Review: Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones

Running Wild
by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
Series: The Men from Battle Ridge #1
Publisher: Random House/Ballentine
Publication date: November 27, 2012
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
Source: purchase 
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

In book 1 of this steamy new contemporary Western romance series by two blockbuster authors, a cowboy and a woman on the run take a stand and fight for love. Carlin Reed lives in fear, off the grid, moving from place to place. So Battle Ridge, Wyoming, a small town in the middle of nowhere, seems like a good place to lie low for a while. But after becoming cook and housekeeper to cattle rancher Zeke Decker, Carlin suspects that she’s made her first mistake. Rugged, sexy, and too distracting for his own good, Zeke is pure temptation mixed with something deep and primal that makes Carlin feel almost safe. Soon things are getting way too hot in the kitchen. Zeke doesn't challenge Carlin’s terms: cash, dead bolts, and no questions. It is easy to see that she’s a woman in trouble. Problem is, he’s so blindsided by his attraction to her he can’t think straight. Zeke tries to stay all business, no complications—but that game plan is sabotaged the second Carlin gets under his skin. And when her terrifying past follows her to the ranch, Carlin faces a heartbreaking choice: run away from the man she loves, or put him in the crosshairs of a madman.

One of my favorite genres is romantic suspense and  when you add a smexy, drop dead gorgeous cowboy, this little woman is a happy reader. I read Dani @ Paulette’s Papers  review of Running Wild where she declared she was reading this over and over!  *Naturally I bought it!* Howard and Jones provided me with a suspenseful thriller and a delicious romance. I literally consumed this full size novel in one sitting.

The tale begins when we meet Carlin Reed as she anxiously looks in traffic for signs of a familiar blue car. Carlin is on the run from a bad date turned stalker. When she fears him closing  in she heads north and finds herself in a place called Battle Ride, Wyoming. She ends up becoming a cook and housekeeper to cattle ranch owner Zeke Decker and the tale that unfolds has humor, romance and danger. I became completely swept up in this fast paced tale and its delightful characters.

Carlin Reed is sweet, determined, confident and deathly afraid. Living off the radar, Battle Ridge seems safe at least for a little while. I really admired Carlin, and laughed at some of her escapades.  Zeke is a cowboy trough and through and totally swoon-worthy. He works hard, has a ferocious appetite and is good to his employees. He is not looking for a woman, he’s been there done that! There is only one problem; Carlin. The dance these too waltzed was sweet, hot and endearing. As a couple I felt the spark from their first encounter. I love wicked banter and their chemistry was intoxicating. Zeke’s patience and handling of Carlin stole my heart as did the crew. The folks in Battle Ridge are exactly what you would expect in a small town with all the charming qualities. Kat, the diner owner was a hoot and the cow-hands on the ranch provided humorous and heartwarming moments. A few of the secondary character were developed and I am hoping we get their story. Of course the stalker was creepy and getting inside his head gave me the shivers.

Small town romances always offer such wonderful, colorful characters and I love watching the romance unfold and the humorous side of life in rural America. Running Wild added a suspenseful thriller to the plot and it captivated me as I turned page after page in search of resolution and my HEA. The writing and pacing of the overall arc was well done, and the romantic aspect felt genuine and built slowly. The collaboration was well done, and their voice blended to create a fast paced, entertaining and suspenseful read.

Running Wild will appeal to both readers of suspense and romance. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Four cups of Mountain Brewed Coffee out of five

Review: The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick

The Mystery Woman
by Amanda Quick
Series: Ladies of Lantern Street #2
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: April 23, 2013
Genre: Adult Historical Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchased
Purchase* Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
My review of book one: Crystal Gardens

Beatrice Lockwood, one of the intrepid ladies of Lantern Street, is in the middle of a case when her past comes back to haunt her.  Joshua North, a former spy for the Crown, has come out of a self-imposed retirement after a disastrous case that left him scarred and forced to use a cane.  He is hunting the villain who is blackmailing his sister.  The trail leads him to Beatrice who is his chief suspect.  But when he realizes that she is not the blackmailer they set out to find the real extortionist.  Passion flares between them as they dodge a professional assassin.  Meanwhile a mysterious scientist intent on resurrecting his dead lover using an ancient Egyptian formula for preserving the bodies of the dead is also hunting Beatrice. He is keeping his dead love perfectly preserved in a special, crystal-topped sarcophagus filled with the special fluid.   But he needs Beatrice's paranormal talent to activate the reviving properties of the preservative in the coffin.  Time is running out for everyone involved. The two cases collide at a mysterious country-house filled with artifacts from ancient Egyptian tombs.  The drama concludes in the mad scientist's laboratory where Joshua discovers that the past he thought was dead is still very much alive -- sort of.

