilian life after their stint in the military.

In Buried Secrets, Mac McGregor  a former Navy SEAL  is a county detective sent to assist a small-town police chief, Lisa Grant. She honed her investigative skills as a Chicago homicide detective. They meet when a construction crew finds human skeleton remains outside town. Though attracted to one another, their first priority is to solve the mystery and find the killer.

Macs brothers, Finn and Lance, are introduced when they visit Mac, and the ground is laid for the remaining books (book 2 is expected in Spring 2016). One of the main characters has a medical condition that plays into the killers plans. It is refreshing to find individuals who aren't perfect.

As Mac and Lisa begin to uncover the truth, the killer has too much at stake to risk exposure and starts eliminating the other suspects with deadly accidents. Will the killer be desperate enough to create another deadly accident to end their investigation?

Hannon writes edge-of-your seat inspirational romantic suspense that will keep the reader engaged until the final page. Unexpected plot twists will keep the reader on their toes as the truth surrounding the fifteen-year-old crime is revealed. The faith element is light, not heavy-handed. Her books are filled with suspense, sigh-worthy romance, appropriate violence, and clean language. Although written for adults, the books would be acceptable for high school students as well.

Recommended for public libraries. Fans of Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and DiAnn Mills will clamor for this new series!
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Lilly Carmichael returns to Hudson Bay after ten years for her aunt's funeral, suffering from PTSD she thinks that she is imagining things when she sees a masked man outside her window. Little does she know that it is a serial killer that has been stalking her for years. Turning to the only man she knows can protect her, ex-boyfriend and Sherriff Braden Donnelly, they must find out who the killer is before he strikes again. But when past feelings ignite for her high school love Lilly must face her past demons as well as the present ones. Can Lilly and Braden stop the killer in time or will he finally get what he has been after for over a decade, Lilly; and will their second chance at a relationship be able to survive the answers they find?

Gritty and realistic, the quick moving plot of Deadly Obsession follows the couple uncovering clues and connections to each murder. A few hints were dropped early on concerning the villain so his identity wasn't too much of a surprise for me but Katie Reuss created a very creepy and life-like character with flashes into his mindset every now and then that were intense and chilling.  Her writing style set up the anticipation into the workings of him and what he will do next wonderfully, adding a few twists and surprises that will keep you turning the pages for more.

Lily and Braden made a great couple with lots of history. Their romance was dark and sexy (and Braden was plain delicious) with plenty of tension that built up to an exciting climax. Their coming together again was uncertain and they were each untrusting at first, not willing to have their hearts broken again which made it believable to read, it wasn't easy. The murder and suspense was the main plot of the story but the romance added a nice under current and a beautiful ending. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this new-to-me author.

Great Quote:
"Are you looking for me to stroke your ego?"
"No, but I've got something else you can stroke if you're interested."
I lmao on that one!
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Amanda Quick's Dangerous is an excellent read. The hero is gorgeous and the heroine is thought to be plain and a little odd. I likes the quirks that take the books from being just another romance to being a mystery with romance included. Even though you know the hero gets the girl you still hold your breath while the villain does his best to destroy them both.
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I was really surprised at how well done this romance/mystery was.  It's a plot where you are given the killer's thoughts as part of the story, along with the actions and thoughts of the 'good guy' detective and Lia, the ex-girlfriend of the murdered young man.  The pathological thinking of the sociopathic killer was pretty interesting.  I have no idea how accurate that portrayal is, but I kept thinking of the BTK killer when I read it.  Still, the action is kept light, and you never have that sense of doom that you get in heavy suspense thrillers.

Lia is very sympathetic, as is Peter, the detective.  Peter is attracted to Lia from the beginning, and unlike a lot of other cozy mysteries, he quickly figures out she is not a murderer.  What he can't figure out is how to get her interested in him when she's feeling guilty and traumatized by her boyfriend's 'suicide' just after she had publicly broken up with him.

The reader is aware from the beginning that the victim was a sleaze.  The trick comes in how the detective figures out it was a staged suicide, and how the murderer is finally identified.  The action centers around the early morning visitors to a dog park in Cincinnati.  Lia is very sympathetic, as is Peter, the detective.

