Vendetta in Death (In Death #49) by J.D. Robb

352 pages

Publisher: Piatkus

Blurb

“He needed killing.

She’d researched, studied, planned the who, when, how and why for more than a year and had chosen Nigel B. McEnroy to be the first.”

When a family man is tortured, killed and left in front of his family home for all the world to see, Eve Dallas knows she is on the hunt for a particularly dangerous killer.

But death uncovers secrets and the killer leaves a note revealing the victim to be far from the family man he appears. As Eve scrambles to find out what she can to link victim and killer, another body is found. Another man with a dark and murky past.

The race is on before the killer strikes again but Eve must wrestle with her demons and her conscience as she decides whether she really wants to protect men who probably deserve everything they get...

Review

For the first time ever, I’m reviewing an In Death title by J.D Robb before it is actually available in the shops. I’m totally addicted to this series and usually bring the latest edition home as soon as it arrives in the library branch where I work, so being fast with my review isn’t new—beating the publication date is. 😊

So, how did I get my hands on an early copy you ask? Well, picture this:

Nora Roberts was recently on holidays in Ireland (check out her blog for wonderful descriptions and photos) and took an afternoon out of her travel schedule to meet with about 170 readers/fans in the gorgeous The Lodge at Ashford Castle. I booked a ticket to the event as soon as I found out about it, turned it into a long overdue weekend trip to Ireland’s west coast, and enjoyed every single minute of it.

The ‘meet the author / book signing event’ started with a conversation between local writer Kate Kerrigan and Nora. From the start it was clear that Kate was at least as big a fan-girl as the audience which meant she touched on many subjects during what was more a friendly chat than an interview I would have mentioned too and all in a relaxed, intimate feeling atmosphere.

When I booked my ticket, I saw there would also be an opportunity to get books signed and I have to admit that I was silently raging that the event would take place about three weeks too early for the release of Vendetta in Death. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that the book seller on the day also had copies of that title available. Getting my hands on that book and getting Nora’s signature was the crown on an already perfect day.

As for the book, Vendetta in Death is exactly what I've come to expect when I open a JD Robb book. It is always a delight to return to this cast of characters who, after 49 titles, feel more like family than made up creatures, and join the while they deal with gruesome crimes.

But, for me, these crimes (horrific as they were) came with an extra layer in this book. It is very hard, in a time of ‘me too’ and men getting away with sexual assault because judges don’t want to ‘destroy their lives’, not to sympathize with a woman who decides to take matters into her own hands and extract her own, nightmarish, form of ‘justice’ where the courts and society at large have failed. (And no, I’m not advocating people taking the law into their own hands, just saying that there are times when fantasizing about it can be very satisfying).

Eve Dallas being who she is has no qualms about hunting down and arresting our vigilante, but while doing so also takes the time to make sure that those women for whom justice has been elusive find a path that might lead them there. It was the perfect balance in this book and made the story that much more realistic as well as touching for me.

For what is probably the 49^th time I’m going to state that I can’t imagine ever getting tired of these books, the characters and their developing story lines, or the exquisite banter between Eve and the various other regulars, especially Roarke. It is safe to say that I’m already looking forward to book #50, even if I do have to wait until the new year for ....

Psychic Men (Hunt&Cam4Ever #5) by Adira August

Hunter Dane Investigation #3

Word Count: 60k

Publisher: RedDeer

Release Date: June 15, 2018

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Available through KU

Blurb

Hunter Dane and Camden Snow have settled into a satisfying routine of solving murders and hanging at the club, when they aren't expressing their affection for one another. Vigorously. A great life in an idyllic location. Until a skinny kid who barely came up to Cam's chin sought out Detective Lieutenant Dane... 

"I saw my father last night," Asher Gamble told him. "He said Jason Furney's going to die and people will say I did it." 

Hunt frowned. The boy's name seemed familiar. "Tell me the rest of it." 

Asher locked his gaze on Hunt's as intractably as Cam ever had. 

"My father killed my mother and my brother when I was two years old. He died in prison four years ago." 

So much for routine. 

A 60k word police procedural. The third Hunter Dane Investigation and the 5th book in the Hunt&Cam4Ever mm bdsm series. For adult lovers of suspense and apple pie for breakfast.

Psychic Men will be released June 15^th. If you pre-order the book before then, you can get this amazing story for only $1.99. What are you waiting for?

Review

“But I want you. I never wanted anyone before, not some specific person. I don’t do halfway any more than you do. I want you to let go. To trust me.” – Hunt

It’s hard to believe less than a year has passed since I first encountered Hunter Dane and Camden Snow. Over the course of twelve months and five books these two men have firmly established themselves as unforgettable, glorious, and favourite characters. Hunt and Cam have become real for me, I truly feel I know them, and can’t quite make myself believe that it is actually impossible to ever meet them face to face.

Like Matchstick Men and Dancing Men this book is a mystery novel as well as the continuation of Hunt and Cam’s relationship. In this review I’ll talk about these two aspects of the story separately, if only because I would like my review to make sense.

The mystery is intricate and well plotted and just a wee bit otherworldly. From the previous books we know that Hunter’s skills as an investigator are as much due to his intuitive powers, and his willingness to trust those, as to his focused approach to each case. Psychic Men takes that intuition one step further, into the realm of spirituality. While the case is solved and closed as a result of accepted investigative procedures, the lead up, aftermath, and even the motive are all deeply rooted in less earth-bound ideas. (I realise I’m being somewhat vague here, but that’s on purpose; I wouldn’t want to spoil the story or the mystery for anyone.) I want to say the otherworldly stayed well within the believable spectrum in this story. But then, I am a firm believer in intuition and premonition.   

Also as in the previous books, both the crime and the players initially remain somewhat vague and disguised. The past creeps into the future and nothing and nobody is quite what it seems. But exactly what is going on and how it relates to the glimpses of the past we’re shown, is only revealed slowly, making the reader wonder, guess and second guess before being turned around again. Which of course serves to make this book unputdownable as soon you get stuck into it. And that is without mentioning the one or two truly heart stopping and danger-filled scenes.

Now for our two heroes. Hunt and Cam are hot (do I hear a loud ‘Duh’?). In fact, they are at least as hot in this story as they were in the previous books and, what’s more, they continue to explore new avenues. Just when you think you know exactly how the dynamic between them works, they switch it up. The scenes where Hunt gets to control Cam for twelve hours and ‘tortures’ him with tenderness were delicious. And Hunt’s contrasting feelings when it comes to his submission to Cam will never lose their magic or fail to mesmerize me.

The gleam in Cam’s eyes promised Hunter a reprisal he looked forward to fearing and desiring and suffering and savouring.”

In On His knees Cam told Hunt the following:

“There are no limits. You have no safeword. You do nothing I do not order. I don’t stop until I’m done.

“You have one chance to walk away. Once I restrain you, nothing and no one can or will rescue you. I’m all there is.”

It isn’t until this book that both Hunt and the reader get to understand the full meaning of those words. In On His Knees those words were a warning, giving Hunt the opportunity to reconsider submitting to Cam. This time they’re an ultimatum; Cam will no longer accept anything less than all Hunt has to give; anytime, anywhere. Cam has a destination in mind for himself and the sub he loves, even if he knows the road to getting there will be strenuous.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Hunt and Cam have taken me hostage. They’ve wormed their way into my consciousness and I absorb their stories rather than read them. Anybody who enjoys the darker side of BDSM, loves observing two strong men establish a relationship that is uniquely theirs, and thrives on well researched and immaculately plotted mysteries, will find a piece of heaven in the Hunt&Cam4Ever series.

“But building a relationship that didn’t revolve about this constant power struggle, would take all his strength and determination, as well as Hunter’s.

My previous Hunt&Cam4Ever reviews:

On His Knees | Matchstick Men | Dancing Men | Snowed In

The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz - A Pre-Release Review

388 Pages

Publisher: Mira Press

Buy links paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

They called themselves “the lucky ones.” They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.

Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She's determined to find out what really happened that fateful night--was it an accident or, as she's always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?

But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she'll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.

A vivid and suspenseful tale of family, grief, love—and the dark secrets that bind everything together—Tiffany Reisz’s latest is enthralling to the final page.

Review

Well now, what to say about this book? I have no idea what I want to rate it, never mind how I’m going to put into words everything that’s buzzing through my head right now.

Maybe I should start with the easy part. The Lucky Ones is a fascinating, gripping, very well written, and captivating gothic tale. And yet, most of this story is deceptively light. There’s a constant glimmer of something sinister, but it’s barely visible. And, initially at least, any issue or contradiction is easily explained away.

The reader is very aware something isn’t quite right from the start. Allison hasn’t seen the people she considered her family for thirteen years and can’t remember any details about her last hours/days in their company. It takes a major upset in the life she’s created for herself since, combined with a distressing letter to take her back to the place and the people she hasn’t seen since she was twelve.

Both the house and those who welcome her there appear, at first glance, nothing but friendly, loving even. It was so easy to fall for Dr. Capello, Roland, and the twins. And yet, now that Allison sees her companions through adult eyes she can’t help feeling she’s missing a vital part of the story. And because whatever that story may be, appears to be connected to her departure and missing memories, Allison sets out to find out what exactly happened in the house that looks like a dragon.

I really don’t want to say a whole lot more about the story itself, about what Allison discovers once she starts digging into the past, except to say that it is, indeed, horrific, and yet….

To truly appreciate this story you need to be able to get caught up in Allison’s quest, share her revelations as she encounters them, and reach your conclusions as she reaches hers. If you’re anything like me you will be mesmerised, shocked, horrified, and asking yourself questions you’ve never asked before.

It was impossible not to get caught up in the tug of war going on in Allison’s heart and mind. Seeing her torn between horror and love, trying to figure out which was the stronger emotion was powerful. In the hands of a lesser author this set-up might have gone horribly wrong. But Tiffany Reisz managed to convey the events without ever making a moral judgement; conclusion have to be drawn by the characters, the reader. At no point does the author try to tell you what to think and feel.

There’s an art to making the sinister sound plausible, even borderline moral. I’m in awe that Tiffany Reisz managed to make me care about a character I should detest. At least, I think I should detest him.

I want to say this is a book you should try to read together with at least one other person. I find myself wanting to talk about what I’ve read, compare notes, and discover whether or not others interpreted events the way I did. If ever a book posed a moral issue or two, this is it. And, as I said before, I’m not at all sure how I feel about what I read and how the book ended.

I’m left with a few questions such as, how far would I be prepared to go to protect someone from themselves, or to protect the people I love? And also, what is ‘memory’ anyway, and can any of us trust what we think we remember?

I adore books that stretch my boundaries, take me by surprise, and make me think. The Lucky Ones sure as hell did that, and then some. I’m not sure how I feel about a book that makes me wonder whether or not there may be something wrong with my moral compass. On the other hand I’m in awe of the author for being able to make me feel compassion for a character I’m pretty sure I should hate.

On a much lighter note; what is it with Tiffany Reisz and men who take holy vows and then succumb to the lures of a beautiful woman?

Because there are plenty of light and funny moments in this book too. That’s what made the story almost deceptive. I almost missed the creepy because the characters were all, on the surface at least, very nice, charming and interesting. And Allison is the kindest of narrators. She wants to see the good in people, she looks for reasons to redeem or forgive them when they’re less than perfect.

So yeah, 1000 words later, I’m still no clearer on how I feel about this book. But since I would recommend it to anyone who likes a story that will challenge them, because I couldn’t stop reading once I started, and because I’m still thinking about the book, twenty-four hours after I finished it, I think I’ll settle on 5 stars.

“If I wanted to judge people all day I’d either be a priest or get a Facebook account” - Roland

An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2) by Parker Williams and K.C. Wells

Title: An Unlocked Mind

Series: Secrets Book #2

Author: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

Genre: M/M Romance Light BDSM

Release Date: December 11, 2017 

Rob Daniels is determined to prove to himself that his brother Alex got it wrong. Alex believes he found love through BDSM; Rob is certain that’s not possible. He even makes several visits to a London club to prove his point. But when he attends the grand opening of Secrets, Rob gets a shock, one that has him fleeing, vowing never to return—until he does… and runs into the brick wall that is Dom Vic Prentiss. As first meetings go, theirs is a disaster.

The more time he spends around Rob, the more convinced Vic becomes of two things—one, something is eating away at Rob, and two, he’s looking for something. Every instinct tells Vic to help him, but trying to unlock the secrets hidden in Rob’s mind requires a key. All Vic has to do is find it. Because maybe then he’ll get to see the real Rob, the man who’s scared to let go….

DREAMSPINNER PRESS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, I’m sure you remember Rob. Yes, him! The little shit of a brother to Alex from ‘An Unlocked Heart’. What? You don’t? You haven’t read ‘An Unlocked Heart’? Maybe you haven’t read any of the ‘Collars and Cuffs’ books? I’m sorry, but you really shouldn’t be here reading this review.

I’m serious. Do. Not. Read. This. Book. …Or my review of it unless you’ve read at the very least An Unlocked Heart first. Trust me. You’ll thank me for this advice. Not only is it an amazing book, reading it first will also mean that you’ll enjoy this book so very much more than you could possibly do without having that background story.

And while I’m talking about the background story, I have to admit that when I discovered that the authors were about to attempt to redeem the bastard named Rob I had serious doubts. I love and admire every single word I’ve read by Wells and Williams, but I still couldn’t see how they could possibly make me like, never mind love, Rob; not after everything he’d put Alex through.

So I wasn’t surprised when it took me a while before I could see any possibly redeeming qualities in him. I spent quite a few chapters wondering what on earth Vic could see in the obnoxious little shit. And then the magic started. I suddenly found myself feeling something closely resembling pity for poor, confused, and downtrodden Rob. It happened almost imperceptibly but I reached a point where I suddenly realised his anger was directed at himself more than anyone else and a result of fear and frustration rather than any deep rooted evil. Watching him fight the habits of long and lonely years to better himself, to become the man he could be, the man Vic had somehow recognised in him early on, was a thing of ever increasing magnificence and beauty.

Vic… If ever a man was destined for sainthood, it has to be him. How he didn’t just leave Rob struggling in the rain after what he’d said moments earlier I’ll never know. How he kept on putting up with Rob despite his horrendous behaviour is beyond me. But he did somehow guess at all the things Rob kept hidden, even from himself, and managed to tease them out with infinite patience. In the process he took both Rob and the reader on an almost magical journey, and I don’t mean that as in ‘unbelievable’. In a way Vic opened both Rob and the reader’s heart, eyes, and mind (pun intended) to things that had been buried so deeply they were all but invisible. It was a voyage filled with twists, and turnarounds, often a case of two steps forward followed by one step back, and all the more mesmerising for it.

Of course there are one or two issues to resolve between Rob and his brother Alex (from An Unlocked Heart). No matter how much Rob grows as a result of Vic’s patience, dominance and love, he can’t fully heal until he deals with this, the biggest of his demons. It happens. The two young men find themselves face to face. And… Yeah, right? As if there was ever a chance of me spoiling that for you. All I’ll say about that part of the story is that the authors hit what for me was the perfect note, making the reunion realistic and convincing. But really, if you’ve read and enjoyed the previous book (and maybe grown to deeply dislike, if not hate, Rob) you’ll want to read An Unlocked Mind just for that scene.

If you’re familiar with the previous books by these authors you don’t need me to tell you that they’re in a class of their own when it comes to emotions and sexiness. And just when you’re sure that there couldn’t possibly be a BDSM scene they hadn’t already covered, they come up with something new, and what’s more, something that is perfectly suited to the characters in the story you’re reading.

And of course it was a delight to catch moments with Eli and Jarod. I love that with every new book we get to know these two characters a little bit better than we did before. And the fact that other characters from the Collars and Cuffs series either make a cameo appearance or get mentioned, is a very much appreciated added bonus. And of course we get to spend a little bit more time with Ellis and Wayne (Before You Break) too.

All in all I have to admit that this story was much, much better than I dared hope or expect before I started reading it. I probably should have known better than to doubt these two authors; they have proven once again that they are in a league of their own when it comes to telling a riveting, convincing, and deeply touching story.

DREAMSPINNER PRESS

K.C. Wells started writing in 2012, although the idea of writing a novel had been in her head since she was a child. But after reading that first gay romance in 2009, she was hooked.

She now writes full time, and the line of men in her head, clamouring to tell their story, is getting longer and longer. If the frequent visits by plot bunnies are anything to go by, that’s not about to change anytime soon.

Dreamspinner Press

Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.

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The Palisade (Lavender Shore #1) by Rosalind Abel

Lavender Shores #1

243 Pages

Release Date: June 20, 2017

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Available on Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Confident businessman Joel Rhodes sees the small California town of Lavender Shores as nothing more than a business opportunity and a final stepping stone to the position he’s been working toward his entire life. It was supposed to be just one night in town to close the deal, and sleeping with one of the local men, no matter how gorgeous, meant nothing more than a few hours of fun.

Andrew Kelly is perfectly content with the life he has in his hometown. So much so that the only thing missing is someone to share it with. Going to bed with a tourist was never meant to be the answer to his dreams, just a beautiful distraction. He could get back to looking for Mr. Right the next day.

Both Andrew’s and Joel’s worlds are turned upside down when a few hours of pleasure get extended to a couple of days. Even that shouldn’t have been a big deal. You can’t fall in love in that amount of time. That isn’t how it works. However, if destinies collide, a few short days may be all it takes to find your soul mate. Even so, when secrets and motivations get tangled, fate may do nothing more than leave two hearts in pieces. 

Review

The Palisade is a quintessential romance; everything a reader thinks about and expects when looking for a love story. This particular story also happens to feature ‘insta-everything’. Insta-attraction, insta-lust, and insta-love. And while that shouldn’t have worked, or at the very least should have made me role my eyes, I have to admit it not only suited the story and the characters (especially Andrew) perfectly, it also swept me up in the passion of it all and made me forget about the rest of the world for a few very enjoyable hours.

Andrew and Joel are attracted to each other as soon as they lay eyes on each other in a restaurant in Lavender Shore. And from that moment on, they are set on a course that appears fated; as if no power on earth could stop their coming together. But of course, life is rarely that easy, and even for these two men, who obviously are meant to be together, there are obstacles to overcome.

Because we are privy to both men’s thoughts we can see Andrew’s heartbreak and the reasons why it will happen, coming long before it becomes obvious to him. Andrew isn’t naïve, he knows his feelings are too strong and too soon and he tries to stop himself from hoping and dreaming; none of which helps when he eventually discovers exactly why Joel is in Lavender Shore.

Andrew is such a romantic. He has his dreams of meeting the love of his life and having it all: the house with the picket fence in Lavender Shore, kids, dogs, and happily ever after. And no matter how often he's been disappointed, he can't stop dreaming:

"Those fantasies dried up with each little heartbreak and were pounded into dust by the larger ones. But still, I'd visit the palisade, and for a moment, I'd feel a man's strong arms around me, the scruff on his cheek scratch against mine. Maybe that would never happen in real life, but in those moments, in the beautiful, sad moments, those sensations were enough."

I was a bit torn about Joel. I understand that he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. And nobody throws away a lifetime of trying to become something or someone based on a few days of strong attraction, and yet… The lies he had to tell and the secrets he had to keep bothered me more with each passing page. Not because I didn’t understand why they were necessary, or because his reasons didn’t make sense. No, they bothered me because I couldn’t bear the thought of the pain those lies and secrets would inflict on both of them once they were uncovered. And  while Joel's feelings are as strong as Andrew's, he is all too aware of what's to come:

"It also meant I was even more bonkers than he was. He felt all that shit and didn't know how it was going to end. I did. I knew the end. Hell, I knew the end almost to the hour and minute. And I still felt it.

But, the painful and somewhat angsty part of the story is minimal compared to the pure joy of seeing these two men coming together. The passion between them is searing and the rapidly developing and growing feelings they have for each other touched me deeply, especially because even Andrew and Joel were fully aware that it shouldn’t, couldn’t be possible to feel love after only a few days.

While obviously Andrew and Joel are the star performers in this book, the cast"of secondary characters are almost as fascinating as they are. For starters, there is Lavender Shore itself. And yes, I do consider the location a character in this book. What’s not to love about a town created to provide a safe haven for LGBTQ… people? And I do like the idea of a community that hangs on to its integrity by resisting commercialism. Among the ‘secondaries’, Andrew’s father took a star role. His sense of humour and outspokenness made me laugh out loud on several occasions. He also serves as a stark but perfect contrast to Joel’s tyrannical and uncaring — almost but not quite to the point of being a caricature — father.

Long review short: The Palisade is a wonderful, hot, and captivating romance in the purest sense of the word. The characters will capture your attention within the first few pages and refuse to let you go until you’ve accompanied them on their mostly joyful and passionate journey towards a happily ever after. As summer reads go, this one is pretty much perfect. 

If my review has made you curious about Lavender Shores and the people who live there, why don’t you visit its website and find out all about it. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the site and the only risk you take is that you might find yourself heading over to Amazon to get your hands on the book(s) asap. All is revealed here: Lavender Shores

"When my dreams came true, I noticed." - Andrew