ARC Review: The Freezer by Timothy S. Johnston

If Agatha Christie, Michael Crichton, Isaac Asimov, and Alfred Hitchcock had a (literary) love child, it’d likely take the form of Timothy S. Johnston’s second book in The Tanner Sequence series, THE FREEZER. A masterful combination of horror, sci-fi technothriller, and locked-room mystery, Mr. Johnston’s sophomore novel delivers a tautly paced thriller with Hitchcockian pitch-perfect tension and suspense that surpasses his excellent debut, THE FURNACE, and will have you staying up all night to finish it.

Homicide investigator Lieutenant Kyle Tanner—whom we first met in THE FURNACE, though the mysteries are all self-contained—is en route to Pluto for his engineer girlfriend’s latest assignment and working cases along the way when a mysterious death on a colony in the asteroid between Mars and Jupiter summons him to Ceres. The case is a strange one: a physician-scientist formerly on Jupiter’s ice moon Europa, dead from an aneurysm caused by a nano-bomb inserted in his aorta. A second, more personal—and shocking (apologies to the passersby startled by my very vocal “you did NOT just go there!” outburst upon reading it)— murder by the same MO and Tanner’s discovery that he harbours a nano-bomb himself that will rupture his aorta in four days sends him to a military outpost known as The Freezer in the barren and inhospitable wasteland that is Europa to investigate. Nothing at The Freezer is as it seems and no one is cooperating, and Tanner must unravel the facility’s secrets and find the killer whilst his life ticks away and he stands at the edge of an emotional precipice. The successful locked-room mystery requires that the tension be kept high and the characters (and reader) feeling claustrophobic throughout to stretch everyone’s psyche to the breaking point, and Mr. Johnston does it masterfully from the opening pages. Tanner’s happiness and blossoming new life with girlfriend Shaheen; the deeply personal nature of that second murder; the looming death sentence from the bomb; the dangers of The Freezer’s environment, where the unstable ice, cold, or radiation could easily kill you; the scarce means of escape; the secrets and deception and inability to know whom to trust; the horror of The Freezer’s true purpose; the gruesome murders—it all combines to ratchet up tension with every passing page in a way that does Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense himself, proud.

Less heavy on the science—but still very much science-driven and clearly well researched—than its predecessor, THE FREEZER is more fast-paced and action driven than THE FURNACE. In keeping with Mr. Johnston’s style of melding mystery and suspense/thriller elements, the first half of the book is primarily an Agatha-Christie-in-space whodunit, and Kyle Tanner is a futuristic Hercule Poirot whose knack for uncovering clues and putting together the pieces of seemingly unsolvable crimes is astonishing. Unlike the bombastic and egocentric (albeit admittedly brilliant) Poirot, Tanner is humble, likeable, and real, and on an emotional journey that challenges who he is and what he believes in. The Tanner Sequence books are set in the not-too-distant future where the Terran Confederacy and its Council have saved humanity from greed and corruption and now rule with an iron hand, ruthlessly crushing any semblance of opposition to its authoritarian rule. As a member of the military, Tanner is a tool of that dictatorship and finds himself conflicted between the unquestioned obedience & adherence to the chain of command demanded by the military and the disgruntlement & dissidence of civilians. Tanner’s growth as a character and evolution in this respect is most evident and compelling reading the series in order, but new readers who discover Mr. Johnston’s work with THE FREEZER will still be able to appreciate the richness and awesomeness of Tanner’s character. I’m generally not a fan of first-person narratives, but it works beautifully to make the Tanner Sequence books experiential for the reader and greatly up the ante: I felt as if I was Tanner, racing against the clock to kind the killer and unsure of whether I would live past the next minute.

THE FREEZER is a gripping page-turner that surpasses its already-excellent predecessor and makes a fantastic addition to The Tanner Sequence series. The science is compelling, the writing is excellent, and the depth of human depravity it explores is both disturbing and realistic. It’s not for the squeamish, but fans of mysteries and technothrillers should certainly check out Mr. Johnston’s work. I look forward to Tanner’s next adventure in THE VOID, and any future books in The Tanner Sequence!

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo |

ARC Review : It's In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

I want to be Jill Shalvis and live and Lucky Harbour when I grow up. Jill is the grande dame of small-town contemporary romance, able to perfectly meld serious topics with her trademark lighthearted writing style to create stories that tug at your heartstrings and make you laugh out loud in equal measure… even when it’s the tenth time around this particular block. IT’S IN HIS KISS is the first in the final set of mini-trilogies that make up the twelve-book Lucky Harbour series and is quintessential Shalvis (albeit perhaps not her best work): down-on-her-luck heroine with more strength of character than she realises at a crossroads in her life; brooding-but-loveable alpha-lite hero with a big heart but reluctant to fall in love; sizzling chemistry and delightfully fun sexytimes; hilariously accurate bromance between the hero and his BFFs that will star in the next (and last) two novels; and plenty of witty banter that will have you smiling the whole way. Longtime fans of the series will enjoy this latest entry—though the enjoyment is bittersweet, since it marks the beginning of the end—and new readers will be able to easily dive into the awesomeness of Lucky Harbour (and Jill’s work), and have 9 other books to satiate their appetite.

In true contemporary romance fashion, there isn’t much of a plot and the focus is strictly on the hero and heroine and their budding relationship—perhaps even more so than in previous Lucky Harbour books—so it’s a good thing Jill does characters and relationships so well. Heroine Becca Thorpe has finally had enough of living her life for others (chiefly her spineless musical prodigy of a younger brother) and has fled New Orleans and a difficult situation there to find herself and learn to stand on her own. Peaceful, quirky Lucky Harbour is initially nothing but a pit stop in her new life journey but quickly turns into much more as she finds herself belonging, the town ingraining itself in the fibre of her being, and falling for Sexy Grumpy Surfer and boat builder with family issues Sam Brody. Both Becca and Sam have a host of issues that are relatable and make them flawed, realistic characters. Becca’s dysfunctional family has made her life revolve around supporting her drug-addicted concert pianist brother on stage despite suffering from crippling stage fright. No one takes her seriously when she tells them she can’t do it anymore, instead continuing to pressure her and guilt her into coming back because her brother “needs her”. But Becca can’t fathom ever playing in front of an audience again; the mere thought of it puts her in a panic, and her struggle with something she’s clearly so passionate about—with music being such a big part of her life, even now with her job writing jingles for commercials and teaching the kids in Lucky Harbour music—is something anyone can relate to. Watching her stand up for herself with her family and having them recognise how unfair they’ve been with her is heartwarming and vintage tug-at-your-heartstrings Shalvis, as is the sweet way Sam goes about helping her deal with her performance anxiety. There’s also a big issue from Becca’s past that makes her skittish and that she strictly refuses to discuss [potential trigger warning] that Jill deftly deals with, keeping the overall lighthearted, feel-good tone of the novel without downplaying its importance.

Sam has his own set of issues that keep him from being too perfect but aren’t over-angsted to tortured-hero proportions. Having grown up bouncing between home and foster care due to his father’s inability to get his act together, Sam has had to be the responsible, dependable one all his life and has difficulty trusting anyone. Thanks to his father’s constant, careless “love ya, son”’s whilst spectacularly failing to do anything a father should, those three little words have always been devoid of meaning and ones he’ll never say… until Becca. To him, actions speak louder than words and—in typical man fashion—he thinks he’s speaking plenty, but Becca needs more and he’s not sure he can lower his walls enough to go there. I have a weakness for quiet and slightly-brooding-with-a-heart-of-gold heroes and Sam fits that to a tee, with Jill’s trademark knicker-melting hotness and Lucky Harbour-wide fan club layered on top. I really enjoyed watching him learn to trust and let Becca in, and his sweet side and willingness to recognise and apologise for his mistakes make him even more swoon-worthy. The ending and epilogue are incredibly adorable and make me want to keep Sam for myself.

I probably sound like a broken record every time I review one of Jill’s books, but I never get tired of reading her work, and even an average story from her is better than a lot of romance out there. With IT’S IN HIS KISS, Jill delivers more of what makes her tops in the genre and makes the town of Lucky Harbour feel so vibrant and real. Reading this series feels like coming home, and I’m already looking forward to Cole and Olivia’s story this autumn!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: Dangerous Territory by Emmy Curtis

It’s no secret that I’m a huge military romance/romantic suspense/thriller fan… what’s not to love about heroes that are wicked fit, protective, honourable, and willing to risk their lives for home and country and the freedoms it embodies? The undoubted favourites of the romance special forces world are Navy SEALs, but I have a huge soft spot for the US Air Force’s Pararescuemen (PJs), to whom I was introduced via RS author Kaylea Cross’s excellent work. Whenever a PJ hero comes across my desk, I jump at the chance to read his story... who can resist a hero whose motto is “That others may live”? It’s also not a secret that I’m not a big fan of novellas, but I just might have to rethink my opinion after reading Emmy Curtis’s debut novella, DANGEROUS TERRITORY. Ms. Curtis is an author military romance fans will want to keep an eye on: in eleven chapters, she delivers a story that is simultaneously deeply emotional, action-packed, sexy, fulfilling, and sweet, and is well written, well researched, and realistic. It’s high praise indeed that I find myself wishing I could be stuck in a cave in Afghanistan with my very own knicker-melting PJ!

