Feature: The Steele Ridge Series by Adrienne Giordano, Kelsey Browning and Tracey Devlyn

Meet Adrienne Giordano, Kelsey Browning and Tracey Devlyn authors of the Steele Ridge series.

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery.  She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane's Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction.  

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Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin' love stories full of hot heroes, saucy heroines and spicy romance. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she's either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a Canine Companions for Independence puppy. She's currently at work on the next book in her Texas Nights series and The Granny Series. Give her a shout at Kelsey@KelseyBrowning.com or drop by www.KelseyBrowning.com. For info on her upcoming releases, subscribe to her Sass Kickin' News.

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Tracey Devlyn is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine’s happy ending). She’s a co-founder of Romance University, a group blog dedicated to readers and writers of romance, and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, Chicagoland’s exciting new reading salon devoted to romantic fiction.

An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekends torturing her characters. For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website.

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ARC Review: Exposing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

Exposing Justice is a part of a series but each part of the series is a standalone that focuses on members of the Justice Team. When the book begins, Brice/Hawk, the Hero in the story is not quite a member of the Justice Team but as the book progresses he gets sucked in. Just in case you're like me and you started the series here, from what I can glean, the Justice Team is a group of men who investigate high level conspiracies and crimes. The issues in which the Justice Team involves itself are those that our elected officials pass on because they tend to be a direct or indirect part of the wrongdoing. And now you're up to speed.

Hope is the female lead in this story. She works in the office of public information for the US Supreme Court and receives a call from Brice about what could be a conspiracy to murder the Chief Justice of the High Court. As the story progresses, Hope goes from trying to prevent Brice from running a story about the alleged conspiracy on his investigative blog to being wild attracted to Brice and his partner in hunting for the truth of what happened to the Justice.

I was intrigued by the set up for this story. The opening scene is gripping and pulls you right in. At the beginning it feels like this is going to be a high level conspiracy theory type of read. But as the book goes on, the story loses steam instead of gaining steam. The suspense drags a bit because there aren't enough revelations close enough in time. At some points it feels like the suspense side of things is just a throw in to provide context for the relationship between Hope and Brice....Which brings me to my next point.

I didn't feel the chemistry between Hope and Brice. I got that Brice wanted Hope because she was hot but I didn't get a sense of what drew him to her beyond that. In fact, Brice seemed totally cynical about Hope's entire optimistic outlook on life. Now maybe he was cynical and yet drawn to it because he needed some "hope" in his life (see what I did there?). I dunno if that's true or not, it wasn't clearly depicted in the story line.

And then there was Hope, I jusssst didn't like her. She is supposed to be smart but she does some stupid stuff. For example, the whole bridge investigation in the middle of the night. I was just staring at my Kindle going 'but why though?' And then I know this is petty but Hope's semi narcolepsy and consequent snoring was just not doing anything positive for me. Finally, Hope kept saying stuff that annoyed the sh!t out of me like "wowser." And she also referred to her attraction to Brice as her inner Hormona. Get it, like hormones...I HATED that. And that's all I have to say about that.

Also sex, there wasn't enough and it took too long to get there.

One side note: I didn't get why Toni Gerard was thrown into the investigation plot. I thought he stole some scenes that should have been just Hope and Brice.

So at the end of the day, this was a well written book that had a good premise and a strong beginning but didn't carry the day in terms of romance or suspense. I've read reviews that suggest the other books in this series are good and that this may not be the strongest representation of the series. I believe that. These authors are good enough that I would give them another chance.

**ARC provided by Authors**

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Feature and Giveaway: Exposing Justice by Misty Evans & Adrienne Giordano

Fans of the Justice Team Series will love this action-packed third installment!

As a Public Information officer for the US Supreme Court, idealist Hope Denby knows how to spin a story. A journalist at heart, she loves being in the middle of a juicy scoop and has her sights set on future Press Secretary for the White House. When the Supreme Court Chief Justice is accidentally killed in a road rage accident, and a high-profile conspiracy blogger claims it was premeditated murder, Hope has to shut down the paranoid blogger—which should be a slam dunk until she discovers he’s not as crazy as she thought and she has more in common with the secretive, hard-hitting investigator then she’d like to admit.

