Review: Lover Forbidden (Black Dagger Brotherhood #23) by J. R. Ward

The aristocracy is making a run for the throne in this latest thrilling, star-crossed paranormal romance entry in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

When Lyric goes out for the night, she’s not ready for a brush with death—and she’s really not ready for the male who comes out of nowhere and saves her. Her family, especially her father, Qhuinn, are so relieved she’s okay, but all she can think about is her mysterious savior.

Without telling anybody, she seeks out Devlin, and they are immediately drawn to one another. Her near-death experience has given her a fresh appreciation for life and the desire to live it to its fullest, but she has no idea that he’s hiding a secret—or that he could be the key to ending the war between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the lessers forever.

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What I thought about Lover Forbidden

So here we are with a 23th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Wow. It's amazing that this series just keeps on going and these stories of the next generation have captured my interest.

Lover Forbidden deals with Lyric, Qhuinn's daughter and Rhamp's twin sister. She's an influencer who is disillusioned with her chosen occupation. One night an accident occurs that brings her in contact with Devlin, who happens to save her life. She's attracted to him and vice versa, but there is one big secret that keeps Devlin from Lyric. How I didn't figure this one out is beyond me, but it comes with a pretty big reveal that will make you catch your breath.

I liked this story even though it doesn't have tremendous depth to it. It's always great to get a new story from this world, and I love this new generation, especially LW, Shuli and Rhamp. There's some good stuff getting set up there for future stories. I was disappointed with Lover Forbidden because the reveal of Devlin's background is a big story, and the book just ho-hummed through it with a few sentences that everyone accepted the situation. No way, I say!! There is no way that Qhuinn's was okay with all of this, even when he's dealing with all the sadness that was happening in Blay's family.

I did like that it all had a happy ending, but I'm still shaking my head about Qhuinn's acceptance of Devlin, and Devlin's sudden dis-inheritance. Oh well. Still good. I'll read this series as long as JRW gives them to us!

Review: Don't Say A Word (Angelhart Investigations #2) by Allison Brennan

 

 

 A tragic accident…or a murder?

The police ruled Elijah Martinez’s death an accidental drug overdose, but the teen’s grieving mother isn’t convinced. With the case officially closed, Angelhart Investigations is the only one who can help her find the truth. Margo Angelhart’s sure this will be an easy solve—she’ll talk to Elijah’s friends and employer, retrace his steps, and figure out what happened in his final hours.

Except none of his friends believe he did drugs, and the teacher who’s been vocal about the police mishandling the case turns up dead. Every thread Margo pulls leads back to a dangerous drug ring that once ran through the school.

When Margo’s brother Jack, a former cop, can’t get straight answers out of the police, they don’t know if it’s because of an active case…or a cover-up. Margo’s only sure of one thing—she has to find out what really happened to Elijah before more teens become pawns in a twisted scheme.

 

More information about the series: 

https://allisonbrennan.com/angelhart-investigations/#2

 

What I thought about Don't Say A Word

 

Margo takes a pro-bono case to investigate the death of a young high school student. His death has been ruled an accidental overdose, but family and friends don't believe it and they ask Margo to investigate.

The investigation brings back a thirty year old case, introduces some new collaborators and kept this reader turning the pages until the very end. I guessed the culprit somewhere along the way and it became a matter of law enforcement and Angelhart investigations to connect all the dots.

There was also some romantic elements with Margo meeting a new potential date among the collaborators. This was an very nice and welcome addition to the story.

I'm loving this series and I see that I may get my wish with Mother Angelhart getting more involved. Looking forward to more in the series.

 

 

 

 Other books in the series

 

 

 

Angelhart Investigations # 0.5 

 

 

 

Things are heating up in Arizona in this thrilling novella introducing a page-turning new series by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan

Margo Angelhart was recently certified as a private investigator, but she isn’t convinced that it’s her calling. All of her cases have been minor, mostly for family and haven’t paid the bills. She’s more than happy to keep bartending and figure out her post-military career later. That is, until prosecutor Andy Flannigan walks into her bar and offers her a case she can’t turn down…

Nineteen-year-old Sergio Diaz has confessed to murder—except Andy doesn’t buy it. With his own job on the line, Andy asks Margo to work the case discreetly. The more she digs, the more she’s convinced an innocent kid is going to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Now she just needs to figure out why he’d confess. Can Margo prove Sergio’s innocence and help Andy find the real killer before anyone else dies? 