Pulitzer-winning journalist Grace Grainger lives to flirt with danger: for reasons unknown, she’s devoted her career to being embedded with various military units in Afghanistan to report on the reality of war without sensationalizing or sugarcoating it. She’s also learnt the hard way to not become attached to any of the people she spends time with: in an active warzone, anyone could be gone in the blink of an eye. We first meet Grace on Christmas Eve, sitting in the hotel bar at the Four Seasons—her home when she’s stateside—trying to drown the pain of her last embedding with whiskey before she returns to Afghanistan. PJ hero Master Sergeant Josh Travers is in the same bar unwinding before he ships out again. Both just want to forget the reality of their lives for a little while—no conversation, no attachments, just straight-up sex and some good memories for the long journey ahead. Fast-forward three years and Grace is on her fourth embedding when the unit she’s on patrol with is ambushed by insurgents and a firefight ensues. Pararescuers are called in to get everyone back to base, but Grace is initially overlooked and then finds herself hiding in a cave in the middle of a Taliban hot zone with a PJ escort… who happens to be none other than her one-night stand and star of all her fantasies since, Josh. Neither had any idea about the other’s job three years ago, and Josh has an extremely negative opinion of reporters, seeing them all as scandalmongers looking to make a name for themselves vilifying the fight for freedom. Grace has sworn to never get close to anyone in a warzone again… but despite their hang-ups and issues, the chemistry between them is explosive. And, well, let’s just say: helmet light, cave, Taliban insurgents outside… so not the time, but wow. And that hut in an Afghani village—more wow.

I really liked Josh; somewhat unreasonable aversion to journalists aside (the backstory of which we sadly don’t get to explore due to novella length restrictions), he has the perfect mix of military swagger, protective alpha, and sweetness. It’s refreshing to see such a man’s man clearly be the one who wants more and not be afraid to go after it, and the man can certainly grovel once he realises what a wanker he’s been. The ending scene is absolutely swoon-worthy. Grace is a great character as well: no shrinking violet or TSTL damsel in distress, she’s deployed four times, speaks Pashto, and has a Pulitzer to her name. Her motivations for repeatedly embedding in warzones when she knows the toll locking away her emotions and not getting close to anyone takes on her are never really explored, and she resolves those issues and changes the course of her life after her time with Josh too quickly to be realistic (one of the major pitfalls of novellas), but she still kicks ass and I want to be her friend. She and Josh are a great couple, and their HEA is a well-deserved one I found myself avidly rooting for.

If DANGEROUS TERRITORY is any indication, Ms. Curtis’s Alpha Ops series is sure to be a blockbuster. Great characters (both the protagonists and the cast of secondary characters), excellent writing, a tautly-paced action-packed plot, and a remarkable level of realism made this novella a fantastic read. My only gripe is that it’s not a full-length novel—I definitely would’ve enjoyed a deeper look at Josh and Grace’s backstories. The characters for the first full-length entry, OVER THE LINE, Beth & Walker, were introduced in the novella, and I’m looking forward to reading their story—and hopefully seeing more of Grace and Josh—this autumn!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: Her Special Forces by Sophia Roslyn

I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me authors to add to my growing list of must-reads, and as a huge fan of military romantic suspense, erotic romance author Sophia Roslyn’s HER SPECIAL FORCES caught my eye with its retired Marine heroine, former Navy SEAL hero, kidnapped kid, and promise for scorching sexytimes. Whilst it possesses all the attributes I look for in a military or RS novel and is an emotionally challenging read with its raw, no-holds-barred take on the emotional and psychological aftermath of war—uniquely dealing with how PTSD affects women in combat—I wasn’t particularly blown away by it. The protagonists are (for the most part) well developed, with a compelling emotional arc, and the love scenes are frequent, hot, and poignant, but the plot feels like an afterthought rather than a driver to complement and ratchet up the emotional tension and the writing is a bit disjointed. Probably just the growing pains of an author on only her sophomore novel, but they turned what could’ve been a great read into simply an average one for me.

Heroine Kacey O’Donnell, U.S. Marine Corps Viper attack helicopter pilot (now retired), is back in her idyllic small New Hampshire hometown after a bitch of a last deployment in Afghanistan drove her to take a leave from the Marines: an off-base night of passion with sexy Navy SEAL Captain Nathan Weatherly immediately followed by an incident during a mission that downs her helicopter and kills her co-pilot/gunner and the news of her parents’ deaths stateside. At a crossroads in her life and with Nathan and his team having gone wheels up the moment they were back on base, there’s naught for Kacey to do but return to Winterpine alone and try to adjust to civilian life. But the memories won’t leave her alone and she’s neither eating nor sleeping and is merely going through the motions of existing rather than living. A textbook case of PTSD, but she’s unwilling to admit it or seek help and instead tries to push everyone away—especially former lover Nathan, who follows her to Winterpine after putting in his 20 years with the Navy. Kacey’s struggles are emotionally draining (in a good way) for the reader, and it’s refreshing to see this heartbreaking issue from a woman’s perspective, but her behaviour—especially toward Nathan—makes it challenging to like her. For the bulk of the novel, we know she has issues and witness her conscious attempts to sabotage her chance at happiness, but we don’t know why. It’s not until the very end that she finally opens up to Nathan and we learn the whole story and can finally genuinely empathize with and understand her and the strength she truly possesses.

Nathan is also a mixed bag of a character. For the most part, he’s the typical super sexy Navy SEAL alpha male with a badass edge, mile-wide protective streak, and unwavering sense of honour. His conviction that Kacey loves him as much as he does her—despite ditching him in Afghanistan and doing her best to shut him out and reduce their relationship to nothing but sex—and his commitment to helping her come to terms with, and get through, her PTSD is heartwarming. He’s the type of bloke you’d take home to meet mum, and I genuinely liked him… but half the time his speech made him seem like an anachronism. There’s simply no way a forty-something retired Navy SEAL speaks like that (to his woman; his banter with his SEAL mates was typical bromance), and it was definitely a bit jarring. The chemistry between him and Kacey sizzles and the love scenes are super hot, and the fact that they don’t have an easy go of it had me rooting for their HEA.

The plot is where it all falls rather flat. A Senator’s 11-year-old daughter kidnapped from her bed, an elite FBI six-man CARD team taken out during the attempted rescue, a hastily-cobbled-together backup team of former SEALs plus a Marine helicopter pilot… it has all the makings of an action-packed, white-knuckle thrill ride of a plot but doesn’t really deliver. The focus is primarily on Kacey and Nathan and the plot feels like a backdrop for them to have something to do in addition to being mired in relationship angst. The kidnapped girl, Gemma, is completely unrealistic—an 11-year-old who can drive, fly, speak a bit of Russian, and doesn’t completely freak out after being kidnapped and rescued? Come on!—but if you suspend all disbelief, she’s great fun and brings out a side of Kacey and Nathan that we wouldn’t otherwise see. I guessed the identity of the villain pretty early on (but I read a LOT of suspense!), but Ms. Roslyn throws in enough twists to keep it interesting… I just wish she’d devoted a bit more time to fleshing out the story to give it more substance.

HER SPECIAL FORCES was an enjoyable enough read for me—nothing to write home about, but not something I actively disliked either. It’s an intensely emotional read with a lot of heart cloaked in a thin suspense plot and a good choice for readers who like erotic romances with a good amount of angst and a hint of action.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo |

ARC Review: Personal Target by Kay Thomas

PERSONAL TARGET was my first experience with author Kay Thomas’s work, but it certainly won’t be my last, and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of her Elite Ops series. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of military romantic suspense, and the words “former SEAL” and “Black Ops” are enough to pique my interest. Throw in a ruthless drug cartel with a personal vendetta, a case of mistaken identity, a heroine with a PhD, and a cover as hot as this one, and I’m completely sold! PERSONAL TARGET delivers an action-packed story that, whilst not particularly novel in the military RS genre, is gritty and well executed—even if the heroine’s actions sometimes strayed into TSTL territory (which made for great action and gave the delicious hero a chance to play knight in shining armour, but made me want to smack her upside the head).

Hero Nick Donovan is a former SEAL who transitioned from the Navy’s most elite special ops unit to a soul-sucking job eliminating supposed national security threats for the CIA. Concerned by his emotional numbness at following orders and eliminating targets he isn’t fully convinced deserve it and the dangers to his family of payback for his government job, Nick’s traded his CIA work for the specialized security agency AEGIS. But despite his best efforts, his work has made his greatest fear a reality: seeking revenge for Nick’s perceived involvement in the death of his family, the leader of a powerful Mexican drug cartel has gone after Nick’s family, mistaking the one woman he hasn’t been able to forget for his sister-in-law and kidnapping her into the Mexican flesh trade. So now, nearly a decade after a life-changing hot summer fling with heroine Jennifer Grayson before his life imploded and she dropped off his radar, Nick is heading into Mexico’s prostitution capital and flying nearly blind to rescue her. Nick is your typical alpha male with a mile-wide protective streak, convinced that he’s a danger to his loved ones and that it’s best to keep his distance from Jenny—regardless of how much he wants her and how perfectly his body remembers hers from that long-ago summer. He has some serious issues stemming from his father’s highly-publicized alleged embezzlement and suspected car accident-suicide to avoid prosecution, and he’s never really gotten over that summer with Jenny—particularly when she drops a bombshell about it once they’re reunited. I don’t particularly agree with the way he reacts to the news and his subsequent behaviour [without giving anything away, that particular trope always has me wanting to smack the hero into getting over himself], but it adds some angsty drama to the relationship, and I can empathize with him to some degree. Especially since it’s clear from the get-go that that summer wasn’t just a fling for him.

