Return to Me by Melissa MacKinnon

December 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment

RETURN
Return to Me by Melissa MacKinnon
Publisher: EsKape Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (333 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Archaean bounty hunter Marek Coinnich isn’t particularly fond of Engels. In fact, he prefers them dead. But to save his injured brother, he must enter the manor of an Engel enemy. Marek finds himself enthralled by the slave girl nursing his brother back to health. When his enchantment with her lands them in a compromising position, he refuses to let the young beauty pay for the misunderstanding with her life.

Brynn of Galhaven prefers to keep to the shadows. When she is ruined by an outsider, she barely escapes with her life and finds herself left alone in an unforgiving land. Through her struggles to survive, Brynn discovers a world she never imagined and never forgets the enemy Archaean who stole her heart.
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Marek can’t deny his desire for Brynn, but these are wartimes, and she is the enemy. And though love knows no prejudice, the world in which he lives isn’t nearly as forgiving.

Enemies turned lovers – what could go wrong, right? Turns out everything could…

When Brynn, the daughter of a lord and nobleman of Galhaven, is found in a compromising position, she is punished without investigation of the incident. However, when Marek finds out that the girl who nursed his brother to health was about to be punished, he kidnaps her to save her from that fate. Being that Marek is Archaean and Brynn is of Engel, both the people of Archaean and Engels had always had a dislike towards each other, this long held hatred is clearly shown between the two. The journey for them is not easy. Riddled with potholes and mountains, their journey towards each other and peace between them is long but well worth it.

The story woven by the author is fantastic. There is not only action but humor/comedy, romance and fantasy. All of these are intertwined with the characters and shows perfect harmony. I was lost in the book. Being that this is a historical book I was very skeptical at first because it seems that writers sometimes struggle to keep the dialogue and setting in its proper era. That means even the dresses, the houses, and villagers-everything-should be from that era. The descriptions were all I could have imagined. The author painted every scene in my mind so it was almost like I was watching it all happen right in front of my eyes.

The chemistry between Marek, the bounty hunter, and Brynn, the Royal, is sizzling and hot. The chemistry didn’t dwindle down with the development of the plot, it just matured, strengthened and burned brighter. Readers shouldn’t be disappointed with that in the least. The way the plot was developed, so intricate, I’d never have guessed that this is the writer’s first novel to be published. Everything fit and flowed seamlessly. From the smallest detail to the most exciting action sequence it made sense and surprised me at the end. I never thought that the story could go like this. I believe readers will be surprised but very happy with the results of it.

Sizzling romance, action and fantasy steeped in history, anyone who believes love conquers all will love this novel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cats in the Cradle of Civilization by C. L. Kraemer

December 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CATS
Cats in the Cradle of Civilization by C. L. Kraemer
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (146 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Glenda Nagel, editor for Getty Museum’s monthly magazine loves her home in the Juniper Hills and her cats. When an ivory and emerald statuette of the cat goddess Bastet makes its way to her home and sets her cats on edge, Glenda is panicked.

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Glenda Nagel has ordered her life just the way she wants it. She enjoys her job as editor for Getty Museum’s monthly magazine, and she has a home far away from the Los Angeles congestion and smog, as she lives in the Juniper Hills with her three cats. But then a new Director of Egyptian Antiquities is hired, and while Glenda admits that he is very handsome, she finds something strange about him. She doesn’t trust him.

I liked Glenda from the very beginning. She is smart and capable, and she’s worked hard to get to her current position. All of a sudden everything is threatened when she discovers an ivory and emerald statuette of the cat goddess Bastet. She only discovers it because Pandora, her Persian cat, takes an instant dislike to the vase it was hidden in.

It can be hard to write a convincing mystery when the reader knows from the beginning who the villain is and what he’s up to, but C. L. Kraemer manages just that. Much of the story is told from Glenda’s point of view, but we also get to know Dr. Dabir Omar Ben Rashid Yacoub Riyadh, and he is definitely a villain that I really disliked. His character is well-fleshed out and he has very few redeeming characteristics. But then we also get the viewpoint of another level of villains and the suspense builds as the reader follows Glenda’s actions. There are curses and a long history of intrigue and injustice.