Cyber resistance against government corruption isn’t just a theory for Brice Brennan on his blog, The First Amendment Patriot. As a former ATF agent who blew the whistle on his superiors, he’s no stranger to government cover-ups and scandals. An anonymous tip on the Chief Justice’s death sends him searching for answers. What he finds is a sexy, young idealist about to blow his private, behind-the-scenes world to pieces.

Brice and Hope couldn’t be more opposite, but exposing justice makes them partners—and puts them on the track of a ruthless killer. As their investigation takes them into the dark underbelly of Washington politics and murder-for-hire, it also takes them into the bedroom where passion erupts and emotional walls crumble. But when the killer makes an attempt on Hope’s life, will Brice be able to keep her safe? Or will blowing the whistle on corruption and greed mean losing the one person he’s allowed himself to love?

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Interview with Author Adrienne Giordano and Giveaway

Meet Adrienne Giordano author of The Detective.

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane's Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction.

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ARC Review: Cheating Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

I’m a fan of RS authors Adrienne Giordano and Misty Evans individually, so having them collaborate on a series is a treat. After thoroughly enjoying the first book in The Justice Team series, I jumped at the chance to read its follow-up, CHEATING JUSTICE. Who doesn’t love the pairing up of a renegade ex-FBI agent on the lam, a strait-laced FBI SWAT sniper on administrative leave, and an ex-ATF-agent-turned-government-watchdog-blogger on a mission to expose a government cover-up? Genius, and Ms. Giordano and Ms. Evans deliver with compelling characters, a gripping plot, witty dialogue, and searing sexual chemistry.

CHEATING JUSTICE starts off with a bang, with fugitive hero Mitch Monroe—on the run for the past year after assaulting his superior in the FBI for trying to sweep a politically-sensitive case under the rug—clandestinely meeting up with a childhood friend and current presidential aide to get info on the suspicious death of their other best friend, FBI Special Agent Tommy Nusco, during an ATF-FBI gun-running investigation… only to discover his friend murdered and himself the #1 suspect the next morning. That kicks Mitch’s investigation onto what went down to end with Tommy dead and labelled dirty—and how high up the government hierarchy the conspiracy to cover up the case goes—into high gear, and he seeks out one-time fling, former colleague under the same boss he assaulted (and whose career he nearly wrecked), and badass sniper Special Agent Caroline Foster. Initially, Caroline wants nothing to do with Mitch or his career-suicide mission, but classified case files and a dressing down from her superior for trying to access them changes her mind, and the two of them—plus a blogger they pick up along the way—embark on a quest for the truth that gets more complex and surprising with every lead they uncover.

The fast-paced and superbly-written suspense plot drew me in, but what really kept me turning the pages and rooting for the clearing of Tommy’s name were the characters. We met Mitch in the first book, STEALING JUSTICE, and got glimpses of his charm, loyalty, and act-now-think-later personality. The murders of his two closest friends force him out of hiding to investigate—with the FBI after him for murder in addition to insubordination & assault—and right back to the fellow agent he shared an unbelievable night of passion with. One he hoped would be the start of something but that Caroline ran scared from (but has never forgotten) before his Bureau career imploded and nearly incinerated hers. Mitch is an all-around good guy who doesn’t see himself that way and doesn’t let people in, a protector loyal to a fault, and single-minded in his pursuit of the truth and justice for his friends—even at the (potential) cost of his own freedom. The burn-the-book renegade attitude that made him a fugitive in the first place adds an edge to his charm and flirtatious banter… and those T-shirts: Bad Cop never looked so good! It’s refreshing that he’s the one wanting more, being upfront about it, and putting the brakes on something purely physical (again) with Caroline. More importantly, he’s the perfect counterpoint to Caroline’s control-freak and meticulous by-the-book personality, and the push-pull of their relationship and their prior history make for some entertaining banter and situations as Mitch coaxes her over to the dark side. Ms. Giordano and Ms. Evans do an excellent job creating a heroine that is completely kickass—a female sniper!—without compromising her femininity, and watching her finally learn to let go enough to admit her feelings for Mitch was very rewarding.

CHEATING JUSTICE is an excellent continuation of The Justice Team series and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable page-turning read. Looking forward to seeing what these talented authors have in store next for the motley Justice Team crew!

**ARC provided by Authors**

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Feature and Giveaway: Cheating Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

The second novel in the exciting and bestselling Justice Team romantic suspense series!!