For the most part, Jenny was a tougher sell for me as a character. For someone with an advanced degree in a scientific discipline, she does some really stupid things. Sneaking off to Niger, a West African hotbed for terrorists and human traffickers, on a paleontological dig days after being rescued from a Mexican brothel and with people clearly after her so she can avoid telling Nick the truth about their long-ago summer and escape the feelings he still arouses in her? Cutting off all communication with Nick and keeping a very important thing to herself for a decade? Not exactly the smartest (or bravest) moves. I get that they were both young and stupid and thought each knew best, and points for her for acknowledging she was self-absorbed and stupid that summer, but she generally rubbed me the wrong way. Not to say she’s not a well-written character—Ms. Thomas does a great job writing her and making her a flawed, realistic character we can relate to—but I didn’t particularly like her much or get why Nick had been hung up on her for a decade. But seeing the two of them together and how she makes him feel something other than the numbness that’s encased him for years, I can see how they’re perfect for each other and could root for them and their HEA.

Overall, I enjoyed PERSONAL TARGET and meeting the AEGIS blokes and look forward to all their stories.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Enemies on Tap by Avery Flynn

I discovered Avery Flynn through her romantic suspense-lite Killer Style series and really like her voice and writing style, so I jumped at the chance to check out her new small-town contemporary Sweet Salvation Brewery series. The enemies-to-lovers (with a side of reunited first love) trope is one I enjoy due to the inherent snark and drama, and ENEMIES ON TAP delivers with Ms. Flynn’s trademark humour, knack for witty repartee, and penchant for spunky, relatable heroines and flawed-but-likeable heroes. Though not particularly innovative, ENEMIES ON TAP is a fun, quick read and an enjoyable start to a series that fans of contemporaries—and especially those who enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories—should check out.

Miranda Sweet has avoided her hometown of Salvation, Virginia, like the plague since fleeing to the big city to escape the stigma of her surname. Albeit one of the founding families of Salvation, the Sweets are considered personae non gratae in the small town and the recipients of much scorn and ridicule due to their generally unorthodox (and mostly unlawful) behaviour. Triplets Miranda, Natalie, and Olivia Sweet grew up trying to be ‘normal’ and fighting against that inherent prejudice without much success… especially in Miranda’s case for making the mistake of falling for Salvation’s Prince Charming—and heir apparent to the upstanding Martin family, Logan—as a teen. Now a successful acquisitions specialist working for a financial firm in the big city, Miranda has returned to Salvation to turn the brewery she and her sisters have inherited from their kooky Uncle Julian (whose motto was “Live Free, Die High”) into a financial success and earn herself that respectable corner office. Her boss from hell has decreed that she must use local funding for the project in an attempt to sabotage her chances of that promotion, so Miranda finds herself needing to ask the Martins—owners of the only bank in town and Hatfields (or Montagues) to her family’s McCoys (or Capulets)—for a loan. But Martin patriarch and avid Sweet hater Larry is no longer the bank president, with his son (and Miranda’s high school love) Logan acting in his stead. Logan has plans to incorporate the brewery’s lot into an industrial park—a project of his own making that doesn’t have his father’s stamp all over it—and so Miranda and Logan again find themselves on opposite sides of a great divide with the town firmly in Logan’s camp and willing to do anything to see Miranda fail. Bets are made. Shenanigans ensue. Sexual tension abounds. A little mystery subplot takes place. Sexytimes in the bank vault are had. A judgmental small town is schooled.

I really liked Miranda and thought Ms. Flynn did an excellent job making her someone who’s suffered undeserved lifelong scorn and bullying simply for having been born into a highly dysfunctional (by conservative standards) but loving family and who’s learnt to deal with and try to overcome the knocks without becoming hopelessly embittered. She’s a class act whenever someone throws her family in her face and perseveres even when the entire town is clearly against her. And who can’t relate to and empathize with her lifelong goal of distancing herself from the unsavoury legacy of her name and prove that she’s not “just another Sweet” from a backwater Virginia town, only to realise that maybe the route to true happiness involves accepting—and embracing—the crazy? Ms. Flynn does a great job writing Miranda’s internal conflict between the life she thinks she wants in the big city and the yearning for the one person she knows she shouldn’t want but can’t help falling head over heels for, whilst still keeping it lighthearted. The little battles between Logan and Miranda were great fun and the banter hilarious, and the love scenes were scorching hot.