I will definitely read more in this series.  How many I don't know, because it may pall after a while.  But I really liked this first entry.
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Riley Lambert has had one goal in life since her twelve-year-old sister Madison was abducted while Riley, age 10, was in the room: Find Madison. She graduated from high school by 15, was a lawyer by 21, and a very gifted FBI profiler at age 26. No matter what case she is working on, her sister's disappearance isn't far from her mind.

The past year she visited Singing River, Wyoming to look into a similar disappearance to her sister's. Twelve-year-old Gina disappeared shortly before Madison. Besides the age, both were redheads. While Riley couldn't find out what happened to Gina, she did meet handsome SEAL Thayne Blackwood and had a whirlwind romance. They have been keeping in touch with weekly Friday night phone calls and getting to know each other.

When a case goes wrong for Riley, her supervisor puts her on leave and cuts off her access to the FBI databases. He feels that Riley is heading for a breakdown unless she can find some way to work her cases without so much emotional involvement. It is just after her suspension that Riley gets a call from Thayne telling her that his sister Cheyenne has gone missing. Riley is quick to return to Singing River to help find her before his family is as broken as hers was after Madison disappears.

Things don't look good. The only witness is Thayne's grandmother who has Alzheimer's disease and who doesn't remember what happened. Riley and Thayne are searching for clues knowing that the longer Cheyenne stays missing, the less likely it will be to find her alive. As they search, they learn all sorts of secrets that one desperate criminal doesn't want uncovered.

This was a fast-paced thriller filled with interesting characters and with a great romance too. Thayne is truly a storybook hero: tough and tender, smart and caring, and not afraid to commit to a forever love. Romantic suspense fans will love getting to know him and Riley.
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Story of days gone by and a new romance and murder
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Dont mistake Bones Dont Lie for a romantic suspense cozy despite the loving families, the sweet romance and the stalwart friends. This is a hard-hitting heart-breaking thriller with plenty of terrifying moments.
Morgan Dane has returned to Scarlet Falls after being widowed two years ago. She has returned with her three young daughters to live with her father. After a career as a prosecutor who has joined the dark side as defense attorney, taking an office in the private investigation firm belonging to Lincoln Sharp and her new lover Lance Kruger.
Sharp has been a father figure and a mentor to Lance Kruger ever since his father went out to the store and never returned twenty three years ago. Sharp was also the lead police investigator on the case. This was his bte noire case, but he has never given up hoping to solve it; or on his guidance of Lance nor his friendship with Lances damaged mother.
Lances fathers car is pulled from a local lake, and it looks like a long-standing mystery might be solved. Instead the mystery is just beginning, putting all that Lance and Lincoln have believed, and the lives of witnesses and loved ones in jeopardy.
Morgan is determined to help Lance and Lincoln despite being stalked once again.
Leigh presents the reader with a terrifying and surprising end. You are a better (wo)man than I am, Gunga Din if you can figure out the killer.
I say this is a thriller, not a cozy, but I do want to sink myself in the lovely Dane family, I want to hang with Lance and Lincoln. Id even drink one of Lincolns green concoctions.
Leigh does a lovely job with her characters. It always great to see returning characters from the other Scarlet Falls/Morgan Dane books. Leigh treats most of her characters with sensitivity and gentleness. Have a hankie ready when Morgan and her daughters visit her late husband's grave on his birthday.
Leigh writes her criminals and miscreants fully developed too, but with their sins at the forefront. I will admit to finding Krugers re-examination of his relationship with Morgan and her daughters to be disturbing and sad; especially when he finds himself coming up short.
An enjoyable addition to the Morgan Dane series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
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Rating 4.5 __Some graphic sexual content.
Stand alone read.

GOOD READ.  Well written, compelling and suspenseful storyline, funny situations, great characters, funny, sassy dialogue, menacing villain(s), great secondary cast, some surprise twists and turn, and a feisty, sweet romance.  HOWEVER, there were some unanswered questions at the end which was disappointing, but not a major flaw.