Can I just have a fangirl moment? Squee! This is one of my favorite authors and one whom I would love to meet and share a coffee with. Amanda Quick is one of Jayne Anne Krentz’s pen names and the other is Jayne Castle. I adore her books in all three genres; historical, contemporary and futuristic. The Mystery Woman is the second book in the Ladies of Lantern Street and Quick truly delivered. The tale is filled with spies, mystery, romance and danger all wrapped in a little paranormal woo-woo. Set in historical London I quickly slid into the world and its characters. Three word review: Suspenseful, romantic, captivating.

The Ladies of Lantern Street work for a private investigation company and its employees are mostly female. These trained women often disguise themselves as companions as they solve cases and protect young woman. Beatrice Lockwood is on case to protect a young lady from a fortune hunter when she encounters Joshua North, a former spy for the crown. He assists her and then informs her he has been searching for her. Beatrice has a secret past and it’s all about to catch up with her when she is suspected of blackmail and murder. When Joshua interviews her, he quickly realizes all is not as it seems and together the two must find the blackmailer and stop a madman.

The ladies of Lantern Street are bright, feisty and witty. They each possess some kind of paranormal talent and I found them fascinating. Beatrice is clever and her ability to see emotional footprints and access situations was believable and interesting. Her fiery red hair matches her witty and sometimes snarky personality. Joshua North has been recovering from injuries he suffered during his last case. He has been melancholy and suffers from both physical scars and emotional ones due to the accident. He is tall, angular and while not classically handsome his strong presence draws the female eye. Meeting Beatrice and working this case has given him a new vigor for life. The banter and slow building romance was quite good and I found myself rooting for them. The mad scientist and his obsession with an ancient Egyptian formula added suspense to the tale. The assassin was positively creepy and learning about him as he pursued them was quite fun. We briefly see the other ladies of Lantern Street and their employers. I enjoy this group and I am looking forward to more tales.

One of the things I love about Quick (Krentz) is that she knows how to spin a captivating tale. She carefully weaves all of the threads together at a beautiful pace that allows the reader to completely immerse themselves in the world and characters. Time and time again she gives me that book high I so desperately chase. I found the mystery and Beatrice’s part in it quite clever and the mix of Egyptian mythology added to the paranormal woo-woo of this tale and felt genuine. There were quite a few twists in the mystery and while a part of me suspected, it wasn't until close to the end that I was sure. The romance was splendid, built slowly and had moments of humor and sweetness. We do get a little heat and it was hot but discreetly done. Each of these books contain one mystery and one romance and I look forward to the next ladies story.

I highly recommend The Mystery Woman to fans of historical romantic suspense and mystery wrapped in paranormal woo-woo. Crystal Gardens was the first book in this series, and the third is expected in 2014. Amanda Quick is on my auto buy list and I've read almost everything written by Jayne Anne Krentz and her pseudonyms.

Four and half cups of coffee out of five

Release Day Review: The Night Is Watching by Heather Graham

The Night Watching
by Heather Graham
Series: Krewe of Hunters # 9
Publisher: Harlequin Mira 
Publication date: June 1, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Source: ARC in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchases through buy links support this blog 

The dead of night. The Old West town of Lily, Arizona, is home to the Gilded Lily, a former theater...and bawdy house. These days, it offers theatrical productions geared to tourists, but the recent discovery of a skull, a real skull, among the props and costumes shakes everyone up.  So, who do you call? The Krewe of Hunters, a special FBI unit of paranormal investigators. In this case, it's agent Jane Everett. Jane's also a talented artist who creates images of the dead as they once were. But the Krewe always works with local law enforcement, and here that means Sloan Trent, former Houston cop and now sheriff. His great-great-grandmother was an actress at the Gilded Lily...and she's not resting in peace.  Then more remains appear in the nearby desert. As they search for answers, using all the skills at their disposal, Jane and Sloan find themselves falling into danger--and into love.

The Night is Watching is the ninth book in the Krewe of Hunters, but each of them can be read as a standalone. Each book in the series deals with a new case for the special paranormal unit of the FBI and focuses on one of member of their unit and their romance. In this tale the past and present intertwine as dead bodies from the past and present begin to appear. I quickly became swept up in the mystery. Three word review: ghost-town, suspense, legends.