 

Read my review

 

 

Angelhart Investigations #1 

 

 

 Nothing brings family together like crime.

Working alone as a private investigator is tough. Estranged from her PI family, Margo Angelhart does what she must to get by—including taking on sordid cases that pay the bills, even if she’d rather be helping those the justice system has failed.

That is, until a cheating husband case she’s working intersects with her siblings’ corporate espionage investigation, forcing Margo to cooperate with the Angelhart firm. Now, as the siblings compare notes, it’s clear they need to work together before a white-collar crime escalates to murder.

With far more questions than answers and a key suspect on the run, they’ll need the whole family to pitch in. But as they investigate the ever-twisting mystery, Margo isn’t sharing everything. Can she learn to trust her family and heal their once-close relationship before her secrets put those she loves most in danger?

 

Read my review 

 

 Angelhart Investigations #1.5

 

A fabulous new series from the queen of crime fiction. —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of It’s One of Us

In this suspenseful new novella in New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s Angelhart Investigations series, the PI team’s biggest client hires them to look into a burglary that quickly escalates into a case with deadly stakes.

Logan Monroe’s family is in danger. After his sister, Laura, and her kids are run off the road and their house is broken in to, Logan tasks the Angelharts with keeping them safe, and the PIs drop everything to take on the case.

But they quickly realize there’s more to the situation than anyone thinks. First, the burglars didn’t take anything—were they just trying to scare her or were they after something they didn’t find? Then Laura can’t reach her ex-husband, who was supposed to take the kids for the weekend. While Jack protects the family, Margo tries to find the ex…but he seems to have disappeared.

As she digs deeper, Margo uncovers someone hiding in the shadows who will do anything to get what he wants—including killing anyone who stands in his way.

Read my review 

Review: Cowboy's Last Stand (His to Protect #1) by Jill Sorenson

 

U.S. Marine Jason Reed survived wounds that should have ended him. Instead, he’s stepping into the streets of Last Chance, Texas, to honor a battlefield promise to his fallen comrade. Haunted by war and torn between duty and the cowboy life calling him home, Jason plans to check on widowed Natalie Luna and move on. But Natalie’s fragile beauty and fierce resilience kindle a hunger he can’t outrun. When a dangerous suitor threatens her, Jason’s protective instincts surge, compelling him to stay awhile.

Natalie is barely holding on, juggling two jobs and a spirited son who tests her every day. She has no time for a charming stranger, even one trading handyman skills for a place to rest his head. Yet Jason’s disruptive presence stirs a longing she can’t ignore. She wants him in her bed, and if he proves worthy, maybe more. But Jason is a man of secrets—dare she trust him?

Can Jason protect Natalie from danger and win her heart? Or will the truth he hides destroy their shot at love? 

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What I thought about Cowboy's Last Stand

Young widow Natalie has her hands full working two jobs as a single parent. She doesn't complain about it, she just puts her nose down and does what needs to be done. Ever since her husband was killed in action, she's had to carry the entire load for the family. When she meets Jason one night at work, she doesn't know that it will change many things in her life.

Jason has been traveling on foot after a serious injury in combat. He didn't expect to fall for Natalie but he can't seem to leave her alone, especially after Jason experiences an altercation in the bar where she works that escalates into more drama and danger later in the evening. It's all the typical small town behaviors -- look out for those that live there -- and be very suspicious of outsiders. Jason is the outsider and he seems to attract trouble.

There aren't too many surprises in this romance. You'll figure out the big secret of jason's appearance on your own probably, but that's okay. It's the slow burn and development of Jason and Natalie's feeling for each other that makes this a lovely romance. They are good for each other and it just takes a while for both to get on the same page.

There are some light suspense elements to this story as well, when a murder occurs in town and outsider Jason gets accused. Everything comes to a head and Jason and Natalie are forced to figure out how they feel about each other.

The pace of the story is slow and steady, which works with the growing attraction between the two main characters. While this is insta-attraction, it takes a while for the deep feelings to develop. With a precocious son to help season things, Cowboy's Last Stand is a quiet, deliberate romance that I enjoyed. I'm looking forward to more in this series.