Review: The Secrets We Hide (North Falls Series #2) by Karin Slaughter

 

The next thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent Series.

Welcome to North Falls. A small town with big secrets…

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors.

When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead.

Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town.

And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth…

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What I thought about The Secrets We Hide

 In this second North Falls Series story, Emmy Clifton accepts her legacy as sheriff of North Falls and gets involved immediately in a case involving a murdered former cop and her daughter.  With her sister Jude along side her, Emmy isn't sure that she likes the well-known FBI agent always lecturing her. There is a lot of tension between Jude and Emmy, and there are secrets to be revealed that could really rock Emmy's world. 

Emmy works through her exhaustion to uncover the killer. She's really pushed to the limit in this one, as the small town corruption is unveiled piece by piece.  It really turned out to be a complicated situation that took some time to unravel. I really like Emmy -- she has a good sense of North Falls and the people who live there. 

The story is told mostly from Emmy's point of view, although there are a few chapters that reveal Jude's emotions and thinking.  There is a definite Will She/ Won't she situation going on here that I don't want to spoil, but it's gotten me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the big moment between Emmy and Jude. 

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It kept me turning the pages until the end, and even though I had a little bit of trouble remembering the first book in this series, there was enough in this installment to remind me of the major points.  You will definitely enjoy this more if you read the first book in the series, but it's not absolutely required. 

4 stars

  

Review:Long Buried (Doctors of Darkness #6) by Ellery Kane

The past always rises.

In 1997, the seniors of Sweetbriar High School buried a time capsule at their graduation ceremony. That same night, one of their own—Homecoming Queen Blair Lennox—disappeared without a trace.

Twenty years later, Juniper Pickett returns to Sweetbriar on a mission, driving all night from San Francisco with a world of trouble in her rearview. There’s no going back. Not after what she’s done. Tomorrow, they’ll exhume the time capsule and expose her darkest secret.

When Juniper accidentally unearths the body of her missing classmate, she finds herself with a target on her back in a race to clear her name. Because it’s not true what they say about small towns…

There are strangers.

There are secrets.

And you can go home again. But they’ll never let you leave.

About the Series...Straight from the mind of a forensic psychologist comes an addictive new series of betrayal, lust, revenge, and murder. These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side. And once you start reading, you won't be able to stop. Other books in the Doctors of Darkness series include Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree, The First Cut, Shadows Among Us, and Lucky Girl. 

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What I thought about Long Buried 

Juniper Pickett is in a heap of trouble both at her current home in San Francisco and where she grew up in Sweetbriar. Her actions are suspicious and as a reader I was hooked somewhere around the start.  I wanted to know what would make her come back home and dig up the time capsule? Why was she running from San Francisco?  All of the pertinent questions get answered in the story, but it takes a while before all the pieces are in place and all of the perpetrators can be identified.

There is a very strong theme of bullying and the impact it has on both the bully and the victim. The story is told in two timelines, what is happening now, and what happened back in Juniper's high school days. There is some intense emotional material here and it's worth paying attention to any  content warnings. 

The mystery of the cheerleader who disappeared years ago is just waiting to be solved after Juniper cracks open the ground and finds the body. This story is like peeling an onion, with each new layer revealing more information about who the killer might be. What was interesting about this story for me is that Juniper is a equal suspect throughout the story, which had me guessing until the end.

What happened in San Francisco becomes an important part of the story when the young girl that Juniper had been counseling shows up in Sweetbriar. Talk about bad decisions! Juniper makes plenty here and its a good thing she has friend and neighbor Wyatt to help her. 

The romantic elements between Wyatt and Juniper  were nicely done, and the romance reader in me wanted a little more at the end! 

Overall, I liked this story. It kept me interested in continuing, it was easy to read, and the pace was okay, with slower spots.  I found myself liking Juniper, and that kept me reading.  

 

Review: Falling Into You (Colburn Brothers #3) by Jill Shalvis

 

 Some love stories don’t stay buried, no matter how far you run.

Hazel Pierce has three goals for coming back to Star Falls:
1. Help her estranged dad.
2. Keep things strictly temporary.
3. Absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for Tucker Colburn again.

That plan dies a dramatic, soggy death when a rogue wasp sting sends Hazel swerving off the road and into the river—only to be hauled out, half-drowned and furious, by the Star Falls Fire Department’s finest. Unfortunately, “finest” is ex–best friend, ex–one-night mistake, and the man she’s been avoiding for a decade.

Tucker’s always had a way of getting into her head. And now between a family that thrives on gossip and a town that’s way too small for all this chemistry, Hazel’s running out of ways to avoid the truth. As sparks turn into late-night confessions and slow, toe-curling kisses, Hazel has to decide if she’s done running—from her past, from this town, and from the only man who’s ever made her feel like home. And Tucker has to prove that this time, he’s not just her safe place to crash—he’s her always.

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What I thought about Falling Into You

Tucker Colburn and Hazel Pierce have history and a lot of chemistry in Falling Into You. Tucker has stayed home all these years, helping with the family business and pursuing his own career in fire fighting. Hazel, his neighbor and long time friend left town, but returns years later to find all the feelings between them are still sizzling.

I really liked that they started out as friends who helped each other during those rough teenage years. I had a friend like that and the relationship between Tucker and Hazel was very realistic to me. They do have a lot of the past to deal with as there are many hurt feelings and misconceptions that must be addressed.

While there were slow spots, I really did like this story. It was easy to keep engaged with wanting Tucker and Hazel to find their way back to each other, which is so important in a romance. And yeah, I wanted to shake Hazel a few times, but I understand why she did the things she did which is also important to me.

Overall, this is a terrific story and a terrific series from this author.  

 

Review: Hott, Hotter, Hottest (Hott Springs Eternal #5) by Serena Bell

 Real bodyguard. Fake boyfriend. Unexpected benefits. Trouble guaranteed.

Tucker: Autumn Sato is a happiness influencer. And I’m…well, let’s just say my brand is more big, gray storm cloud. If life were going according to plan, the closest I’d get to her would be scrolling past her posts as fast as my thumbs could fly.

But my sister needs help, so I agree to bodyguard Autumn at her sister’s wedding. One thing leads to another, and suddenly I’m pretending to be her new boyfriend in front of all her friends and family.

It’s a hot mess, made worse because I swore I’d never do this again. Never get close to someone I was guarding. Never fall for someone whose safety was in my hands. Never let distraction get in the way of my job.

Unfortunately, this entire week is nothing but distractions: trapped in a car with my smoking hot client, only one bed in our hotel room, only one tent on the wedding camping trip… all before the bachelorette prom. Meanwhile, someone seems to have it out for Autumn… or my family… or both.

As things heat up between us, I’m left with one question: Can I keep my heart—and the people I care about—safe?

A spicy, small-town, bodyguard, fake relationship, grumpy-sunshine romantic comedy with a hint of danger and a lot of heart.

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 What I thought about Hott, Hotter, Hottest

This cute series that is centered around brothers who have to comply with the rules from a last will and testament to avoid dire consequences wraps up with Tucker, the quiet security professional.  He's got lots on his mind as he berates himself for something in his past, but when he is roped into being a bodyguard for one of the wedding guests family, he reluctantly agrees. 

Autumn Sato is a happiness influencer with some questions of her own regarding her past happiness and her sister, who is about to get married.  She goes along with having a bodyguard at her side (and more!) throughout. There are some rather tense scenes as it does turn out she needs a bodyguard!

I liked this story.  It was lovely to read Tucker's story and how he moved on from the past. There are plenty of steamy scenes between Tucker and Autumn and they did spend some page time getting to know each other, even though the "L" word came out after a short period of time. 

Overall, I enjoyed this romance, although it took a little time to get involved and invested in the characters. This entire series is entertaining and worth your time.

4 stars. 

 

 

Review: Thornbird by E. Kennedy

 

The highly anticipated young adult thriller about a serial killer's daughter and her race to solve the crimes of her family's twisted past before it's too late—from E. Kennedy, aka New York Times bestselling romance author Elle Kennedy!

The world is hunting for answers—but what if the truth leads straight to you?

Ten years after her father—the infamous serial killer Gabriel Thorn—was caught, Ryan Shipley is back in Starling, Tennessee, trying to lay low. No one can know who she really is. No one can know the truth about her past.

But as fresh eyes dig deeper into the case, old secrets refuse to stay buried. Cryptic texts, eerie coincidences, and a chilling note leave everyone wondering—does Ryan know more than she’s letting on? As the truth unravels, one thing becomes in a town full of secrets, Ryan might be the biggest mystery of them all.

Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Jeneva Rose—get ready for a thriller packed with twists you won’t see coming. 

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What I thought about Thornbird

When a favorite romance author writes a YA thriller, this reader just had to check it out! Ryan Shipley is pretending to be a regular high school student.  If her friends found out she was related to the most notable serial killer from the town, she might be in big trouble. The killer's victims have never been found, and the town is obsessed about it the crime, thanks to a true crime podcast and a reward for finding the bodies.  

Ryan ends up with her cousin and others looking for the victims under the promise of a reward. When she starts receiving threatening messages regarding her true identity, things get serious and she finds herself in danger. 

This being YA, there are boys too.  Ryan is pursued by two young men in her class, one the "good boy" and the other the class "bad boy".  There are plenty of the typical class members here, as one might expect. I liked the little love triangle that developed here.

Overall, while the beginning is a bit slow, things pick up and there is a satisfying conclusion that you won't see from a mile away. This was a story that could appeal to both the YA and adult readers. The writing is good, the characters are nicely developed and you'll be holding your breath in all the right places!

4.5 stars

 

Release Day Review: Big Stick Energy (New York Legends #2) by Sarina Bowen

 

Big Stick Energy

A hockey team captain and a bubbly staffer mix business with pleasure when they start fake dating through the wedding season in this hot sports romance perfect for fans of Mariana Zapata​ and Elle Kennedy. 

Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?

But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.

It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?

LINKS:

Goodreads:
https://geni.us/BSE_Goodreads

Amazon:
https://geni.us/BSE_Kindle

Apple:
https://geni.us/BSE_Apple

B&N:
https://geni.us/BSE_Nook

Kobo:
https://geni.us/BSE_Kobo

Google:
https://geni.us/BSE_Google

Audible:
https://geni.us/BSE_Audible

Libro.fm:
https://geni.us/BSE_LibroFM

All links: https://sarinabowen.com/big-stick-energy

What I thought about Big Stick Energy

Work crushes can be so dangerous! Darcy finds out just how dangerous when she sends her crush an email -- by accident! Who hasn't done that at some point! It's a great way to start out this romance.

This author knows how to write romance and does a great job of leveraging the fake dating of a wedding trip that both Darcy and her crush Eric attend. What I love about this setup is that it forces the couple to get to know each other and for them to talk first before attraction turns into something more.

I couldn't ask for anything more when it comes to a hockey romance. This is another book I'll add to the library of stories from this author since they are always good for a feel-good re-read!

5 stars 

 

 

Review: Last Man Standing : A Small Town Protector Romance (His to Protect #3) by Jill Sorenson

 

Vanessa Nava returns to her Texas hometown as a newly divorced single mom, determined to give her imaginative four-year-old daughter a magical summer. But the serene lakeside cabin she rented? Double-booked. The current occupant is the hottest, grumpiest handyman she’s ever met—claiming it’s under construction and strictly off-limits.

Paul McPherson, a Houston native recovering from a gunshot wound, has retreated to Lost Lake to hide and heal in peace. He won’t share his safe haven with anyone—especially not the sheriff’s daughter and her bubbly little girl. Vanessa is stunning, stubborn, and way too tempting for a man with secrets.

Vanessa paid upfront and refuses to leave. She sets up camp on his doorstep, transforming mishap into lake days filled with laughter, lemonade stands, and hot summer nights—sending Paul’s buried protective instincts into overdrive.

Texas heat ignites a scorching affair neither saw coming. But when danger closes in and Paul’s cover is blown, Vanessa must decide: walk away from the summer fling… or fight for a love that could last forever?

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What I though about Last Man Standing

In this romantic suspense, Vanessa returns home to find someone else living in the house she was supposed to be renting. What starts out as forced proximity turns to frenemies and then more. Vanessa's daughter is adorable and adds to the story with cute banter. The romance does develop quickly between Vanessa and Paul, but there are plenty of other emotions in this protector story.

Overall, this was a sweet romance with just the right amount of everything -- good banter, attraction and heat, action and suspense. 4 stars