Logan was a much harder her for me initially—the man is an absolute wanker, both back in high school and when Miranda first comes back to town. He’s so caught up on the ‘upholding the Martin surname’ bullshit and his family’s—and the town’s—prejudice that it’s hard to feel bad for him for having been shoehorned into being the prince of Salvation against his wishes by his bully of a father (a truly unlikeable fellow). The industrial park he wants to build on the brewery land is the first and only thing that’s truly his own so I can empathize with his desire to see it succeed, but the way he tries to sabotage and undermine Miranda’s efforts to ensure his own success is deplorable. Luckily for him, he realises the error of his ways and how poorly he—and the rest of the town—treat Miranda and the Sweets and redeems himself in a thoroughly swoon-worthy way that had me rooting for him and his HEA with Miranda at the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed ENEMIES ON TAP and look forward to reading the other Sweet triplets’ stories and revisiting Salvation in the (hopefully near) future!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes |

Audiobook Review: Then Came You by Jill Shalvis, Narrated by Karen White

Jill Shalvis is my contemporary romance crack—whenever I need a break from romantic suspense, I know I can pick up the latest Shalvis book and be in contemporary heaven. Jill consistently delivers the perfect mix of sweet and sexy wrapped in a story that touches on real, relatable issues without being too angsty or heavy and features characters so well-developed and believable they could easily be your lifelong friends. What’s even more impressive, and a testament to her skill as an author, is that she can write two very similarly-themed small-town contemporary series that somehow manage to feel different and fresh with each new instalment. THEN CAME YOU is the fifth entry in the Animal Magnetism series (though it can absolutely be read as a standalone… but you’d be missing the previous four doses of Shalvis book crack!), and it fits perfectly into the comfortable, heartwarming, and fantastically-hilarious-with-a-touch-of-naughty mould that makes Jill such a rock star. Lifelong fans and newbies alike will surely enjoy this delightful tale of the one-night stand that keeps on giving—and the experience is heightened by Karen White’s pitch-perfect narration.

Like most contemporaries, THEN CAME YOU is light on the plot and heavy on the characters and relationships, and Jill is a true master at creating characters that are incredibly well-developed and three-dimensional, and also perfect for each other. Los Angeles-raised veterinarian Emily Stevens is on a yearlong internship at Belle Haven in middle-of-nowhere Sunshine, Idaho as a requirement for her fellowship and can’t count the days until she’s back in L.A. living the life she thinks she’s always wanted fast enough. Having grown up fairly poor with a veterinarian father more fulfilled by pro-bono work than a paycheque and a go-with-the-flow sister, and emotionally ravaged by her mother’s hardship during a terminal illness, Emily clings to The Plan she’s come up with to map out her life for a much-needed sense of security. On The Plan: being a vet in a Hollywood clinic for financial stability, taking care of her absent-minded dad, and marrying John-the-college-study-partner-turned-lawyer-who-doesn’t-really-remember-she’s-alive. Not on The Plan: falling for a quirky small town in the middle of the Bitterroot mountains, working at a job that pays much less, or settling down with the sexy local vet dying to put down deep roots. Emily’s need for meticulous organization, planning, and risk aversion is understandable given her previous life experiences—though she has a bit of a narrow view of those experiences—and relatable (I can definitely see bits of myself in her), but I didn’t always fully “get” or agree with her choices, particularly her stubbornness in clinging to The Plan in the face of markedly changed circumstances. Her refusal to acknowledge her feelings for hero Wyatt Stone got a bit repetitive and made me want to smack her upside the head, but overall I rather liked and could relate to Emily. I especially enjoyed her adorable awkwardness, lack of filter around Wyatt, and inability to keep herself from jumping him despite her constant pledges to remain professional. Major props to Jill for making Emily step out of her comfort zone at a conference and engage in a hot one-night stand with a sexy vet whose surname she doesn’t know only to have said vet be her new supervisor during her yearlong exile in the boonies—their meet-cute at the back end of a birthing sheep when they realise who the other is is hilarious.

Jill generally does a great job writing adorably endearing heroines, but she truly excels with her swoon-worthy heroes with just the right touch of alpha. Wyatt spent his entire life being uprooted and dragged across the globe by his diplomat parents with no say whatsoever, so he is determined to finally remain in one place and put down roots in his grandparents’ home town. What he never expected was to have the hot, no-strings-attached one-night stand from that vet conference three months show up to be his intern for the next year—but when he lays eyes on Emily again and the unavoidable chemistry sparks between them, he’s good with a little no-strings fun. Between his upbringing and having been burnt by a woman who chose Doctors Without Borders over him, he’s sworn to never fall for a woman with one foot out the door again or to ‘force’ her to choose him by asking. Emily’s feet never left L.A. and he won’t take away her choice by asking her to stay, so he knows anything more than sexy fun will inevitably end in heartbreak… but he can’t help himself. Neither can Emily, but it’s hard not to: Wyatt is one of those all-around good guys you just want to take home and snuggle, from his love of—and obvious skill with—animals to his adorably nerdy vet T-shirts to his refreshingly realistic love-hate relationship with the difficult sisters he lives with (their interactions are both hilarious and spot-on for anyone who has siblings) to his determination to never impose his will on anyone the way his parents’ was imposed on him growing up. That determination, coupled with Emily’s need for him to ask her to stay in Sunshine, led to some frustrating moments where I just wanted to toss my Kindle, but it’s also the crux of the novel’s well-executed emotional tension. Jill does a great job getting the readers emotionally invested in Emily and Wyatt so that we can’t help but keep reading to see them get their HEA—even when we feel like smacking both of them upside the head for being idiots.