The descriptions of not only the scene, but the history of Egyptian archaeology is fascinating and brings a real richness to the story. I learned things while I held my breath as Glenda faced one situation after another. The pacing is excellent and the author really keeps her readers on the edge of their chairs.

Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy this glimpse into the world of archaeology as they watch Glenda trying to stay ahead of Dr. Riyadh.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shift Happens by J. C. McKenzie

December 2, 2014 By 1 Comment

SHIFT
Shift Happens by J. C. McKenzie
A Carus Novel, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press. Inc.
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Length: Full Length (315 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Andrea McNelly’s job as a government agent is not asking questions, but then a routine assignment turns into a botched assassination of a Master Vampire’s human servant. Answers become a priority. Her search to discover the truth is riddled with obstacles, the largest being an oversized Werewolf who resembles a Norse god. Andy can’t afford the distraction he offers, because if she fails, she faces eternal enslavement.

Wick’s job is to monitor Andy, but he prefers more intimate activities, none of them G-Rated. His choices, however, are often not his own. His ability to help Andy is limited by his bond to the Master Vampire.

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In the night, something more than a mountain lion, wolf and falcon combined—a beast—had risen from within, answering a desperate call and then it went wild—uncontrollable.

Andrea is a shifter with a unique ability whereas Wick is an alpha werewolf who falls for Andrea, an assassin and agent of the government.

Andrea’s latest assignment leads her to kill a human. But everything is not as it seems when she gets caught and her handler is killed. She must find out who set her up with the assignment. In the process, saving herself and opening up to the man who could be hers.

The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the title, Shift Happens. I wanted to know what it meant to the characters and how it interwove within the book. The phrase was embedded in the story. By the end, the title is understandable and perfect.

Andrea’s past is important and a vital point not only in the story but also for Andrea and Wick’s relationship. In Shift Happens the author reveals her story right before the climax (ending). It wasn’t a total information dump since bits and pieces of her past is shared throughout the whole story but it is somewhat of a ‘big reveal’. It worked well and kept this reader interested throughout the novel.

The characters in the story are well developed. Really, the story as a whole is very good. There’s romance but it doesn’t overpower the story like in some books. I would read the second in this series just to know what happens.

Readers interested in Urban Fantasy where the plot is more than overwhelming romance will like this one. Though, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy/paranormal and romance.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Blackthorne by Lexxie Couper

December 1, 2014 By 1 Comment

BLACKTHORNE
Blackthorne by Lexxie Couper
Heart of Fame Book 8
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (224 Pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Rhythm is in his genes. She is in his heart.

Heart of Fame, Book 8

Caitlin Reynolds doesn’t care if the rock star lookalike trying to get into her bar is who he says he is. Sticking to the rules is a big reason the Chaos Room is the hottest velvet rope in Sydney.
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Okay, so he’s freaking hot, but she’s been ignoring her hormones since her fiancé left her to go be a doctor in Somalia and then went missing.

After a shattered knee ended his promising soccer career, it seemed only natural for Josh Blackthorne to follow in his father’s rock-god footsteps. Now he’s a megastar, lusted after by women—and men—the world over. But he’s been in lust with Caitlin since he saw her picture years ago.

When Caitlin realizes Josh is who he says he is, she’s the first to make it right. But no matter how badly his seduction makes her want to melt into his arms, there’s a ghost hanging over their heads. A ghost who turns out to be not so legally dead after all…

Blackthorne is Lexxie Couper’s final Heart of Fame book, and in it we have come full circle. In book one it was Nick Blackthorne, learning he was the father of a teenage son, Josh. In Blackthorne, Josh is the music star that has far eclipsed his father, and is ready to settle down to a quieter life.