While investigating a government cover-up, former FBI agent Mitch Monroe is framed for murder. A wanted man, Mitch has no choice but to stay off the grid, and he needs Special Agent Caroline Foster—the FBI’s top sniper and a woman who wants nothing to do with him—to clear his name.

After sharing a single night of simmering passion with Mitch a year ago, Caroline hasn’t been able to get him out of her head. Or her heart. He's jeopardized her job once…helping him now could end her career. But a friend has been murdered, and no matter how Caroline feels about Mitch, he's not the killer. She needs answers, and she needs Mitch Monroe out of her life once and for all.

On the run and with no one to turn to, Mitch and Caroline can’t fight the reigniting passion between them. She’ll lose her career if she proves Mitch is innocent…he’ll lose his life if she doesn’t.

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ARC Review: The Defender by Adrienne Giordano

Categories are my new book crack. I’d thoroughly enjoyed Adrienne Giordano’s first entry in the Harlequin Intrigue line, THE PROSECUTOR, and wanted to be BFFs with that hero’s sister, so I was really looking forward to reading THE DEFENDER and meeting the man tough (or crazy) enough to take on fearless defence attorney Penny Hennings. Though THE DEFENDER follows THE PROSECUTOR, it can be read as a standalone and delivers a story that is classic Adrienne Giordano: fast-paced, full of witty repartee, sexy and sweet, and with two strong protagonists that are perfect for each other in the most real way.

THE DEFENDER starts off with a bang, with someone taking shots at sassy Chicago defence attorney Penny Hennings and her legendary father during an impromptu press conference on the courthouse steps and hunky FBI Special Agent Russell “Russ” Voight stepping in to save the day. The threat is related to a stock fraud case Russ has worked for over a year and that needs the testimony from one of Penny’s clients to put the perpetrator in jail for life. In true suspense fashion, we know the villain’s identity from the beginning; the tension ratchets up with every chapter as the threat to Penny’s and her client’s lives escalates and Penny and Russ must work closely together despite essentially seeing each other as “the enemy”. The fact that the hero and heroine stand on opposite sides of the great divide—the way Russ sees it, Penny’s job is to dismantle months/years of work law enforcement officers busted their asses on—but are hopelessly drawn to each other makes for a fascinating and endlessly entertaining relationship dynamic, and I found myself flipping pages equally driven by the desire to see the villain get his comeuppance and by the Russ-and-Penny show. Since essentially eviscerating Russ on the stand during cross-examination a few months ago (and earning herself the moniker ‘Killer Cupcake’), he has featured prominently in Penny’s fantasies even though he has the worst possible job for a defence attorney. Russ is, in his own words, a “sick, demented man” because he can’t help wanting Penny after that verbal lashing—even though he has an innate dislike for defence lawyers and falling for her could derail the fraud case he’s so invested in. Watching them waver between they should do (keep their hands off each other) and what they want to do (jump into bed, stat) is equal parts hilarious and sweet. I really enjoyed Russ and Penny as a couple because they perfectly complement each other despite their differences, and I absolutely loved how Russ just gets and knows how to go with Penny’s pushier whirlwind personality.

Ms. Giordano excels at writing characters that are layered and real, and Penny and Russ are no exception. In THE PROSECUTOR, Penny comes across as an unflappable, tough-as-nails attorney who will go to any length to protect her clients, kicking ass and taking names along the way. That same strength is apparent in THE DEFENDER, but we also get a look behind the Killer Cupcake façade and see the insecurities of a woman who’s spent her adult life trying to prove her professional worth and that her job at her father’s prestigious law firm was earnt and not simply given to her because of her surname. I wanted Penny to be my BFF when she was nothing but fearless and kickass, but seeing her vulnerable makes her incredibly real and makes her motivations for her (misguided) deal with the devil believable and relatable—even if I don’t agree with her. Russ is an all-around good guy with the right touch of alpha and a wicked sense of humour, and I absolutely wanted to take him home. He understands Penny perfectly and is there for her every step of the way, even when she’s being an idiot and he has the inevitable man moment. Those painstakingly organised jars of white gummy bears, Penny’s favourite treat? Be still, my heart!

With THE DEFENDER, Adrienne Giordano delivers another great, action-packed story heavier on the thrills and lighter on the romance with loveable and well-matched characters and a fun, witty writing style that makes it approachable and enjoyable for readers of all genres. A thoroughly enjoyable way to while away a couple of hours!

**ARC provided by Author**

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Feature and Giveaway: The Defender by Adrienne Giordano

By all accounts, Penny Hennings was the sort of woman FBI special agent Russell Voight went for. Smart, sexy and with just enough sass to keep him honest. Then she went sticking her nose in undercover FBI business. He knew her legal reputation would skyrocket if she won this case. But every move she makes undoes all the work Russell’s put into taking down the city’s biggest crooks. And the criminals they’re after will do anything to avoid the witness stand—including kill. So it’s time to pool their resources and collaborate. Even if working together everyday day takes them late into the night…and into the line of fire.

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ARC Review: The Prosecutor by Adrienne Giordano

I admit it: I’ve spent many years (okay, at least a decade) snubbing category romances because, as a fairly fast reader, a book shorter than 300 pages never felt sufficiently meaty. Now that life gets in the way of my reading, I’ve developed a love affair with Harlequin’s suspense line of category romances: Intrigue for a larger dose of suspense layered over romance and Romantic Suspense for that extra shot of romance to go with the pulse-pounding suspense. These two lines have become my romance crack: short enough that I can read them over a couple of visits to the gym or during my (rare) down time, but substantial enough to deliver a satisfying and complete story. And it doesn’t hurt that some of my favourite long-form romantic suspense authors also publish with these lines: more of what I love all around! That was the case with Adrienne Giordano’s THE PROSECUTOR: having thoroughly enjoyed her Private Protectors and Justice Team novels, I jumped at the chance to read her first Harlequin Intrigue—and was rewarded with a page-turner that has it all: murder, corruption, a swoon-worthy hero, a kickass heroine, and hilarious sibling banter.

THE PROSECUTOR starts off with rising Chicago Assistant State’s Attorney Zac Hennings being handed a potentially career-making case: ensuring the convicted murderer of a Chicago cop’s daughter remains behind bars in the face of new evidence. Enter first-year law student and sister of said convicted murderer Emma Sinclair, who’s made it her life’s mission to prove her brother’s innocence and hold her crumbling world together. One face-to-face meeting in Zac’s office and both he and Emma are sunk—and what's more rife with drama and angst than falling for the prosecutor in your brother’s murder case or sleeping with the sister of the man you’re tasked with keeping locked up? I loved Zac and Emma together and how they perfectly complemented each other: the chaos of her life to the orderliness of his and his willingness to share any burden to her aching aloneness. Watching them struggle with what they should do (stay away from each other) and what they want to do (jump each other any chance they get) is equal parts hilarious and poignant, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship evolve and rooting for their HEA—even with the accelerated pace of the category length and the backseat the romance takes to the suspense plot.

Much of my enjoyment of Zac and Emma as a couple stems from liking them so much individually. Ms. Giordano does an excellent job portraying Emma as an incredibly strong woman who’s taken entirely too many knocks in life and gotten back up every time in a way that inspires genuine empathy without overdoing it and making her unrealistic. Her incredible drive is a defence mechanism against endless hurts, her philosophical take on her family’s crappy luck is refreshing, and her bad, bad thoughts involving one sexy prosecutor are hilarious—in short, she’s real and I want to be her friend. And, oh, Zac—the ultimate good guy with a heart of gold who waits in the rain to follow the girl that dumped him home to ensure her safety slays me every time. Aside from that inevitable man moment (which he makes up for in spades), he is just about perfect in a way that’s endearing and will make you want to take him home and snuggle him. I loved how he started out focused on upholding that conviction but had no qualms about ensuring that justice (rather than a political agenda) prevailed as his investigation revealed huge holes and improprieties in the case. And his banter and good-natured ribbing with his sister Penny—the defence attorney working Emma’s case pro bono—is a hoot. Ms. Giordano has a knack for witty repartee, and the laid-back, approachable prose really made it shine.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed THE PROSECUTOR. The fast-paced, action-packed storyline kept me engrossed and eager to turn pages and the well-crafted and loveable characters made it an even more memorable read. I cannot wait to read Popsicle Penny’s (who should absolutely be my BFF) story in June! Definitely recommended for Adrienne Giordano fans or anyone looking for a quick romantic suspense read weighted toward the suspense but with enough romance (and a scrumptious lawyer hero) to keep it firmly in the romance camp.