THEN CAME YOU is vintage Shalvis and another great addition to the Animal Magnetism series. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good read with plenty of heat and witty banter that feels like coming home—but Karen White’s narration elevates it to the next level of enjoyment. Ms. White narrates two of my favourite contemporary authors’ series—Julie James’s FBI/US Attorney and Jill’s Animal Magnetism—so I’m a big fan, but she does an excellent job every time. She has a great range of tones and timbre so her male characters have deeper voices that are masculine without being caricatural and can be easily distinguished from each another. She voices Wyatt with a great combination of smoothness and rasp that perfectly complements his laid-back-with-a-core-of-steel-and-a-touch-of-alpha essence and that really brings the delightful banter and scorching sexytimes to life. Emily’s somewhat breathy voice took me a little bit to get into, but it really worked once I got to know her character better—especially in the hilariously embarrassing, throw-herself-at-Wyatt scenes. As with the male voices, Ms. White does a great job giving the various female characters voices that are distinctive and well suited to the characters without being annoying. One of Ms. White’s greatest strengths as an audiobook narrator is her neutral ‘narrator’ voice: in typical audiobook fashion, it’s slower and more enunciative than regular speech, but it’s not so overdone as to be jarring and is infused with the same liveliness and emotion as the dialogue. Another highlight of Ms. White’s Animal Magnetism narrations is her take on the many animals that populate the pages: she gives each the same consideration and treatment as the human characters rather than having them be an afterthought, which is important since the animals play such a crucial role in the series. Even after several books, I still crack up every time Peanut the parrot says “Boner!” in that perfect tone. Karen White is one of my auto-buy narrators, and I hope the Shalvis-White partnership continues for future instalments of this series!

**ARC provided by Tantor**

Purchase: | Audiobook | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

ARC Review: Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti

BLIND FAITH is the third book in Ms. Zanetti's Sins Brothers series, and perhaps the best one yet. It's definitely a series that needs to be read in order, so be sure to check out the first two novels before picking this one up since there are several major underlying plot threads that span all the books. BLIND FAITH brings us back to the world of genetically-enhanced super-soldiers and super-secret experimental military facilities that characterize the Sins series and set it apart from the myriad other military-style RS books out there. I'm a trained experimental scientist: I love reading about anything that throws a little science into the mix-- especially in a pseudo-realistic way!

Like its predecessors in the series, BLIND FAITH brings a tautly-paced and action-packed plot to the table, but in a more subtle way that involves the slick and secretive world of high-stakes politics more than guns-and-bombs military action. And, perhaps most intriguing for someone like myself with my scientific background, we get a deeper look into the motivations and operations of the military lab/camp where the Dean brothers were created and shared-- especially into the enigmatic series antagonist, the Commander, and the fascinating-but-batshit-crazy facility shrink, Dr. Madison. Dr. Madison has been a looming spectre throughout the series, not getting much overt page time but playing an instrumental role in the entire operation as the Commander's right hand with her psychological experiments, but in BLIND FAITH we finally get a deeper look at her twisted psyche. The main reason behind that fascinating glimpse? The book's heroine and love interest is none other than Dr. Madison's now-adult daughter Audrey, one-time true love of a teenaged (and now fully grown) hero Nate Dean--- and (initially) nothing but one of Dr. Madison's twisted experiments to see if the supersoldiers could fall in love. Despite the fact that Dr. Madison is one crazy bitch and has never given Audrey one whit of affection, Audrey feels a fascinating sense of daughterly duty and affection for her mother and seeks nothing more than her approval and recognition. Questions had been raised in previous books about the extent of Audrey's involvement with the Commander's operation, and these questions are nicely dealt with and answered in BLIND FAITH.

Hero Nate Dean has that mile-wide protective streak that is such an integral characteristic of literary alphas-- but in this case it's primarily directed at taking care of his brothers. His goal in life has always been to ensure that his brothers get out of anything alive, irrespective of the cost to him. As kids in the Commander's clutches, he was the bridge between eldest-and-reluctant-trainer/hardass Matt and the younger siblings Shane & Jory; as adults, he lives for finding out the truth about Jory's disappearance and ensuring Matt and Shane survive their impending killswitch-induced death and lead happy, free lives with the women of their dreams. Nate doesn't much care if he has to sacrifice himself to ensure that outcome and in fact almost strives for it, which can make his I-don't-deserve-to-be-happy-but-will-do-anything-for-my-brothers attitude either completely knicker-melting or frustrating, depending on your alpha male preference. Personally, I like my heroes with a touch of beta, so Nate's attitude grated on me a bit at times. Audrey is the only woman he's ever loved and hasn't stopped loving despite her supposed betrayal and his attempts to have no heart, so the chemistry is explosive and palpable the second the two lay eyes on each other again. There are a lot of secrets, perceived betrayals, and hurt feelings between them, which makes for an interesting give and take in their relationship and some scorching sexytimes. As always, Ms. Zanetti does a great job writing love scenes that will set your Kindle on fire and are also incredibly emotional-- especially with Nate and Audrey's past history and secrets sitting between them.