It has been five years since Josh Blackthorne became the singer for Synergy, his father’s former band. Five years of success, surpassing his every expectation. But life isn’t all fun and happiness; Josh has picked up a stalker, and that man has been released from custody. Josh decides to escape to his roots back in Australia, and stay under the radar, laying low. When he and his long time pal Rhys decide on a night out, Josh decides to try out the hottest club in town, run by bodyguard Live Reynolds’ niece, Caitlin. Caitlin has worked hard to make her club the in spot, and she isn’t about to let to celebrity pretenders try to put one over on her. After all, with no entourage, these two can’t possibly be Josh Blackthorne and Rhys McDowell, two of Australia’s most celebrated public faces. Caitlin shouldn’t feel the way she does once she spends time with Josh; after all she was engaged before her doctor fiancé shipped out to Somalia and went missing. As Caitlin and Josh spend time together, she falls for him, and Josh feels the same for her, although all their time together is purely platonic, as Caitlin hides behind her ‘engagement’ to keep Josh at arm’s length. Just when life has shown them that love is there, Caitlin’s ‘fiancé’ returns, leaving Caitlin confused and Josh shattered. Can the two star crossed lovers find their way back to each other? Can Caitlin find a way to let Matt down easy and follow her heart?

I love this world that Ms Couper has built, and the characters that inhabit it. These are people who feel like old friends, and it is fun to see characters from earlier stories and how they have fared in life.

Caitlin Reynolds is smart, determined and has made a success of the club she built on her own. She is attracted to Josh, but is also afraid to get involved after the pain and trouble of her last relationship. I like watching as she learned to love while spending platonic time with Josh, coming back to life and wanting it all. I like Caitlin’s sassy attitude and her strength of character, and the bit of snark she reserves for friends and family.

Josh Blackthorne is sexy and smart and talented. But he has never become the hedonistic rock star that his father was; his band mates and his family have kept him grounded and sensible. He has had a small crush on Caitlin since seeing a photo of her on her uncle’s shelf years before, so meeting her and feeling the attraction between them flare to life just makes it better for him. I like that Josh was willing to go slow, not rush Caitlin into something before she was ready. And I really enjoyed some to their antics as they learned about each other’s wants and needs.

There are some twists and roadblocks to Josh and Caitlin’s happy ever after, and as with the rest of the story, these twists were handled with grace and intelligence by all the characters involved. There is chemistry and passion throughout this one, and I highly recommend the entire Heart of Fame series, but Blackthorne can also be read as a standalone story. I hope that Ms Couper will revisit this world from time to time, with updates on favorite characters and their lives.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Landslide by Robin Mahle

November 27, 2014 By 1 Comment

LANDSLIDE
Landslide by Robin Mahle
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (172 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

In the sprawling suburbs of Seattle, Claire McKenna finds solace in her perfectly ordinary life. With the daily strain of raising a family and climbing out of debt, she and her husband Colin, work hard to hang on to what they’ve got.

So when Claire is offered an incredible opportunity to rise in the ranks of her firm, she jumps at the chance. Her joy, however, is short lived at the discovery that her close friend and colleague, Beth Graves has just been accused of embezzlement.

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Landslide has a plot which is intricate with many twists and turns. I was hooked from the very first page, and as the suspense built, I couldn’t stop reading. My afternoon plans changed as I read until I reached the end, an end which has its own twists.

Claire McKenna is a strong main character, fully realized with both strengths and weaknesses. One of her greatest strengths is her loyalty to her friends, especially Beth Graves who has been framed for embezzlement. However, Claire is soon in over her head, working with the FBI, but with a boss who always gets what he wants.

The world of high finance is revealed in full details, and I learned a lot while I was trying to figure out just how far the schemes ran. Claire is forced to endure a lot in her efforts to protect her family as well as clear her friend. There seem to be no limits to the power of those she must fight. The events test her on every level, but she refuses to stop. She has to reveal the full truth no matter what.

I really liked Agent Gordon Sanchez of the FBI. His character was well developed and he came across as intelligent and compassionate. He assures Claire that he knows Beth has been set up, but unless actual proof can be found, Beth could still go to jail.

Claire has to help her husband deal with the events. Colin is suspicious of Claire’s promotion and the speed with which she is being moved up in the firm, but he knows they need the money. However, when Claire starts working for the FBI, he tries to stop her. Colin is a bit of a stereotype of the overprotective husband, but certainly he has legitimate reasons for his concerns.