**ARC provided by Author**

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Feature and Giveaway: The Prosecutor by Adrienne Giordano

Two attorneys with everything to lose fight for justice in THE PROSECUTOR

Chicago assistant state’s attorney Zac Hennings just got handed a political hot potato: keeping the convicted murderer in a high-profile case behind bars. He’s up against his most formidable—and alluring—adversary. First-year law student Emma Sinclair is passionately fighting to free her brother. But she needs the take-no-prisoners prosecutor’s help.

Caught between attraction and letting a killer go free, Zac walks a tightrope. Until evidence surfaces that the real culprit’s still out there. With his career and Emma’s life on the line, Zac races to right a terrible wrong. Refusing to back down, he’ll bring a cunning lawbreaker to justice—or die trying.

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ARC Review: Stealing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

I'm always on the lookout for new romantic suspense reads, and having enjoyed Adrienne Giordano's Private Protectors series, picking up her new RS collaboration with Misty Evans (whose solo books I haven't yet read, but will surely check out now) was a no-brainer. Renegade ex-FBI agent(s) hell-bent on justice and righting wrongs, a mission to infiltrate a high-priced escort ring, and political intrigue? Sold! I thoroughly enjoy RS that's lighter on the romance if the suspense storyline is strong and the characters compelling, and STEALING JUSTICE-- the book that kicks off the new The Justice Team series-- thoroughly delivers on its promise.

STEALING JUSTICE is very much a suspense book--lighter on the heart-pounding action than a thriller and less a whodunit than a mystery-- but still manages to throw in a few curveballs. Hero Justice "Grey" Greystone, former Army Ranger and FBI agent whose law enforcement career is in the toilet for insubordination, is hot on the trail of a serial killer known as The Lion and determined to prove it's a powerful Lebanese diplomat who hunts in a private DC club frequented by the political glitterati and high-priced call girls. The investigation and its potential political fallout cost Grey and his partner Monroe (the hero of the next book in the series) their FBI careers, but Grey is obsessed with catching The Lion and returning to the FBI. Heroine Sydney Banfield runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence and (undoubtedly illegally) helps some of the women 'disappear' to escape their abusive husbands. The Lion's last three victims were women that passed through her shelter and supposedly moved on to government jobs but were instead recruited into the escort ring. In Syd, Grey sees the perfect bait to trap The Lion: a smart, sexy woman who can infiltrate the call girl ring to catch The Lion's attention but hold her own against him. And in Grey's off-the-books mission, Syd sees a way to keep a vicious predator from hurting any more women. In true suspense fashion, most of the book is spent setting and springing the trap, building the tension and wondering if The Lion will take the bait and be caught-- and the quality writing and pacing keep the tension taut throughout. There is also enough action and an unexpected twist to keep the reader thoroughly engrossed in the story and eager to keep turning pages.

I'm one of those people who can't fully enjoy a book--no matter how good the plot-- unless I m emotionally invested in the characters. I really, really liked both Grey and Syd, and who they were together. They're both beautifully and realistically flawed characters whose pasts have defined who they are, and bringing those flaws together brings out the best in each other. Grey is a natural protector, alpha without being autocratic (though he likes to be in control because that lets him protect those he loves better-- that Rules of Engagement scene is both incredibly touching and hilarious), and incredibly loyal-- characteristics I love in a hero! He carries a boatload of guilt for having been unable to protect his younger sister from being killed by her stoned-off-his-ass boyfriend, and that crushing guilt and sense of failure drive him and fuel his singleminded determination to stop The Lion by any means necessary. That mile-wide protective streak and unwavering loyalty put him at odds with himself over throwing Syd into the lion's den, and he spends the bulk of the book torn between selfishly using Syd to get what he wants and keeping her tucked safely away. I'm a sucker for a man that bears the weight of the world on his shoulders and learns to unload some of the burden aided by the love of a good woman, and Grey has that in spades. And he's just so sweet and steady--exactly what Syd needs-- that I just want to take him home... oh, those cupcakes!

Syd is equally flawed and shaped by her past: her mother's sexual assault by the powerful diplomat she worked for that left her confined to a psychiatric hospital is the reason Syd is incredibly mistrustful of men and does the heartbreaking work she does. It's also led her to develop this tough-chick, in-your-face-sexy façade that Grey immediately sees through--and it's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious to watch him try to resist and redirect when Syd goes into full seduction mode. Given her experiences, Syd is also incredibly strong, independent, and smart--my favourite type of heroine!-- and, like Grey, is willing to do whatever it takes to bring a monster down. She and Grey continually butt heads over how to go about catching The Lion, and watching their interactions, their budding emotional intimacy, and how each learns to open up to the other is really satisfying. This was a couple I was rooting for from the beginning, and the ending was incredibly sweet.

I thoroughly enjoyed STEALING JUSTICE, from the writing to the plot to the wit & humour to the characters, and look forward to reading Monroe's story and seeing what else these two talented authors have planned for the Justice Team series.

**ARC provided by Author**

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Feature and Giveaway: Stealing Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

If you love Scandal, you’ll love Stealing Justice.

Justice “Grey” Greystone was fired from the FBI for insubordination. Now the FBI wants him to use his renegade skills to take down a serial killer who’s above the law. To trap the Lion, Grey will need to send the perfect woman undercover.

Sydney Banfield runs a women’s shelter and bends the law daily to help victims of abuse escape their painful lives. Three of the women she’s recruited for government jobs have become victims of the Lion. If Syd has her way, the vicious killer will never touch another woman again.

Grey and Sydney set a trap—with Sydney as the sexy bait—but the Lion adds a complex twist to his homicidal agenda. With Sydney’s life on the line, Grey must race against the clock to catch a killer who’s as unstoppable as he is evil.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |

ARC Review: Opposing Forces by Adrienne Giordano

OPPOSING FORCES was my first Adrienne Giordano book. Though it is book #6 in her popular Private Protectors romantic suspense series, it can be read as a standalone: I never felt lost or confused despite not having read the previous five books, but I probably would have gotten a bigger kick from some of the secondary characters had I read their stories. It is a fast-paced, solid romantic suspense title that does a great job balancing the danger and suspense with a complex, emotionally layered romance.

Jackson (Jack) Lynx is an excellent male protagonist. Former Army, former aide to the Secretary of State, and current Vice President of the private security firm Taylor Security, he has plenty of alpha qualities, a desire to help those in need, and a protective streak a mile wide. But as a recovering prescription narcotics addict almost a year into a regimented recovery plan, he’s also incredibly vulnerable and has moments of weakness that make him very real and appealing. He’s committed to achieving a full year of sobriety before even considering a relationship and has a strict plan to reach that goal that is threatened by his overwhelming attraction to Jillian Murdoch. The countdown in his head until he can take her to bed is both a testament to his fortitude and ridiculously adorable, and it’s incredibly satisfying to watch him learn to let go and reach for what he wants. Addiction and all, he’s definitely swoon-worthy.

Jillian Murdoch is the perfect romantic counterpoint to Jack’s character. The daughter of an alcoholic who has never made a true commitment to get sober, she’s used to disappointment and has worked hard to be self-sufficient and keep people at arm’s length to avoid being let down by them—something she is convinced will invariably happen. She has sworn to not repeat her mother’s mistake of getting involved—and staying—with an addict, so she has a lot of hang-ups and doubts about getting involved with Jack despite her attraction to him and the fact that he’s committed to (and so far successful in) his recovery. Of the two of them, she’s the one with the bigger emotional issues and who grows more as a character as the novel progresses—Jack is incredibly self-aware and cognizant of the fact that his battle is a daily and ongoing one—and Ms. Giordano writes that growth and path to the HEA in a way that is realistic and believable.

The suspense plot stems from Jillian’s job coordinating drug shipments in a pharmaceutical company. One night she witnesses an undocumented late-night delivery and her home is broken into immediately afterward. She reaches out Jack for help, which triggers an investigation into the company and hijinks ensue. The action is fast-paced and tightly written and a great complement to the romance without detracting from or overshadowing it.

If you like your romance on the serious side (without being excessively angsty), with top-notch characters, great dialogue and tight pacing, and the right amount of edge-of-your-seat suspense, OPPOSING FORCES is definitely the read for you! I’m looking forward to reading the first five books in the series, and any subsequent ones.

**ARC provided by Author**

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Interview with Author Adrienne Giordano and Giveaway

Today I am happy to welcome author Adrienne Giordano to RFTC. Adrienne is celebrating the release of her newest book Opposing Forces and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Adrienne a very warm welcome.

Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery.  She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane's Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction. For more information on Adrienne's books please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com.

Places to find Adrienne:

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