The Night is Watching takes us to the Old West and a town called Lily in Arizona. The town’s claim to glory is the Gilded Lily a former theater and bawdy house. The main street of town has been preserved in its former glory and rumor has it ghosts haunt the buildings. The old jail is now a hotel where you can stay in famous cells and the Gilded Lily has rooms for you to stay in, a fine restaurant and puts on nightly theatrical shows. Sloan Trent is a former Houston cop, who left when his uncle became ill and accepted a job as the local Sheriff. He stayed on since the quiet life suits him just fine. When an old skull wearing a wig shows up in the theater he calls his old friend and former partner Logan. Logan is now working for the FBI and Sloan asks him for the name of a respectable forensic anthropologist. Logan sends a team member, Agent Jane Everett to reconstruct the skull. Ghosts, murder and mayhem ensue as Jane and Sloan must piece together the mysteries of the past to solve a present day case involving murder.

Sloan is an interesting character and we learn his ancestors go back to the town’s origins. While he misses the action of the big city, he is comfortable in his ancestral home with his horses and the spirit of his uncle. He is level headed, smexy and respected. Jane Everett an artist and trained FBI agent who loves her job. She is cautious, clever and confident. The chemistry between the two of them was interesting. While they both found each other attractive, things started off a little icy, but as the ice melted the tale began to burn. Graham provided a delicious cast of characters with the townsfolk of Lily. It was fun trying to decide whodunit. The ghosts and their stories were fascinating and was one of my favorite parts of the tale.

I loved the setting; it was like an episode on one of those haunted places TV shows. Lily, Arizona lives for its tourist and the colorful past Graham gave it was interesting. I thought she did a clever job of weaving past legends and unsolved mysteries into the present murders. While I had an idea of whodunit, I must admit I was a little shocked when the players were revealed. The romance was sweet, but sometimes I wanted to shoot Sloan for forgetting Jane is a trained professional and not a damsel in distress. When they connected it felt genuine. As always her tale was paced well and I quickly became caught up, I loved piecing things together and watching it all unfold.

Fans of romantic suspense mixed with a little paranormal woo-woo will enjoy The Night is Watching and the Krewe of Hunter series.

Three and half cups of coffee from the Gilded Lily out of five

Review: I Do ... or Die by Donna Cummings

I Do or Die
by Donna Cummings
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Publication date: December 10, 2012
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Source: Author in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchases through links support this blog

“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride” is Shelby Atwood's personal credo. She’s managed to avoid commitment all her life – no pets, no plants, not even a long-term lease. Heck, she’s had colds last longer than her romantic relationships. How could she be any other way when she has a gigolo for a father? But then gunfire erupts at the latest wedding she’s agreed to be in, and it ends up being the best thing to happen to Shelby’s love life. Detective Ryan Nichols is assigned to the case, and when the shootings don’t stop, he becomes her 24-hour bodyguard. Shelby wouldn’t mind except Ryan is too appealing, too sexy, and too happy to remind her of the raucous bachelorette party when she mistook him for a stripper. Shelby’s plan is simple: find the shooter, have a fling with Ryan, and return to her non-committal life. Unfortunately, the shooter is very elusive. Shelby’s feelings for Ryan are way more than adrenaline-fueled lust. And returning to her normal life is now impossible since, despite her lifelong resistance, she’s managed to put her heart smack dab in the line of fire.

I agreed to read I Do..or Die after reading the synopsis. I love romantic suspense and I sensed a little snark and humor. Cummings delighted me with an over the top witty, and snarky heroine. Then she added a smexy Detective and a cat whose facial expressions made me giggle. Three word review: humorous, romantic, steamy. 

We meet Shelby Atwood dressed as a bridesmaid for her best friends, forth wedding! *yikes* While she thinks her friend is crazy to try again she stands by her and suffers through all her duties. At the wedding the bride is shot at and Shelby quickly moves to her side as she is whisked to the hospital. Here she meets Detective Ryan Nichols and she cannot help but notice he is all kinds of yummy. She is covered in blood, and tries to looks casual as she spews one-liners that have the groom frustrated and the officer smirking. He offers her a ride home and the tale that unfolds is funny, romantic, and steamy. Despite a few issues I enjoyed the ride and found the romance sweet.

Shelby’s life is upside down at the moment and you kind of have to laugh at the cards fate has dealt her, and admire her for laughing it off. She is snarky, and both her inner thoughts and spoken thoughts had me giggling. The more nervous she got the more snarky she became and sometimes it got a little annoying. I wanted to shake her and say be serious. Ryan finds Shelby refreshing, funny, and sexy. When he realizes she is in trouble he helps and I liked the kind of stand-up guy he is. There is sexual tension from the onset but the relationship unfolds slowly. Other characters round out the story and add insight, humor and suspects.

The mystery aspect of this tale is served as a side dish to the romance although it is always present. Instead of working the case with Shelby in tow, Ryan’s partner works it, leaving us feel a little left out. I would have liked to be more involved but the climatic ending for the mystery itself was very believable. But then the author threw in a twist and while I loved the intense scene it felt over the top. I would have preferred the first ending with the climactic scene and throw out that last bit. The romance wrapped up nicely and I liked how it ended. Overall this was an entertaining read and I will certainly try this author again.

Fans of romance with a side dish of suspense, and a whole lot of humor will enjoy I Do…or Die. It offers up a nice light weekend read.

Three cups of coffee out of five

Coffee Pot Reviews: Wounded Angel by Stacy Gail and Sweet Soldier by Misty Evans

 
Welcome to Coffee Pot Reviews! These are short and sweet reviews done in the length of time it takes my coffee pot to brew! I have two yummy adult books to share from the Earth Angel and Kali Sweet series. 

Adult books contain mature content and are not intended for readers under 18 years of age.  

Wounded Angel
by Stacy Gail
Series: Earth Angels #3
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication date: May 27, 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
ARC provided by author for unbiased review
My review of Nobody's Angel #1 & Savage Angel #2
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

A descendant of the Angel of Vengeance, Nate da Luca was gifted with an uncanny ability to find things. It made his job as a detective a breeze—until he learned the hard way that some things should remain hidden. After that, his powers vanished, along with his belief in himself. Which is going to make tracking down Gabriella Littlefield for his latest client a challenge. Personal trainer Ella Little paid a hefty price for her life—now all she wants is to live it in peace. Then a sexy hulk of a man turns up in her gym, reigniting desires she thought she'd left behind along with her real name and hair color. Desires she can't deny even after she discovers Nate's no stranger to her dark past. Before he can convince her the attraction is mutual, Nate's going to have to earn Ella's trust. But a demon is playing for keeps in the world of humans, using Ella as bait, and the last thing they have is time.

Wounded Angel the third installment in the Earth Angels series introduced us to Nate da Luca; a descendant of the the Angel of Vengeance. As a half-human angel his abilities make him a natural as a police detective. He can find anything he is looking for, but when his last case goes wrong and his powers fizzled he retires and starts his own private investigator firm. He is in Chicago looking for Gabriella Littelfield and something is hunting him. Each book in the Earth Angels series features a new angel their love interest and its all wrapped up in an action-packed mystery/case. I loved Nate, he is a well-toned, smexy, kind-hearted, swoon-worthy man who is deeply scarred by events from his past. Gabriella now known as Ella has done everything to put the horrors of her past behind her and for the first time in years she feels an unexpected attraction to a man. Ella is such a strong woman and her story survivor story is exceptional. The tale that unfolds was suspenseful and I loved how it tied into the overall ARC of this series. We learn more about the demons as the angels communicate with each other through a website and I loved the interaction between Nate and the previous characters. The relationship that developed between Nate and Ella was filled with sexual tension, denial and a sweetness that felt genuine. I laughed at some of their banter and loved the way they gave each other strength. While the tale was predictable I found myself turning the pages to see how it all worked out. This series is such a fun escape and each time I open a new book in the series I am rewarded. Fans of romantic suspense with a paranormal twist will adore this series.

Three and half cups of coffee out of five

Like my review? Want to win the first books in the series? I am hosting a giveaway today over at Nocturnal Book Reviews so be sure and stop by to enter! 

Sweet Soldier
by Misty Evans
Series: Kali Sweet # 3
Publication date: April 9, 2013
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
*purchase through buy links supports this blog
My review of Revenge is Sweet #1 & Sweet Chaos #2 

Armageddon is coming and it’s up to me to stop the Four Horsemen and their heavenly army of angels. Unfortunately, one of the Horsemen happens to be my rock star boyfriend, Radison Beaumont. At least that’s what his ex-fiancée, Parker Burkett, claims. Parker wants revenge on me for stealing Rad and she’s working with my archenemy, Queen Maria, a succubus who wants me back in her court of supernaturals. The only way I can stop them and the coming biblical apocalypse is to recruit an army – an army led by the king of hell. Lucifer’s not about to help without getting something in return, and following anyone’s orders – even his – is not my style. I’m turning my inner demon loose on Parker, Maria, and the Horsemen – and saving the humans I love at the same time. But what price will I pay for dealing with the devil? Going to the dark side has never been so sweet.

Wow, Misty Evans brought us the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Sweet Soldier the third installment in the Kali Sweet series and the action was not stop intense. Kali is up to her neck in chaos, her nemesis Queen Maria is back and so is Lucifer. We see growth in Kali especially in the romance department and I loved her little chat with Di. Rad is back and hotter than ever but he is one of the horsemen and Kali needs to decide if she can kill the man she loves. I love all the banter between the characters and Kali is such a snarky kicking-ass!  There is a softer side of her emerging that I loved discovering even if it makes her want to barf. Evans delivers a wonderfully paced tale, and skillfully fleshing out characters that I have come to adore. She rips one of my favorites away from us and it broke my heart. I am excited about some changes coming up in the series and cannot wait to read the next installment. Fans of action-packed urban fantasy with kick-ass, fleshed out characters, and well developed world-building this series is for you! 

Four cups of Italian coffee out of five

Clean Sweep Challenges

9am (EST) Kristen @ My ParaHangover
4pm (EST) Crystal @ Elegantly Bound Reviews

Blog Tour Review: Bare It All by Lori Foster

Today I am excited to be a part of the Lori Foster Bare It All Tour with BookTribs. Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres and I have been enjoying the Love Undercover series. Enjoy my review of book 2 Bare It All:

Bare It All
by Lori Foster
Series: Love Undercover #2
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: April 30, 2013
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
ARC provided for unbiased review
*purchase through buy links supports this blog
My review of Run the Risk; book 1

"A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster"  As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking. Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

One of my favorite genres is romantic suspense and Lori Foster’s new series Love Undercover delivers all the elements I love; suspense, swoon-worthy heroes, humor and enough heat to leave me sizzling. We first met the characters from Bare It All in book one Run the Risk, and while they each can be read as a standalone I recommend reading them in order to fully appreciate all of the characters and an overall arc thread.

The tale picks up the morning after Run the Risk ends and we find Detective Reese Bareden sleeping on his neighbor's sofa.  His quiet, sexy, elusive neighbor surprised the heck out of him last night with her quick thinking and gun toting attitude and he is determined to find out more about her. He’s not the only one who realizes she is hiding something. Reese is drawn to her on so many levels and as secrets are revealed and the plot unfolds things quickly heat up.

Reese is a smexy, noble cop through and through and I loved getting to know him. The more he uncovers about Alice the more he is in awe of this complicated, flawed and damaged woman. Alice has been the victim and has taken steps to ensure that never happens again; this includes creating a wall around herself.  Reese keeps chipping away and she soon finds she wants to let him in. The chemistry between them is sweet, hot, and at times hilarious. Alice’s reaction to Reese’s tone body made me giggle as Reese kept saying, “Eyes up here doll.” It felt genuine and the fact that they had a mutual respect for each other in book one made the relationship click for me despite the rushed pace at which it unfolded. We see Logan, Pepper, police sergeant Marge and Logan’s brother again. They all helped propel the plot and added to the character connections. We also see Marge in a more feminine light and hints are dropped about a relationship. I am hoping we get her story soon. Rowdy is back as he too realizes Alice may need protecting. I loved the interaction between him and Reese. Rowdy has always lived in the grey area between the law and criminal world and watching him begin to trust the boys in blue was fun. While he is still a ladies’ man, his interesting and actions regarding Avery have me anxious for more page time with him. The villains are ruthless and kept the suspense and action in high gear.

The romance between Reese and Alice took center stage in this tale and the other threads kept me spellbound. A complicated, ruthless drug lord, corrupt police and a vigilante kept things interesting. I love how Foster gets us up-close and personal with the characters giving us a strong sense of who they are and what drives them enabling me to form attachments. While there are several threads, each one is well developed and kept me enthralled as she skillfully wove them together towards the climatic ending. There is an overall arc and connection between the characters in each book I love that each contains a romance and complete storyline. The next tale focuses on Rowdy and I cannot wait for its release.

Fans of romantic suspense, with swoon-worthy characters and tough woman will appreciate the Love Undercover series and the steamy, action packed tale Bare It All delivered. Getting Rowdy book three releases September 24, 2013. The first book Run the Risk is available in all formats.

Four cups of Hazelnut mocha coffee out of five

Run the Risk

Love Undercover #1

Follow the Tour : Schedule 

Release Day Review: Against the Edge by Kat Martin

Against the Edge
by Kat Martin
Series: Raines of Wind Canyon #8
Publisher: Harlequin- Mira 
Publication date: April 30, 2013
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
ARC received in exchange for unbiased review
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

 A child he's never met. A danger he's never known.  Deep in the humid, rank heart of the Louisiana bayou, a survivalist group has something that belongs to former navy SEAL Ben Slocum: his son.  That he's a father is news Ben Slocum was not expecting. But once the initial shock wears off for the confirmed bachelor, he takes in the rest of what social worker Claire Chastain tells him: that Sam is in the custody of an abusive degenerate, that they've disappeared...and that Ben is now the child's only hope.  As Ben and Claire band together to track the two down, their concern for the boy draws them closer, each fighting feelings there's no time to explore. Because when their search takes them too close to Sam's abductor and his cohorts, the danger hits home-the son he's desperate to save, the woman he's desperate to love... Ben's got one chance to take back what's his, and in one gunshot he could lose it all.

Each book in the Raines of Wind Canyon features an ex-military alpha-male who is perfect in every way but slightly flawed in the commitment department. They work in security or as private investigators and ultimately fall for a strong, independent woman. Kat Martin dishes up great suspense virtually guaranteeing me an engaging read with swoon worthy characters. She mixes in some romance, a little heat and a few giggles. She raised the bar with Against the Edge,  this was intense, sweet and kept me on edge. I literally consumed this as I slipped into the world she created and I was thoroughly entertained.  

Ben Slocum is a former navy SEAL, lives in Houston and works with his former buddies at a security firm. When he returns home from his friend’s wedding he is surprised to find a pretty woman standing on his porch and so not in the mood to deal with whatever it is. He wants a shower and coffee, lots of coffee. Claire Chastain is a social worker from LA and she takes one look at Ben in his wrinkled tux, smelling of woman’s perfume and things she knows exactly who Ben Slocum is. Over a cup of coffee Ben’s life is about to change and in a big way. He learns his ex-fiancé Laura has passed away and he is father to a nine year old boy named Sam. As if this isn’t enough to absorb, his son is missing and Claire believes he was kidnapped by Laura’s ex’s boyfriend. The tale that unfolds is suspenseful and has Ben and Claire crossing state lines to find his son and maybe a little something more.

I adored Ben with his piercing blue eyes and smexy dark features. His former navy buddies nicknamed him the “Icepick” and I found it quite fitting. He is this sweet combination of naughty and nice that was just delicious. He totally has commitment issues, but can he own it? Heck no, instead he does one nighters and then claims he likes it that way. Men! Claire made a promise to take care of her friend’s son and she is determined to find him. She is smart, witty and is not afraid to admit she is wrong. The woman in Martin's books are strong, independent and never needy which I really appreciate. Beloved characters and couples from the security firm make an appearance in this book and it was nice getting updates. I love all the wives and how they look out for couple. I found them to be delightfully meddlesome. There were many conversations that made me laugh between Ben and Claire and the other characters as well. Martin makes the entire cast of characters feel unique from who they are and how they act.  I'd love to have friends who had my back like this group. We meet Ty Brodie the hero in our next book and he was smexy, smart and brave. Sam was adorable with his dog, and of course he stole my heart. The villains and other characters were memorable and added to the overall suspense. 

The hunt to find Sam was action packed, with plenty of twists to keep me entertained. Martin takes us from Houston, to LA to Louisiana and I enjoyed the chase. The investigation and the way this couple interacted had me completely engaged. As connections and clues unfolded the relationship began to develop and it felt natural. Claire and Ben had this chemistry from the start and I loved the slow build, the fall back and the steamy scenes. We see growth in both characters and I just loved when Ben finally got the big picture. I was fascinated with the criminals and extremist they encountered. I am not sure if it was the interaction between the couple or the chase to find Ben’s son but I completely slipped into this book and before I knew it I was over half done and could not put it down.   

Fans of romantic suspense and swoon-worthy heroes will enjoy Against the Edge. Fans of Lori Foster and her Love Uncover Series, will find Martin’s series delightful. Against the Mark the next book in the Raines of Wind Canyon will be released August 27, 2013. This series is an auto-buy for me and I cannot wait.

Four and half cups of Mocha coffee out of five