Landslide certainly lives up to its name. Once the action starts there is no stopping it. Mystery lovers are sure to find this to be a thrilling read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Absence of Reason: A Hilary Adams Mystery by Linda Y. Atkins

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

REASON
Absence of Reason: A Hilary Adams Mystery by Linda Y. Atkins
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (231 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When a friend is accused of murder, a feisty attorney will have to outsmart a serial killer if she wants to prove her client’s innocence—and stay alive.
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Criminal defense attorney, Hilary Adams, is about to tackle the case of her career—defending an accused serial killer. In each murder, the evidence gathered against her childhood friend, Professor Tom Blackstone, was overwhelming; the motive obvious, at least to the police and the local prosecuting attorney. But to Hilary, nothing in this case has been right from the beginning. It has all the earmarks of someone systematically setting up her client. But who would want to and why? Coeds, sexually assaulted and murdered, are turning up everywhere. Time is short and the list of suspects even shorter. Hilary has to act fast to save her client and in the end to save herself.

Hilary Adams is a very strong main character, who seems very real. She is whip smart, knows the law inside and out, and is determined to defend a childhood friend, Professor Blackstone, from charges of murder.  Combined with sexual assault, the charges could result in the death penalty if proven. Hilary seems to be the only one who doesn’t believe in the overwhelming evidence against her client. And her client isn’t helping her, as he slides into self-pity and depression. But Hilary can save him if indeed anyone can.

The supporting characters are also very well defined. There is Sam Monroe, ex-FBI and now a PI, who has a long friendship with Hilary. He does his job, even though he thinks that Hilary is blinded by her friendship with her client. Lieutenant Peter Elliott is certain that he has arrested the right man, but as things heat up and he is pressured to move faster than he feels is prudent, he begins to wonder about the case. He is in love with Hilary, although she isn’t ready for a steady relationship, but he also really respects her abilities as a lawyer. He agrees with her that the important thing is to catch the right murderer. Even the minor characters have depth, such as Hilary’s secretary Annie.

This is the first in a series, and I’ve already read the second, third, and fourth. Since this is the first, I was prepared that it might not be quite as strong as the others. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is a very strong story which has been effectively crafted for maximum suspense. One technique that I found especially helpful in involving the reader and building suspense is the way the murderer’s point of view is used, not often, but most dramatically. I knew even before Hilary did that Blackstone was innocent. But I didn’t have a clue as to the identity of the real murderer until nearly the end. This meant that I was all but pushing Hilary, Sam, and Peter, in the directions they should go. As the suspense built, I found that the book was impossible to put down.

Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy Absence of Reason. In fact, I highly recommend the entire series of now four novels, a series which I hope continues to grow as I’m definitely a fan of Hilary Adams.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dragon Rising by Susan Brassfield Cogan

November 24, 2014 By 1 Comment

DRAGON
Dragon Rising by Susan Brassfield Cogan
#3 Black Jade Dragon Series
Publisher: CoganBooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (198 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Go to Hell.

It’s such a delicious phrase. Angie Tanaka never thought she’d want to go there herself.
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Usually people spend their entire lives avoiding a trip to Hell. Not Angie. Long-ju is down there and it was all her fault. He is the Silver Dragon, magnificent, legendary, a work of art. He had sacrificed himself for her and she is only … Angie. She needed to put that right. She had to get him out of there. Nobody was going to help her with that, certainly not the other dragons.

All of that led to one question: How do you spring a dragon out of Hell?

Angie Tanaka is in over her head once again. Long-ju, the Silver Dragon, sacrificed himself for her and now she is trying to find a way into Hell so she can bring him back. As she says, “Welcome to my life. It often doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense.” She’s a thief, and has been since the fourth grade. But she does care about the dragons, and she knows what needs to happen, at least according to her. So she fights demons and monsters, getting in a lot of trouble, all to save her friend. Before she knows it, she’s being framed for a bombing and the police are hunting her, saying that she’s a terrorist. But she keeps right on going.

I like Angie. She has strong ideals, even if she is a thief. The action never stops and she is caught in one disaster after another. The dragons help her and these dragons are really wonderful. It’s not hard to believe in dragons like these who can take any shape they want, usually appearing as humans. But they are always dragons, without a doubt. “Dragons can undo their molecules and assume any shape they want. That’s all fine as far as it goes. The bad part is they can do it to you. Daiyu disintegrated me. I really hate that. Really. No really. I woke up on a dirt floor. I could only hope she’d put all my molecules back where they belonged.”

The descriptions of Hell are very terrifying, as are the demons Angie has to fight. She gets help from some pretty unexpected places, which adds a lot of suspense to the story. She makes mistakes which she then has to try to fix. But she never gives up.

Fantasy lovers are sure to enjoy Dragon Rising. It is the third in the series, and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. However, I’m glad that I’ve read them in order so I can watch Angie develop as a character. Either way, this is a most exciting and enjoyable read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Dragon Sword by Susan Brassfield Cogan

November 21, 2014 By 1 Comment

DRAGO
Dragon Sword by Susan Brassfield Cogan
Black Jade Dragon Series #2
Publisher: CoganBooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (244 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Here we go again! Angie Tanaka can’t seem to stay out of trouble. She finds herself haunted by a cute little hungry ghost and a not-so-cute demon who has a special hell kept warm just for dragons.

Angie Tanaka is, as she herself admits, “the one woman crime wave.” She has a need to steal and needless to say, that gets her into trouble. She lives on Shaolong, the Land of Nine Dragons, and now the island is in real trouble. The Chinese ambassador is visiting and soon the Chinese will be taking over. This would mean the end of the dragons as well as the current culture on Shaolong. Angie’s particular skills are needed.
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I like Angie. True, she is a thief, but she is a very interesting one and when the dragons are threatened her loyalties are all in the right place. The action is fast paced and there are lots of exciting scenes with dragons and some very scary demons. The suspense grows throughout the novel, coming to a very exciting conclusion.

I really liked the way the dragons are portrayed. They are always dragons, but they can, and most frequently do, assume human form. To me this makes them even more believable and who’s to say that we don’t still have dragons in this world. The descriptions of the transformations from human form to dragon form and back are very realistic and when Angie is carried with a dragon, she fully experiences some of that transformative power.

The dragons themselves are as they should be and each of them has a very different personality. Humans can’t lie to a dragon which makes for a number of complications for Angie, but the ability to detect lies would certainly be a wonderful talent to have.

Dragon Sword is the second book in the series, following immediately after Black Jade Dragon. While it can stand alone, I highly recommend reading the books in order. After all, why miss a single minute of Angie’s adventures. In fact, I have the third novel in my reading queue and plan to start it shortly.

Dragon lovers are in for a real treat with this novel. It is unique, both in its use of dragons and in the nature of its main character, and as a result it is a delight. Don’t miss the excitement!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Vineyard by Michael Hurley

November 20, 2014 By 6 Comments

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The Vineyard by Michael Hurley
Publisher: Ragbagger Press
Genre: Mainstream, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (373 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Dory Delano, Charlotte Harris, and Turner Graham have been drifting through life since their days as roommates at Smith College, ten years ago. Dory is resisting taking the reins of her family’s legacy and fortune even as she relishes the fabulous lifestyle it affords her in the fashionable seaside resort of Martha’s Vineyard. She invites her old friends to join her for a summer on the Vineyard in hopes of rediscovering the innocence of old days and healing new wounds. But hidden in their midst and unknown to all but a few, a reclusive—some say dangerous—fisherman wanders alone, fueling wild speculation about his purpose and his past. None of these women can imagine the events their encounter with the fisherman will set in motion, the shadow he will cast over their destinies, or the transformation that awaits the world they know.

THE VINEYARD is a spellbinding, beautifully written creation. The words are woven together like a tapestry that recounts the light, dark, and all the shades in between of the entwined lives of three women and the people that impacted their lives. The humanness, flaws, and foibles of the characters make the story remarkably poignant.

At this generic line viagra point it may be possible to bring about positive changes in their lives. It also boosts length and girth of the penis gets enlarged. generic viagra online It can also enhance kidney functioning to a certain tadalafil professional cheap extent. You also need to learn about the maintenance of the RC helicopters before the purchase so that you can see the clarity of things and resolve the conflicts that have so long held levitra on line you back. This is a story with many layers. It is about friendship love and maternal love, not a story of sexual romantic love. The sexual activity is not the soul mate, sweet, ecstasy kind. One memorable element of friendship love is how much a friend gives to save her friends from the self-destructive path they are on—a path that would have stolen their self-respect and sentenced them to a bleak future. It also reveals the pure love of one man who reaches out to help others and reaps tragic rewards. Another layer shows greed and selfness corrupting and influencing lives and subtly changing the culture of an island.

Three college roommates come together for a summer ten years after graduating. They’ve led very different lives, yet still have a strong connection with each other. During their stay on Martha’s Vineyard, their lifelong beliefs are tested to the limit. Rich, drifting-along Dory, the bereft mother Charlotte, and the still-searching-for-meaning-in-her-life Turner have their lives forever changed by “the fisherman.”

The subtle foreshadowing, moments of humor, and the many “what-ifs” enrich this compelling story about the good, bad and the ugly of humanity. Strong women, unsavory antagonists, and a tangled plot all come together to hold the reader’s attention in a firm grip from start to finish.

To this reader, the names for many of the characters are so much more than just names. They fit the characters’ personalities. Tripp, Turner, Smoke, and others tell so much about these characters and the part they play in the intricate plot. I personally had some special names for the bishop and priest and the sheriff. As I’ve mentioned, the characters are flawed—some a LOT more than others.

Another interesting little aside, the numbers tattooed on Charlotte’s arm and the little red light that shined through the hedges at night are seemingly just mentioned in passing, but each of them give the story another little unique element

Michael Hurley is a superb storyteller. THE VINEYARD is an attention-keeping novel to be enjoyed more than once.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Night Watch: An Em Ridge Mystery Book One by Linda Hall

November 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NIGHT
Night Watch: An Em Ridge Mystery Book One by Linda Hall
Publisher: Alexandria Publishing Group
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (273 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Desolate Maine shores… Murder… And peace slipping away on the outgoing tide…

For yacht delivery captain, Em Ridge, having a billionaire’s daughter go overboard on her first captaining job is not a good beginning. The sailboat is new, state of the art, her crew on this trip include two close sailing friends. But an unknown fourth, who can’t even tie a bowline, and the unruly owner’s daughter turn the idyllic trip into an adventure not wanted.

Two years ago Em buried her husband, her soulmate, her sailing buddy, and with him buried a secret. As hours on the open seas slide by, secrets are resurrected that tie Em’s past to a present, awash with murder and deception.

Will Em’s career go overboard? Will the investigating detective help her or hurt her? Any why does the best boat delivery captain on the east coast pull at her heart strings?
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The oft foggy coast of Maine holds secrets it does not want to give up, and a lot of bodies can be hidden in The Pine Tree State’s largest city.

Captain Em Ridge is thrilled to have her first job since she got her Coast Guard captain’s license, but after a week underway, it looks as if it might be her last. A billionaire’s daughter, Kricket, goes overboard and if that weren’t bad enough, she was dead before she hit the water, killed by mushroom poisoning.

The plot takes a number of unexpected turns, which include Em’s discovering that her husband’s death two years earlier, supposedly from a kayaking accident was no accident. Was her husband having an affair? Was everything she thought she knew about him a lie?

Em is a very strong character, well-defined, with strengths as well as weaknesses. She really resonated with me and I was hooked from the opening of the novel when Em is wakened from a dream about her dead husband to discover that Kricket is missing.

I learned a lot about boats, small and large, power and sail, and all the details added to the authenticity of the tale. The mystery is very well crafted, with plenty of suspects, so that Em is caught wondering just whom to trust. She takes on more of the investigation than is safe, but she is so worried about her husband’s death that she keeps searching, keeps asking questions, keeps getting in deeper and deeper.

The pacing is excellent, as the tension builds bit by bit. We see Em as she interacts with a number of people, so I felt as if I really got to know her. And I liked her neighbors, the sisters who argue, the aged widower, and others. They lent an authenticity and believability to the entire story.

The setting is very well-drawn and the fact that Em lives on a remote piece of land which requires a ferry at high tide adds not only realism but suspense. She doesn’t live far from Portland, Maine, but the geography becomes an added character in the story as Em has to navigate the terrain.

Mystery lovers are in for a real treat with Night Watch, which is promised to be the first in a series. I sure hope more books follow quickly as I really want to travel the seas with Em again soon.

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