THE STORY focuses on security expert, Lieutenant Gabriel Lowe, chemical engineer and loving daughter, Cassiopia Richards, and three missing vials of a deadly toxin.  Four years earlier, Cassy's father, Dr. Powell Richards, was reviewing the toxin data when an explosion killed him and severely injured Gabe.  When the toxin turned up missing, both were blamed for the loss.

As the story unfolds, the search for the missing toxin is once more heating up when someone starts killing off the participants.  Cassiopia confronts Gabriel thinking he still has the vials, but quickly decides he is innocent of all charges.  After several close calls, Gabriel and Cassiopia go looking for witnesses, but they are always one step behind the killer(s).  With a rapidly rising body count, they ignore the risks and continue searching, and a sweet, feisty romance develops.

OVERALL, a compelling, action-packed storyline, smart, focused characters that work well together, and a friendship/romance that touches the heart.

You may also enjoy the complex characters and storytelling of N. Bruhns, A. Stuart, and E. Palfrey.  For good mystery/detective writers you might try J. D. Robb, D. Stabenow, S. Grafton, Gayle Wilson, S. Sala, and Julie Miller.
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In this intricate suspense, multiple pieces of a puzzle are laid out  a cold case, a murder of a teenager, the bizarre death of a woman made up to look like a doll  that leave your on the edge of your seat as the author slowly connects all those pieces for shocking conclusion.

The main players are Virginia State Police Agent Dakota Sharp who is the half brother of the cold case victim. Her death years ago still consumes him and cost him his marriage. He is like a dog with a bone when he gets a case which is great for his job but not for his personal life. Tessa McGowan is a forensic pathologist who has just returned to Virginia to take a job in the ME office and is also the estranged wife of Dakota. Her intentions were to return to town and try and work on her marriage. But Dakota stubbornness in wanting to work things out and the eventual identity of the dead woman made to look like a doll brings up her past in college that could have deadly results for her today.

The author also gives us a front row seat into the mind of The Dollmaker  this is one creepy dude that has some sick fetishes.

As with the first book the characters are mainly from the Virginia State Police and Shield Security so we get to see all the characters from the first book back again along with getting to meet characters that will be in future books. If you like suspense series with a touch of romance and some evil bad guys I recommend this series.
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Review Courtesy of April Hollingworth

This is the first book in the Paula, P.I. series. The feisty P.I. has heartbreak in her past and doesnt trust easily. As the story reveals its secrets we also find out what happened to Paula to make her the woman she is. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book in this series. Each book is able to be read as a standalone.

Opening Scene:

Springtons archaic white stucco police station houses three cells in the back, one for women, two for men.

The Review:

Private investigator Paula Mitchell interviews Sylvia's fianc in their small-town Rhode Island jail. Warren Wade doesnt have an alibi. His fingerprints are on the weapon, and his deceased fiance broke up with him not long before she was murdered. All fingers point to him as the killer, after all no one else had a motive. Then Sylvias friend is bludgeoned to death just like Sylvia was, but the police won't release Warren. After all it could have been a copy-cat killer.
Working with her best friend and Warrens lawyer, Paula searches for answers. With the help of her computer guru lover, Paula and Steve narrow down the victims suspects to Sylvias friends. With Warrens freedom on the line Paula must solve this case before the killer strikes again.

Notable Scene:

As I stepped inside, a noise caught my attention. My hand automatically went to my shoulder holster where I kept my .38. Whos there? I asked, furious when my voice shook a bit. My heart pounded so that I could hear it in my ears.
The Shadow, a familiar voice answered, and my grip on the gun loosened.
Steve. Someday Im gonna hurt you. I let my hand fall to my side, my heart still trip-hammering in my chest.
I flipped on the light switch and faced him. He sat in my favorite chair, his grin so infectious, I couldn't stay mad. I took in his lean but muscular body in jeans and a t-shirt, his wide face with brilliant hazel eyes that changed dramatically in different lights, short blond hair, and that smile. Howd you get in?
You left your door unlocked. He said.
Never happened. I shook my head as I removed my jacket and shoulder holster, and hung them in the hall closet. I tried to remember locking the door, but it was such a routine act that I couldn't really recall. I was usually careful about it because of my profession. So, I didn't know whether to believe him or not. One of his charms for me-trying to figure him out.
Come here, he said, still smiling.
I walked toward him, my heart pounding from a different kind of excitement. As I came close, he reached out his hand, grabbed mine, and pulled me into his lap. After a long kiss, he said, Where have you been? Ive been waiting here in the dark for hours.
A new case, I murmured. Sylvia Leominsters murder.

FTC Advisory: Jan Christensen provided me with a copy of Perfect Victim by Jan Christensen. Published through Jan Christensen. Kindle Edition. No goody bags, sponsorships, material connections, or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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Homicide detective Quinton Brett Wagner (Q B) has finally come home.  Having been a cop in South Florida he now is back in Portland, Oregon working on cold cases much to his chagrin. His captain is punishing Brett because he was forced to hire Brett against his will.  One of the cases dropped into Brett's lap is a cold case dealing with the brutal aggravated assault and battery of Paige Jeffries, a gifted artist.

After Paige's barbarous attack two years ago she withdrew from every one and has hidden away believing she is no longer whole.  Paige's gift has turned into a nightmare.  In her sleep she draws scenes of horrific murders, she even drew a picture of her own assault before it happen.  When she tried to tell the police this they thought she was crazy.

It is now Brett job to interview Paige and find her attacker and protect Paige from a deranged serial killer who wants to finish the job he botched.  After witnessing Paige drawing these murder pictures in her sleep Brett believes Paige when no one else does.

Janie Crouch has done a great job with her nonstop thrill ride of a story with more twists and turns than a roller-coaster.  Ms. Crouch has written a sensation romantic suspense that won't quit. It is a book you won't want to put down till the very last page.

I received this book from the author and I am freely posting this fair and balanced review.
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"Fox Hunt", the first of the Femme Vendettas is a fast-paced romantic crime thriller loaded with suspense and mystery. It begins when Brian Chanse, a stunt driver and owner of Cause & FX picks up a hitchhiker in a freak rainstorm in New Mexico. What he doesn't suspect is that the drenched woman suffering mild hypothermia is a former thief who's running from the Yakuza, a criminal organization whose boss wants revenge for the murder his son. Brian,a man with a big-heart agrees to help Delta Fox prove her innocence, but never expects that their partnership will lead him into the dregs of the L.A. underground where they will unravel clues to a seduction that brings betrayal and murder to its hapless victims.

In this engaging, imaginative plot romance sizzles between two lost people in a world stained by secrets, mystery, death and violence. The narrative is fast-paced with its high-speed car chases and flying bullets, and progresses smoothly as events unfold. As sparks fly and the romance blossoms, the language is sexually explicit, but loaded with a good dose of dry humor and witty remarks. Although the theme of the novel focuses on the discovery of love and trust during the dark moments in Brian and Delta's life, the murder mystery and manhunt by an assassin lend energy and drama to the romantic plot.

Moira Stelmack breathes life into her characters giving each a multi-dimensional and realistic personality. Brian Chanse the adrenaline junkie who's kind, generous and charming can be a pushover and very stubborn while Delta Fox a skilled cat-burglar, haunted by the demons of her abusive past is serious, untrusting and fears love. Mr. Hadrian, Delta's friend and confident is a shrewd cynic burdened by a bitter heartbreak in his past. Brian's office staff is a study in contrasts. Gina's the highly energized receptionist who's offbeat, chipper and fearless while Ursula the operations manager is bossy, efficient, tough-minded and stern. Because the story is plot driven, certain aspects of the characters are never fully realized;like the tragic circumstances that mould the personalities of Akeno, Delta and Susan Chang.

But, even the antagonists in the story are memorable; like Kannon Takahama, a half blood , an instinctive killer who's intimidating, dangerous and tough; Hero Matsuda the ruthless and savage Japanese mafia boss; Susan Chang, a user who feels empty, broken and unworthy, and Jeanelle (Saramond) Matsuda, the money-hungry, arrogant, and demanding wife. All these characters bring power and intensity to this riveting story.

I liked "Fox Hunt" and recommend it to those who like a romance story with a defining twist. And I am looking forward to reading "Gina Takes Bangkok"
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Forensic investigator Reilly Steel has moved from the US to Dublin to be close to her father. She is involved with several murders with hidden clues. The story has many twists and turns and keeps you interested. She is training her staff in new techniques and they  support her while her boss likes the old ways and is against her. There is a mystery about her family. And then there are the murders and the hidden clues (taboos). And even a touch of romance.
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Surviving Ice is the fourth book in the Burying Water series and it may be my favorite. It has a great mix of romance and suspense between two independent, fierce characters.

Ivy Lee is confident, and fiercely independent. As a wanderer without roots, she has few friends and few ties that keep her grounded. After making her way back to her uncles tattoo shop in San Francisco, she realizes she isn't feeling the usual need to pick up and move to a new location as she normally does. Mentally preparing to settle in for a long term stay in one place, her world is rocked when she witnesses a murder.

Sebastian Black works jobs that are off the grid and never recorded. He arrives just as Ivy is trying to sort out her next move with her uncles shop and house, but his arrival may not be the help she thinks it is, as he seems to know more than he should about her uncle and the threats that seem to be growing.

The timing for their meeting is tough on Ivy, as she is only days from losing her uncle, but it couldn't be better for that tension that builds between them as Sebastian uses whatever means necessary to get the information for which he is searching and yet finds himself trying to protect her from danger.

The suspense was great as Sebastian digs into his investigation, Ivy sorts through her uncles things and works to remember details that might help police find the killers. There were a lot of small details woven throughout the story that added to the mess they had to work through.

The storyline is fitting with current events and feels fresh and relevant. It was a story that as the details were revealed, those details explained so much about the characters and the way they related to others. Those details reveal so much about unsettled feelings and suspicions.

I am sad to see this series come to an end, but it feels like a natural place for it to leave off. I love that Ivy is the one to conclude the series and am so glad that readers have the chance to see inside her head. Though this isn't the first time she appears in a Burying Water book, her prickly exterior and vagabond nature make for an interesting character study in this stress filled environment.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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(Deadly Trust) Souvenirs by Barbara Phinney
I am not one who enjoys murder/thrillers books so I put off reading this gift from a contest I won. Sorry I did not put everything aside to read this when I won it.
It's a super read for the detailed descriptions of locations, the storyline and the romance and the trust they give to each other.
Anna LaBonte is at a summer cabin and she knows one day that her husband is dead. She just has the intuition.
The cabin next door is Brent Stirling and he's on medical leave from his military unit in hopes of quiet and to get over the incident that left 3 others dead.
She gets a ride from him to the police station to report her husband missing.
Serge her husband has been a controlling freak, always was. even to the point he'd go to the hairdressers and tell them what he wanted. He picked out her clothes for her to wear every day and she had to be fully dressed and made up before breakfast.
She is relieved when the cops tell her that her husband was murdered in the motor home. Her car is still missing and she will notify her sisterinlaw in a few hours time.
She works in the forensic field and knows with Brent's help they need to find out who did kill her husband before the police, Luc arrested her.
Brent is snooping around to investigate the clues and things that happened prior to the murder to help her out.
As things progress and heat up between Brent and Anna he's been warned to stay away from her, if he wants a career in a few months time.
They tried to run them over on the road but they rolled to the ditch... Who would want to kill them?
They are each struggling with their pasts, trying to get over the nightmares and flashbacks.
Love the detailed explanations of why they investigated at certain places and who they talked to etc, to find out who really did the murder..
Excellent read!
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Jamie Sinclair is called in on a case of an abducted child. Ironically, the child is what broke up her marriage to the man who is calling her for help, as he left her and married the mother. The authors military background gives a realistic feel, as the ex-husband is a Colonel or something, and most of the story takes place on base.

Solid detective story, with a very strong romance component. First in a series featuring Jamie Sinclair, PI and security expert, and doing quite well financially, thank you very much. This was stressed throughout the book, but didn't seem to have any relevance. The story is a very well-plotted, fast-moving mystery-thriller, and I couldn't put it down. Ive read a hundred books like this one. I always finish them because they move fast and keep me guessing. There's not a whole lot to think about in the end, but man, while you're in them, they really hold your attention.