Sweet Revenge (Sins Brothers #2) by Rebecca Zanetti

The One Man She Can't Have Matt Dean was born to fight…and kill. A member of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be the perfect soldiers with an expiration date. Now, with time running out, he's gone rogue in a relentless quest for the one person who can save them. His mission leads him to Charmed, Idaho…and to a beautiful woman with eyes like emeralds and a body made for pleasure. The One Woman He Can't Resist Laney Jacobs knows the mysterious, handsome stranger is trouble from the moment he walks into her bar, looking for a job. She's spent years running from her own past—the last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement. But Matt's strong arms offer her protection, and his gentle touch promises passion unlike anything she's ever known. As lethal forces surround them, revealing explosive secrets about Matt's past and putting everything—and everyone—he holds dear in danger, can he save them all before time runs out?

Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as standalone. I read this before reading first book and I have no problem following the story. It's fast pace, filled with twists and turns, and full of actions towards the end.

Matt was a very likeable character. Handsome, strong, steady, smart, very protective to the people that he cared about. I was amazed by his strength at the ending with his determination to save the people he cared about despite he was badly injured. He's extraordinary. Laney was a strong woman with kind heart. She never stop giving me surprise. And she managed to overcome her fear to save the people she cared about. I was glad that Matt did not misjudge her by her past.

I enjoy reading the book very much. The story is very interesting and I always enjoy reading strong hero. The suspense, romance and action made the whole package very attractive. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. And I would definitely go back to read the first book of the series to learn more about Matt's another younger brother.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Fatal Tide By Lis Wiehl, with Pete Nelson

Book Description In East Salem, the elite St. Adrian’s Academy is at the nexus of a satanic apocalypse—and the fatal tide is rising. When Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights is reunited with the pagans who commissioned it, a dark prophecy begins to unfold in East Salem, beginning with a savage double-murder by hellish creatures straight out of the painting itself. The lone survivor of the attack, a seventeen-year-old Brit, finds sanctuary at Tommy Gunderson’s home—and the place is soon surrounded by demons who seem to be biding their time…but for how long? Tommy’s pond has been contaminated with Provivilan—an insidious drug that could transform New York City’s children into an army of violence-addicted murderers. But for an occult cabal in the upper echelons of Linz Pharmaceuticals, contaminating the water supply is just part of an ancient conspiracy against all of humankind. As the clouds gather, Tommy and Dani realize they must infiltrate Linz and St. Adrian’s to stop the dissemination of Provivilan. Even then, it could take a tangible eruption of the battle between angels and demons to save humanity from the supernatural evils that have been summoned to East Salem.

Finally, the last installment of the East Salem series is here. I was so excited when I know it's coming out and couldn't resist myself to get the book immediately. And similar to the 1st and 2nd installment of the series, Lis Wiehl together with Pete Nelson did not fail to surprise me with more suspense and excitement in this final book of the series. The story continues from the ending of the 2nd installment. So it is recommended that you read the series from book 1 onward to understand the whole story.

In this last book, the characters introduced from the 2nd installment were playing more important role, working hand in hand with Tommy and Dani on fighting the demon. The battle started right from the beginning of the book, making me so nervous and at the same time worry for them. In the whole book of more than 300 pages, many things happened and the time span was only 5 days, detailing the role of each person played and the dangerous of their actions in the whole battle. The authors have shown excellent skills on weaving the emotion, suspense, and twist and turns of the events into the story. I would say there is no single hero in the whole battle, everyone plays an important role in fighting the demon. And of course, God already has his plan for everyone in this whole thing.

I love this series very much. The whole series is full of mystery, suspense, excitement and definitely a page turner. And I love the ending too. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher through BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Betrayal (Precinct 11 #2) by Jerry B. Jenkins

From Goodreads: - Detective Boone Drake has just masterminded the most massive sting in Chicago history, bringing down the heads of not only the biggest street gangs in the city but also the old crime syndicate. The story is the biggest in decades, and the Chicago Police Department must protect the key witness at all costs. Despite top secret plans to transfer the witness ahead of his testimony before the grand jury, an attempt is made on his life. And the person suspected of leaking this information may be one of the CPD's own.

The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins is the second book in the Precinct 11 series. The story picks up from where The Brotherhood ends. I enjoy reading first book The Brotherhood a lot. And I was looking forward on reading this book 2. Honestly, Jerry Jenkins did not disappoint me at all. The 2nd book of this series is full of suspense. The plot was exciting and full of mystery. Similar to book 1, The Betrayal is full of actions. I just could not stop turning the pages. Besides searching who is the betrayal, the story also continue on Boone's relationship with God, and his new relationship after his wife and son have died. Boone is tough, smart and brave. I enjoy reading how he keeps cool and act accordingly when they are in danger. Boone also has an amazing relationship with his boss Jack. I think it's the greatest thing he ever has.

Overall I enjoy reading this book very much. Good story, good writing style. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Darkness Rising (East Salem Trilogy #2) by Lis Wiehl

From Goodreads: - The evil that's in East Salem is no longer content to hide in the shadows. The stakes-and the darkness-are rising. Dani Harris thought there wasn't much left that could surprise her after serving as a forensic psychiatrist in East Salem. And Tommy Gunderson has faced few challenges in his life that he couldn't overcome by either physical strength or his celebrity status. But as they race to uncover what's really happening behind the high walls of St. Adrian's Academy, it becomes clear that supernatural forces have been at work here for generations. And now their focus is on making sure Dani and Tommy don't interfere. When the unseen becomes seen, faith is the only weapon strong enough to fight in a battle involving not only murder and betrayal-but angels and demons.

I like the first book in this series very much. The writer is very good at creating suspense making it a page turner. In this book 2 of the series, the story continues where Waking Hours left off. In my opinion, it's ok to read book 2 without reading book 1, but I would still recommend to read book 1 to have better understanding on the back ground of the characters as well as the case.

In this 2nd book, Dani and Tommy continue to work together on the case. And this time, both Dani and Tommy's ex come into picture which make their relationship a little more challenging. The plot of the story is amazing. I like the twists and turns and the suspense elements in the story. I can never expect what will happen next. Once I started reading, I just could not stop. I like both characters of Dani and Tommy a lot. They are mature, strong, insightful and have faith. I can't wait to further read about the development of their relationship. In this 2nd book, the devil has finally emerged. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

I enjoy reading this book very much. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

Title:         Lonestar Angel Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Pub Date:  November 08, 2011 ISBN:       9781595542694 Author:     Colleen Coble Eden’s hope is rekindled when Clay delivers astounding news: their baby girl has been found. Five years ago Eden and Clay Larson’s baby was stolen. When they went to pay the ransom, what happened changed their lives forever—the kidnapper’s car with Baby Brianna inside sunk deep into the river. Eden blamed herself, Clay lost himself in work. Their young and rocky marriage ended. Or so Eden thought. Now Eden’s moved to a new town. She’s found faith and is trying to rebuild her life. She’s even dating again—a sweet guy named Kent who plans to marry her. But then Clay arrives out of the blue and delivers shocking news: he never signed their divorce papers, so they’re still married. What’s more, Clay has been searching for Brianna all this time.  And he believes he’s found her: their daughter is in Bluebird, Texas, at a youth ranch. All five little girls there are the right age—he’s just not sure which one is Brianna. Or how she survived. To uncover the truth, Eden and Clay sign on as counselors at Bluebird Ranch. They move into small quarters in the bunkhouse and oversee the kids as they try to find out more. Working together, they rediscover their love for each other. But danger is closing in—Eden, Clay, and all their young charges are in jeopardy. As they fight to save their family, Eden realizes that God has been fighting for them all along. And His plans are for a more abundant life than they’d ever hoped.

I always love Christian fiction and this is another good read. It is a very touching story. A father who refused to give up hope searching on his child; a husband who refused to sign the divorce paper as he still loves his wife. And yet the wife did not know about this, until 5 years later. Actually both Clay and Eden love each other. However due to their shotgun marriage, and the nature of Clay's job required him to travel around the places, they didn't spend enough time with each other to understand each other well. Spending their time in Bluebird ranch now give them a very good chance to know more about each other. I'm really glad that at that important moment, Clay told Eden about his feeling.

I like the pace of the story; it is not too fast and yet not too slow. We are able to see the interactions between Clay and Eden, and their interactions with the 5 children, and the constant guessing which girl actually is their daughter. I was captivated by the story right from page 1 and besides guessing who's Brianna, I also keep on thinking who could be the kidnapper. There are few twists which adding more suspense to the story, and making things more complicated. As usual, I could not get my guesses right and the answers are revealed at the end.

I enjoy reading this book very much and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.



Note: I receive the digital ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Guardian by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed

Title:         The Guardian Publisher:  Barbour Publishing, Inc. Imprint:     Barbour Books Pub Date:  09/01/2011 ISBN:       9781616262785 Author:     Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed Plunge into the world of seen and unseen forces in The Guardian. Anna Riley has just come into possession of a two-thousand-year old scroll that God gave to John the Disciple. Her mission—to guard the scroll and unlock its secret. Jason Lang, her protector, has his work cut out for him as they begin their journey around the world, facing corruption and dodging bullets—all the while trying to keep his attraction to Anna at bay. Will he succeed in defending the woman he’s vowed to protect? Will Anna, forced to trust other people to stay alive, fulfill the challenge that she’s accepted?

This story is full of actions, running from one place to another. After Anna had accepted the duty from her grandfather, to complete the task from God, her life was no longer same. Within few days, she had to run away from the bad people and witnessed death, and more death along the journey. She learnt to trust and have faith in God, on completing this task. What made me sad is, why so many good people have to die. And many times, I was very worry for Anna when the bad people were catching up on her.

I enjoy the Christian values that was being presented throughout the whole book. The pace is good. The story also flows smoothly. I feel the ending was a bit rush, nonetheless it's a good book. I enjoy reading it very much.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Note: I receive the digital ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Title:         The Black Stiletto Publisher:  Oceanview Publishing Pub Date:  09/05/2011 ISBN:       9781608090204 Author:     Raymond Benson “My mother was the masked vigilante known as The Black Stiletto.” Was Martin Talbot’s elderly, Alzheimer’s-stricken mother really the Black Stiletto? When he discovers several hidden volumes of her diaries, he is stunned beyond all imagination. In them, Judy Talbot claims to be the renowned underground heroine who operated in late 1950s New York City, battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and stalked common crooks. In a fascinating story that alternates between past and present, the Black Stiletto’s legend unfolds. What caused her to begin her quest for justice? Why did she decide to act outside the law? What are the facts behind her feats as the infamous and feared crime-fighter? As Talbot struggles with shocking revelations, the reappearance of one of the Stiletto’s old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge threatens to jeopardize his mother’s closely-guarded secret—and her life.

The story is written in first POV, switching between Martin, Judy and Roberto (Stiletto’s old enemies). However majority of the story is from Judy's diaries. She wrote down her background, what happened to her, how she becomes Black Stiletto, and the adventures after that. It is actions packed, and details fight scenes allow you to imagine the fights visually. Some parts are quite emotional too.

At first I thought reading a journal is boring but I was wrong. It was beautifully written and made me just want to keep on reading and reading. I actually enjoy the part on Judy's diaries the most. I was actually sweat for her on her very first appearance as Black Stiletto. No matter how good was her, there were times she got injured too.

Judy has few diaries and this book only covers one of the diaries. So I guess there will be more books on this series. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


Book Trailer




Additional info

The Black Stiletto was a legend in her own time, an underground heroine who made a name for herself during the late Eisenhower years and early Kennedy years as a New York City vigilante. Although she was wanted by the law and would have been arrested had she been caught or had her secret identity been revealed, the Black Stiletto was a competent and successful crime-fighter. A feminist before the term was in everyday vernacular, she battled common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse—and was responsible for their capture and, in some cases, their deaths. But the Stiletto disappeared midway through the sixties and was never heard from again. Most people thought she had died, and no one ever knew her identity. Like pinup queen Bettie Page, her mythical image resurfaced in comics and other media during the 1980s and 90s. Millions of dollars were made by others exploiting her likeness and persona. Today, the questions remain. Who was she? Is she still alive? If so, where is she now?

The answers can be found in THE BLACK STILETTO, by internationally-known New York Times best-selling author Raymond Benson.

The July 2011 issue of Library Journal calls THE BLACK STILETTO "a mashup of the work of Gloria Steinem, Ian Fleming, and Mario Puzo, all under the editorship of Stan Lee."

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

 

Title:          The Restorer
SubTitle:     Book I in The Graveyard Queen series
Publisher:    Harlequin
Imprint:      MIRA Books
Pub Date:   04/26/2011
ISBN:        9780778329817
Author:      Amanda Stevens

When Amelia Gray was 9 years old, she saw ghost for the first time. Since then, her father who is a cemetery caretaker tells her the 4 rules that she must remember and follow:

Never acknowledge the dead.
Never stray from the hallowed ground.
Never get close to the haunted.
Never, ever tempt fate.

Now at the age of 27, Amelia Gray is a graveyard restorer. Her latest job is to restore an old Charleston graveyard. However before she can complete her job, a body has been found at the graveyard and she is requested to assist in the investigation together with John Devlin, the police detective who in charge of this case.

Amelia is attracted to John Devlin but Devlin is haunted by ghosts due to his guilt that he holds for his past. Amelia has vowed to keep away from this haunted man but she breaks the rules again and again, making herself more and more dangerous. At the same time, more bodies are found and the killer started to leave the hints at Amelia's blog. The clues to the killer and to his other victims; lie in the headstone symbolism that only she can interpret.

The Restorer is the Book 1 of The Graveyard Queen Series. The story is thrilling and chilling too. It is fast paced, full of mystery and suspense, very well plotted with lots of twist and surprises. At the same time the feelings between Amelia and Devlin, how she struggles to keep away from him, are presented very well. The characterizations are quite vivid; some parts can be quite creepy so if you are the nervous type maybe it'll be better if you don't read it at night. 

I enjoy reading it very much. And I'm looking forward for her next book in this series. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Here is the The Graveyard Queen series book trailer:



The Graveyard Queen Series:
Prequel: The Abandoned (April 2011)
Book I: The Restorer (May 2011)
Book II: The Kingdom (November 2011)
Book III: The Prophet (May 2012)

Click here for more info about this series.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher Harlequin via Net Galley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.