Book Review: Ravished by Amanda Quick

FIVE STARS

This book was a mix of angst, passion, and bits of humor. It kept me up at night with a colorful cast of characters and everybody worrying about reputations. To be honest, the constant concern for reputations got a bit annoying, but considering Gideon has been ruined by evil gossip, it was relevant.

Harriet is a fossil-seeker and goes into the caves close to her home to do her work and comes upon a bunch of stolen items that were hidden there by the thieves. She writes a letter to Gideon St. Justin, who is in line to become an earl and is handling his father’s properties. She wants the thieves caught, so she can go back to her hobby.

Gideon has no interest in returning to that parcel of land. He had some bad things happen to him there six years ago and doesn’t want anything to do with any of it, but duty called and he returned and met Harriet. It wasn’t love at first sight by a long shot. He thought she was pretty tyrannical and pushy, yet at the same time he admired her for not being afraid of him. He’s a big guy with a scar on his face and everybody called him The Beast of Blackthorne Hall. He was big, ugly (I didn’t think he was, but everybody in the book thought so, except for Harriet), and had a tendency to be surly.

Harriet was considered on the shelf. She has a younger sister whom she is trying to get to London for a season. She hopes Felicity will marry well and be happy. As for herself, she’s resigned herself to being a spinster and is more than content with spending her time searching for fossils. She knows she isn’t a pretty woman and seems to be okay with her aunts doting on Felicity. Honestly, I thought they treated Harriet like a second-class citizen. I loved that she showed them up.

But things change quick for both her and Gideon, especially after they got to London. It was chaos and drama from the ton, old friends, new friends, and people who were not much more than instigators and gawkers.

There’s a bit of intrigue and a plot twist at the end. This is also a story about love, loyalty, honor, and forgiveness, making this an epic read.

Book Review: Dangerous Things and Dangerous People by Jim Heskett

FIVE STARS

I love Harry Boukadakis. I have ever since I met him in the Layne Parrish series. He’s a great guy, a bit passive, a bit overweight, unassuming, but never sell him short. He’s a mental powerhouse and has been in more dangerous situations than the one he’s in with this book. The one now is pretty much just an annoyance, but the story still grabbed me.

Harry now works as a private investigator, but picks up security details when asked and is working at a hotel and is on the case of a mysterious box with a flashing light that was left in one of the rooms. That in itself was creepy and the rest of it was on-target for suspense and some, “oh hell no” moments.

This is a really short novella, but it packs a punch. The addition of a Serena Rojas short story at the end of the book was a nice touch, too. Harry and Serena often worked together in other books. He’s the brains, she’s the brawn. I hope we get another novel of them working together again. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of Layne Parrish and Micah Reed in with them.

This has nothing to do with the review, but I love the cover for this book. It’s eerie, mysterious, and makes me want to hide in the bushes to watch what happens next.

*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review

Book Review: Rescued (Elkridge #4) by Lyz Kelley

FIVE STARS

The author saved the best for last. I adored this book. I loved Karly and Thad and their second chance at love. They’d met in grade school, were friends in middle school, and fell in love in high school. But things went awry and he ended up going to the Army and she told him she never wanted to speak to him again.

Fast forward ten years. Thad is back in Elkridge, wounded and recovering from a bomb blast. Karly is the owner and operator of the local pet shelter and trains dogs to be service dogs. She has a client who needs a dog to carry oxygen tanks for their little girl and she doesn’t have the time to train the dog, so drops Custer off at Thad’s, knowing he can handle the job.

That’s just the beginning. Their relationship is cold and hot. He still loves her, but thinks he’s not good enough for her. She admits that she’s attracted to him and even gives into their whims, but refuses to love him again and not because she thinks he’s not good enough for her. She doesn’t trust him. Not only that, she’s hiding something. *No spoilers*

Eventually, she has to trust him. She finds herself in a deadly situation with some real bad people who mean to do her harm and no way out. This part of the book finally unveils why Sam Gaccione was murdered (read Blinded Book 1). A lot more is revealed at the same time. I did not see that coming, but boy did I cheer. Read Orphaned Book 3 to truly enjoy that roundup.