BLIND FAITH is a great addition to an already-superb series, with an action-packed plot, a deep look into two psychologically fascinating protagonists, hot sexytimes requiring a fan, and crisp writing coming together to make for a page-turning read. If that's not enough, the tantalizing advances in the mystery of Jory's disappearance add an extra layer intrigue and will have readers impatiently awaiting the next book and the resolution of that mystery.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

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**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo |

ARC Review: Alive at 5 by Linda Bond

One of my favourite things about reading is discovering new-to-me authors in my favourite genres, so I’m always game to check out something new that comes across my desk if the blurb sounds interesting. Such was the case with journalist-turned-author Linda Bond’s debut novel, ALIVE AT 5: panic attack-prone TV news reporter, lone-wolf undercover police officer, high-adrenaline adventure vacation, and a shirtless-with-a-leather-jacket bloke on the cover? Sold. But while ALIVE AT 5 is an enjoyable enough action-packed romantic thriller, it suffers from the common debut author pitfall of packing so much in that it feels unrealistic, and a heroine that—whilst likable enough—treads dangerously close to TSTL territory.

TV news reporter Samantha (Sam) Steele is on the verge of getting the pink slip from the station due to panic attacks that cause her to freeze up during her live broadcasts. In a last-ditch effort to save her job—and the paycheque she desperately needs to pay for her comatose mother’s care—she pitches a fluff feature piece to her producer: following her beloved mentor and local philanthropist on a two-week, high-adrenaline, extreme-adventure vacation. Skydiving, cave diving, shark diving, and flying in an F-16? She can document that—as long as she doesn’t have to actually do any of those things. When her mentor dies on the skydiving part of the trip and sexy thrill-seeker Zack Hunter voices doubts about it being accidental, Sam vows to find the truth about what happened. But Zack is not really the rich playboy adrenaline junkie he seems to be but a police officer on an unsanctioned undercover mission to investigate his uncle’s suspicious death—along with several others—on the same adventure vacation, and the last thing he needs is a nosy reporter blowing his cover and splashing his evidence (and identity) all over the evening news. Even if that nosy reporter tempts him like no other and makes him want to forget his vow to never become emotionally attached again. Murder and mayhem with a heaping dose of over-the-top action and interspersed sexytimes ensue… and therein lies my main problem with the plot. The action moves quickly from skydiving (where no one seems to bat an eye about the death) to cave diving (which, as a scuba diver myself, I had major issues with—no one, especially cavern/cave divers, would behave the way the characters do!) to flying with the Air Force Thunderbirds (where, apparently, passing out during a 9 G-force turn is enough to induce a personality transplant) to shark diving in the Bahamas, with a near-death experience at every turn and an oddly warped timeline. I get that it’s meant to be pulse-pounding, nonstop action, but this was too much to be anywhere near realistic in my opinion, and I couldn’t buy into the villain(s)’ motivation. However, if you can suspend your disbelief—and I may be unable to do so because I have first-hand experience with the reality of some of these activities—it’s one hell of a white-knuckle thrill ride.

Zack is a typical RS/thriller hero: a little scarred from a tough upbringing, guilt-ridden from having been unable to save a colleague, convinced he’s better off alone because anyone close to him gets hurt, and insanely good at everything. Again, it’s a bit over the top, but he’s a good guy and his characterization works well when considering this a fun, campy romp. I certainly wouldn’t mind having him as my dive buddy, and I liked how he pushes Sam to break out of her controlled, uptight mould and helps her overcome her issues without being a jerk. And despite being nearly perfect, he’s not infallible and the bad guys best him on occasion, which makes him more appealing. Sam, however, I had a harder time with. The TSTL heroine is one of my biggest pet peeves, and Sam wavers right on the edge, countering some kickass moments with some genuinely stupid ones in pursuit of a story camouflaged as a quest for the truth. Sure, it opens the door to more exciting, pulse-pounding scenarios, but it also makes me want to strangle someone… preferably her. I liked how she went from anxiety-riddled and timid to confident and intrepid, but the short length of the book made it feel like she’d gotten a personality transplant partway through. She and Zack, however, make a good couple, and I was rooting for them and their HEA.

Overall, ALIVE AT 5 felt like a print version of a summer blockbuster popcorn film: lots of action and little substance, but a fun, fast-paced way to kill a couple of hours. Linda Bond has a good voice for high-octane action-adventure, so it’ll be interesting to see how it becomes more polished as she grows as an author.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |