Updated: Apr 10, 2021
Fire King (Dragons & Demis #4)
by J.S. Striker
Rax's job is to find out people's secrets. Liz has too many secrets to count. When their paths cross in pursuit of their separate goals, can they move past their secrets and distrust to pursue what they both need most?
Rax
When I first meet Liz, I can’t stand her. She's rude. Arrogant. High handed. And exactly like me. We clash in every way imaginable.
And yet ...
I can't get her out of my head.
When I find out she's bonded to another, I tell myself I need to leave her alone, but for some reason, I just can't stay away ...
Liz
The two most important men in my life are missing. And I need Rax to help me find them.
While we didn't get along at first, he's my best chance to find my step-brother—if he's even still alive. He doesn't realize I need to find my dragon as well. Or why.
The longer we work together, the more our attraction becomes undeniable. Except my loyalties are supposed to lie elsewhere.
How do I choose between duty and desire?
Will Liz and Rax be able to overcome their secrets and lies to find a way to be together? Or will duty and deception tear them apart forever?
REVIEW
What an amazing story with all its twists and turns! I found the author's vivid imagination and imagery throughout the book quite exciting.
Though originally, I wasn't sure if I could fully commit to Rax and Liz's adversarial characters in the story, I became enamored with both as the story progressed. It was interesting to see the unfolding of their backgrounds that caused them to act out in certain situations creating the tension between them and others.
The authors setup of complex characters is one of her strong writing skills. In fact, there are quite a few secondary characters in this book series that are extremely interesting, and I'd like to learn more about them as well.
There is a mystery that runs throughout this book that intrigued me. It will keep the reader enthralled till the last page. Some parts of the story get solved and others are left for the reader to wonder about. This still allows the reader a clean ending and a hope for another book.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Dissecting Meredith
(On Call Book 6)
by Freya Barker
Since taking over the county coroner’s office, Meredith “Doc” Carter has been working hard to gain the respect of both her peers and local authorities. Reporting the circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one is often a thankless part of her job. Still, those are the easier cases. Random body parts turning up are substantially more troublesome, and when the facts don’t line up Meredith reaches out to entomologist, Casey Shea for answers.
Detective Jay VanDyken has admired Doc from the sidelines. His recent promotion comes with the added benefit of dealing directly with the silver-haired forensic pathologist, an opportunity he doesn’t plan on wasting. The discovery of partial remains have Jay and Meredith working closely together, but breaking down the pieces to build their case is not the only challenge. Their developing relationship has its own share of problems.
Review
I seem to be binge reading books by Freya Barker lately. What I love about her books is how real the people are. For some reason it took me awhile to connect with the main characters in Dissecting Meredith. Don't get me wrong it wasn't because they weren't well developed but the fact that I didn't at first feel a personal connection to their characters.
This book for me was a slow build which keep reeling me into not only the storyline but the characters. I will admit that the story development did keep my up to the wee hours of the morning because I wanted to know the ending. The "who done it" and "did love win" in the end.
My favorite character ending up being Jay because his rough childhood created a strong man who loves deeply and has the strength to stand up for his best good life. What made his stand out was his kindness to others and the rawness in his feelings for Doc and his girls.
Doc seriously got on my nerves because she was so professional and job focused that it hit very close to home for me and my past professional life. Her life was an outstanding reminder that one should take time to explore and enjoy life. Today's woman will relate to Doc as many struggle with spending all their energy proving how good they are at work that they forget the woman part of themselves.
This book was an exercise of not judging a book by it's cover and take time to smell the roses. I do recommend it for those readers who love reading books that are really down to earth real.
Updated: Mar 28, 2021
Hit Me With Your Best Scot
(Wild Wicked Highlanders #3)
by Suzanne Enoch
St. Martin's Press
The final book in the wickedly seductive new Scottish historical romance trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch, Hit Me With Your Best Scot!
The MacTaggert brothers have one task:
Find English brides or lose their land!
Coll MacTaggert, Viscount Glendarril, is a big, brawny Highlander who doesn’t like being told what to do—not even by his exasperated English mother who is determined to see her eldest son wedded and bedded. However, when he comes to the rescue of an irresistibly beautiful woman, Coll discovers that he may have found his perfect match…
The challenge isn’t that Persephone Jones is famous, wealthy, independent, and smarter than anyone he knows.The problem is that she isn't interested in marrying any man—especially not a hot-headed Scot—even if he is the only man who seems to understand who she really is even when she’s not sure herself. When Coll learns that Persephone is actually a lady-in-hiding and someone is willing to kill her for what she stands to inherit…Well, Coll has never been one to turn down a fight. When hearts are involved, nothing comes between a Highlander and his lady.
It's Getting Scot in Here #1 - No Review
Scot Under the Covers #2 - My Review
Review
Author Suzanne Enoch creates a cast of very strong men and women in the Wild Wicked Highlanders trilogy. Without exception she gives her feisty female characters a brain, body, looks and wealth. It was such a joy to see these women lead the Mactaggert men on a wild goose chase.
Coll Mactaggert makes me laugh. I know this isn’t something he would want but his “bull in the china shop” personality is refreshing. Don’t get me wrong he is not clumsy as much as big, brawny, and thinking with his hand’s kind of man. Despite his appearance, he is kind as well as honorable and those characteristics lead him into all kinds of situations and mischief.
Persephone Jones in an enigma and Coll is intrigued with the woman. He can’t help but want to figure out the mystery she has surrounding her. How the author unfolds this mystery to Coll is well executed. I like the small amounts of information that unfold about her and how Coll deals with it. Persephone’s mind and how she uses it to enlist Coll’s help from danger made me smile. And let’s not forget the heat between them. The pages burnup with it.
Getting back to Coll… you can’t help but love him, he is a solid kind of no-nonsense man that you know where you stand with always. His character doesn’t play games. He just puts it out there for all to know.
The reader will want to read this book in one sitting. It is entertaining and a fulfilling read.
Smiles,
Sportochick’s Musings