This was a magnificent read with the characters from the previous books coming together for the common good, although I did miss Maggie in this story. Lives are changed, love is found, and criminals get what they deserve.

I’ve said in reviews of the previous books in the series that they can be read as stand-alone novels. I guess this one can be, too, but if you don’t read Blinded and Orphaned at the very least, I’m not sure you will get the same satisfaction that I did.

Book Review: Exposed (Elkridge #3.5) by Lyz Kelley

THREE STARS

This book had a couple of strikes against it at the beginning. The first was an age gap. Dale Bryant is fourteen years older than Gwen Keebler. I’m not a fan of that, but I’m even less of a fan of women hooking up with their friend’s dad. I know some find it really hot, but I’m revolted by it. It creeps me out and makes me think he’s in it for sex and having a trophy on his arm, while she has daddy issues and sees dollar signs. That’s a stereotype, I know and thankfully, that wasn’t how it was with Dale and Gwen, although she did have daddy issues, in my opinion.

The story itself isn’t bad. I just wish the hero had been someone other than Ashley’s dad. He’s now in Ashley’s life and trying to be a good dad and grandfather to hers and Chase’s little daughter. Yay for him, but did he really have to pick up with Gwen, the owner of the local thrift store? I guess so, even if she was the one doing the chasing.

Gwen is having to relocate her business due to a water pipe break. Dale was the handyman who came to fix it, but they knew each other before that. She’s being harassed by her ex-fiance, which leads to something even bigger. Secrets will be revealed, lives will be rocked.

The Author’s Notes at the end of this novella put some things into perspective, but the bottom line is I just couldn’t get around the age gap and the friend’s dad thing. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. At least he didn’t go at her like a horny goat, even though I did see him as an old goat.

I’m not big on military romances, either, but that was a minor detail with this.

*Although this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel

Book Review: Orphaned (Elkridge #3) by Lyz Kelley

FIVE STARS

So far, this is my favorite book of the series. We’ve got all the elements of a great story; likable characters, tension (and more than sexual, although that’s there, too), a big mystery as to what happened to Caitlyn and–count ’em up–THREE big bombshells. There may have been even more, but there were three that switched up the game.

This was the story of Jenna and Grant. Jenna was in the foster system for a big portion of her younger years and that left her with trust issues and abandonment issues. She owns the bakery in Elkridge and is making it on her own, but she doesn’t really trust anybody, isn’t sure who she can trust, but is on a quest to find Caitlyn. The reason why will blow your mind.

Grant Newhall is from probably the most affluent family in town. His dad is a hot shot attorney and his mom is such a snob and has her nose so far up in the air, she’d drown if it rained. They’re controlling to an extreme, manipulative, and get their own way no matter what the cost. They have their claws in Grant, but he’s fighting back. He’s in love with Jenna and his mom has made it perfectly clear that Jenna is totally unacceptable. She’s a nobody and her son is going to get only the best. The best for him is Jenna, despite what either his mom or Jenna think. He knows this from the get-go and moves fast on Jenna, despite parental objections. He, too, is an attorney and is well to do on his own, but his dad wants him to take over the practice so he can retire. Grant is the last of three children and uses that to his advantage. He really had no choice.

This was an incredible and unique story. I’ve not read anything quite like this and I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I groaned, and I sighed. There was never a dull moment. I wanted Grant and Jenna to get their happily ever after, but she almost blew it. It was pretty close, but in the end, love conquers all.

I wasn’t sure what the kid on the cover had to do with anything. The story was well underway when he made his appearance. After that, the story escalated even more. Jenna had to learn a lot in a short amount of time and Grant did what he had to do. To say anymore might be a spoiler.

Solid five star read!

*Although this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel