Waiting on Wednesday # 41 Penguin Wishlist

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme

 hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

Dark Witch

by Nora Roberts

Series: The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1

Publisher: Penguin 

Publication date: November 5, 2013

Genre: Paranormal

Pre-order*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository 

*purchase through buy links supports this blog

 With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends. Ireland. County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits. Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives. When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package. Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive… Don’t miss the next two books in the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy Shadow Spell and Blood Magick.

I am not going to lie, I love Nora Roberts and this series has me drooling. We have witches, its in Ireland and hello Boyle McGrath aka pirate, cowboy and horseman....swoons!  

All The Truth That's In Me
by Julie Berry
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: September 26, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary Suspense
Pre-order*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

Ever since the horrifying trauma that left her best friend dead and her permanently mutilated, she’s been a pariah in her close-knit community. Judith spends her days silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when the town is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you reading feverishly until the final page.

From its cover to its synopsis All the Truth That's In Me has me curious. What secrets, what happen to Judith and her friend. Eep!

What are you Waiting for? 

leave a link:) 

Review: 13 by Amy Lignor

13
by Amy Lignor
Series: Tallent & Lowery #1
Publisher: Suspense 
Publication date: December 1, 2012
Genre: YA 
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

In 1902, in a dark room on the fifth floor of Carnegie Hall, thirteen people came together to continue a tradition that had been set in stone thousands of years before.  In 2012, Leah Tallent is Head of Research at the New York Public Library. Stoic and stable, brilliant and cynical, she has forever enjoyed her existence among the book stacks. But even with her unparalleled intellect, there was no way to know that on the historic steps between America's famous lions, she would become involved with a crazy man on a fanatical quest. Gareth Lowery has spent his life searching for the ultimate artifact that he is certain exists. His life's pursuit has been to retrieve twelve keys hidden by men whose job it was to protect the single biggest secret ever kept. To find the keys he must enlist the help of an unwilling guide who, unfortunately, knows much more than he bargained for. From the first page to the last word, this fantastic duo become immersed in a whirlwind treasure hunt with historical and passionate repercussions. From the strange and eerie Winchester House to the blustery darkness of Loch Ness, Gareth and Leah will quickly learn that the theory of duality is correct: For every bad there is a good and, for Heaven, there most assuredly exists...Hell.

As a huge fan of Dan Brown, quests and conspiracy theories about hidden artifacts I was excited to try Amy Lignor’s newest series. 13 is the first book in the Tallent & Lowery books and I found it fascinating. We travel from New York to the west coast, then to London and Loch Ness in search of keys that can open the gates of heaven. 13 is filled with historical characters, haunted places and infamous characters as she stirred in supernatural elements that kept me spellbound.

The tale begins when we meet Leah Tallent head researcher at the New York Public Library. Leah is a walking encyclopedia who is happier around her research then interacting with “mere humans”. She can be snarky and hides herself behind fake glasses to create a safe wall around herself. Everything for Leah Is about documented scientific fact but her world is about to get turned upside down when she meets Gareth Lowery. Lowery has spent his entire life searching for artifacts to complete his parents work and he believes Leah may hold the answers. The tale that unfolds was suspenseful, filled with dark twists, humorous moments and a dash of romance.

Lowery and Tallent are the most unlikely duo. He is a true believer and she is a skeptic but together they begin to piece together clues in their search for the last six keys.  In the beginning I didn’t really like Tallent; she is snarky, acts superior and loathes children. However her research skills and great appreciation for the library and books made me respect her. She is cynical, everything is black and white but as she spends time with Lowery we see growth from her. I loved her ability to piece together clues using her vast knowledge and the woman appreciates coffee! Her quest for a good cup made me giggle. Lowery is driven by his need to finish his parents work and has a close relationship with his sister which I found charming. He is downright smexy, and at first I found him cocky, and I think Tallent’s initial assessments of him influenced me because I eventually connected with him. Lowery’s sister was a firecracker and I am hoping she is given more page time in future books. Donovan is a family friend of the Lowery’s and from the beginning we we suspect something sinister. I loved how Talent’s sixth-sense sent off alarms in her head and we slowly learned about his intentions.

The world building is wonderfully done and I easily slipped into the world Lignor created. It is quite apparent she researched extensively and information was skillfully presented to us without disturbing the flow. This tale has a lot of religious implications regarding all faiths and it isn’t necessarily one that those of faith will embrace. If you remember the reaction of the church regarding the Da Vinci Code I have a feeling they would voice similar protests here. Lignor wove fascinating historical places into the tale like the haunted Winchester Mansion and the New York Public Library. Carnegie, Jack the Ripper, famous writers and philosophers were added to the tale giving this fiction a genuine feel. The number 13 was significant and tied to each of the conspiracy theories and I was intrigued by all the correlations to it throughout history.  From the signs of the zodiac to the last supper I was completely swept up into the quest and Lignor made it all unfold effortlessly. At times I felt things fell together too quickly and Tallent’s acceptance of some of the visions she experienced a little hard to swallow. The romance was slow to develop but felt genuine, there is very little heat and this tale could easily be classified YA despite the age of the characters. The tale touches on good verse evil, faith, the concept of heaven and hell and mans free will. The ending wraps up nicely and it appears each book will involve a new artifact, and puzzle.

Fans of the Da Vinci Code, National Treasure, and the Book of Fate will appreciate and enjoy 13. I look forward to reading The Sapphire Storm book the second book in the series which released in March 2013. 

Four cups of coffee out of five from the Library Hotel, NY

Review: Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz

Dream Eyes
by Jayne Anne Krentz
Series: Dark Legacy Trilogy #2
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: January 8, 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

The death of her friend and mentor, Evelyn Ballinger, brings psychic counselor Gwen Frazier back to the small town of Wilby, Oregon, and brings back memories she would rather forget. Two years earlier, a killer stalked the members of one of Ballinger's research studies including Gwen. And though she survived while two others didn't, Gwen knows that Ballinger's death is related.  Sent by a friend to help Gwen, psychic investigator Judson Coppersmith arrives in Wilby barely in control of his own talent and his own life, haunted by urgent dreams. His attraction to Gwen is primal, but there are secrets he must keep to protect himself from surrendering to her completely, even as their investigation draws them into dreamscapes, into decades of deception, and into the paranormal fires of a desire too strong to resist. . . .

If you have been following my blog, you know I adore Jayne Ann Krentz and all of her pseudonyms. She is an auto-buy for me and I was delighted to begin  Dream Eyes the second book in the Dark Legacy series. This series has so many elements I love in a paranormal romance. Krentz blends mystery, paranormal elements and an over-all plot into her tales. She then mixes in smexy flawed heroes and feisty, confident heroines. While the tales all share a common link; in this case the Coppersmith family, each can be read as a standalone.

The tale begins when we meet, Gwen Frazier, a psychic talent who can read dreamscapes and see ghosts. She has just arrived at the home of her dear friend, Evelyn Ballinger in Wilby, Oregon.  Gwen hasn’t been back since a series of deaths that ended with a serial killer committing suicide.  She discovers her friend dead and her senses tell her it was murder, just like before. Judson Coopersmith is sent by his brother to help his fiancés best friend. Together they must unravel the mystery and stop a dangerous killer and maybe surrender to the intense attraction they feel for each other.  The tale that unfolds was suspenseful, romantic and completely captured my attention.

Ooo I am just going to say it; I loved Judson. He is dark, smexy, protective and damaged. A recent near death encounter on his last job has left him with horrible nightmares and a nagging feeling that he missed an important clue. He has always been a loner, preferring to work cases on his own, and Gwen changes thing. Gwen is very confident and secure but has given up on relationships, since most men cannot handle the effects of sleeping with her and her gift. Suspects and other characters added to the tale. I loved Ballinger’s cat and the funny moments he created. Nick, Gwen’s brother was hilarious and snarky, I hope we see more of him.

The world building for this suspenseful mystery was very tight and I loved how Krentz tied all the pieces together. The interaction between Gwen and Judson made the tale all the more enjoyable; they worked as a couple both on the job and off.  I am still anxious to learn more about the properties and powers of the Coppersmith crystals and look forward to the next book. I loved that Krentz tied in Jones and Jones to this tale, since I look at these novels as a continuation of the Arcane Society tales.

I highly recommend Dream Eyes and the Dark Legacy trilogy to fans of romantic suspense. Krentz weaves a delightful tale with paranormal elements. I cannot wait for the next book.

Four and half hazelnut coffees out of five

Today's Stops on the Fiery Hot Reads for Ice Cold Nights Hop

Check out these awesome posts and giveaways! Each day different blogs will be participating so be sure to check in daily for your chance to win and discover new Fiery hot reads!

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings: Miranda Kenneally: Catching Jordan & Stealing Parker

Maja@The Nocturnal Library: Stacia Kane: Sacrificial Magic

Jess@The DMS Files: Wendelin Van Draanen: Flipped

Jenny@Supernatural Snark: Wendy Higgins: Sweet Evil

The Hiding Place by David J. Bell {review-giveaway}

The Hiding Place
by David Bell
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: October 2, 2012
Genre: Adult Mystery/Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

Sometimes it’s easier to believe a lie.Twenty-five-years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning rocked the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. After his body was found in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years.… Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder since the day she lost sight of her brother in the park. Now, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin’s death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started to ask questions, opening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of the murder—who spent more than two decades in prison—really be innocent? Janet’s childhood friend and high school crush, who was in the park with her that day, has returned to Dove Point, where he is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events. And a strange man appears at Janet’s door in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth. Soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth about what happened to Janet’s brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

I am in love with David Bell! Last year his novel Cemetery Girl blew me away and his new book The Hiding Place delivered a tale that was suspenseful, mysterious and delved into small town issues. David had my attention from the first sentence, “What do you remember from that day Janet?” and held me firmly till the last. He spun a tale with fleshed out characters that at times stole my breath away.

The tale begins around the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day four year old Justin Manning went missing while at the park with his seven year old sister Janet. Janet is now a single Mom who has moved back into her childhood home. She is helping her father who lost his job at the local factory. The newspaper is running a piece about the murder and conviction of Justin's killer. The first article is about Dante Rogers, a black man from the wrong side of the tracks who was convicted and served his sentence for the murder of Justin. He is now living back in town and still claiming his innocence. A young, eager reporter begins to make Detective Stynes, the police officer involved and Janet question events that took place all those years ago. The tale that unfolded kept me enthralled as we pieced together that day in the park.

David Bell has an uncanny ability to create characters that blur the lines of fiction and become real. I connected with them all and felt like they could be neighbors. Janet has suffered from guilt, the loss of her mother and the stigma of being an unwed mother in a small town. She is incredibly tough and mourns what she has lost. Her Dad has shut down; refusing to rehash the past and his coldness hurts Janet. Ashleigh is Janet’s fifteen year old daughter, she is bright and inquisitive. She overhears a young man tell her mother he had answers about that day. When her mother doesn't act, she takes it upon herself to find him. Kevin is Ashleigh friend and she likes him, but they both feel the town’s stares at this interracial friendship. Detective Stynes is single, fatherless and questions how he and his partner handled the investigation all those years ago. He was only a rookie, and despite concerns he deferred to his partner. I liked him and thought he was fair.  Michael was Janet’s best friend back then, and she had a huge crush on him. He is troubled by memories and has returned to seek answers. Janet leans on Michael but he may not be able to give her the support she needs.

The world-building was splendid as Bell took us from past to present, revealing emotions, secrets and small town quirks. The tale was believable and I imagined it unraveling in small towns across the world. The story unfolded at a wonderful pace with peaks and valleys where I was able to catch my breath and absorb what had happened. With nothing more than a simple conversation between two characters he opened up thoughts, emotions and truths that kept me riveted. The monsters in this novel will surprise you and the tale will stay with you long after you close the book.

I highly recommend The Hiding Place to fans of suspenseful character driven mysteries. Bell brought the tale and the characters to life and I enjoyed every detail. You can see my review of Cemetery Girl here. I have added David Bell to my auto buy list and cannot wait for his next masterpiece. 

I want to thank Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. *Purchases made through buy links on this site result in a small commission which is used to fund our giveaways.

I gave this novel 4.5 coffee cups out of 5. 

Penguin has sent me a finished copy and I am sharing it with you! 

I lucky US/CAN follower can win a copy of The Hiding Place,

simply enter the rafflecopter below:

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The Lost Night by Jayne Castle

The Lost Night
by Jayne Castle
Series: Harmony #9 Arcane Society #13
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: September 4, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

Realizing she fits into neither the Harmonic Enlightenment community in which she was raised nor Harmony's mainstream parapsychology world, aura healer Rachel Blake heads for sanctuary on Rainshadow Island to reopen her bookstore and café and regain her balance. Then shadow-aura Harry Sebastian barges into her life. Namesake of his legendary pirate great-grandfather and scion of the family who owns most of the island, Harry is on a mission to see what's wrong in the island's mysterious, dangerous Preserve. Rachel's senses go on high alert, and she knows without a doubt that her life is about to change. Harry knows it, too, because Rachel holds the key to the mystery. Unfortunately, he's not the only one who knows. VERDICT Overflowing with sassy dialog, psychically charged sex, and unexpected plot twists, this story of missing memories, hidden identities, shadowy monsters, and psychic vampires takes fans on a spirited, surreal journey, skillfully wrapping up one story while setting the stage for future adventures. Another irresistible futuristic sparkler. Castle (Canyons of Night) lives in the Seattle area.

This novel was an absolute pre-order for me. I love the Harmony and Arcane series. All of the books are designed to be read as a standalone, but I have read them in order since book one. The Lost Night offers up a suspenseful paranormal mystery with a healthy side dish of romance.  Every time I open a Castle novel I find a delicious escape.

The novel centers on Rachel Blake an aura healer who was raised in a Harmonic Enlightenment community.  Rachel doesn’t quite fit in and after trying life in the big city; she chooses to reopen her Aunt’s bookstore and café on Rainshadow Island. There has been a lot of unexplained paranormal activity near the Preserves and Harry Sebastian is sent in to take a look. The Preserves are a dangerous sanctuary filled with psi-energy.  Despite safeguards and warnings, would be treasure hunters and explorers enter and never return. When Harry shows up on the island and asks for Rachel’s help, she had no idea how much her life is about to change. The tale that unfolds is filled with suspense, monsters, romance and enough twists to keep me turning the pages.

Castle always provides delightful characters that I can connected with. Rachel is sweet, caring and trying to find her way. She is confident in who she is, but very unsure how others perceive her. She has a remarkable gift, and a unique outlook based on her upbringing. Harry is of course completely swoon-worthy and an all out hero. He is however flawed. He is a powerful para-hunter and his skill level is off the chart. He sees himself as a monster, and tries to keep control of his abilities. The chemistry between Harry and Rachel was intense. They were both leery and the dance they performed was delicious. Castle gave us a creepy villain, a para-vampire who gave me the chills. I loved going back to Rainshadow Island and seeing some of the characters from the previous novels.

The world-building Castle has created in this futuristic world is fascinating. Harmony is actual another planet that Earth colonized. After a tragic event, it became shut off from Earth. Filled with alien artifacts it’s always a cool place to visit. Despite the strange landscapes, it has been colonized much like Earth, and the cities and towns are all unique. The Preserves on Rainshadow Island is fascinating and scary. I loved learning more about it and the owners who claim responsibility for it. In this tale, we have thieves trying to enter the preserves, and they are willing to use whatever means necessary. Something they are doing is affecting the weather. I quickly became swept up in the story and consumed this in a single evening.

I recommend The Lost Night and the Harmony series to fans of paranormal suspense and romance. Jayne Castle is a Pseudonym for author Jayne Anne Krentz.  She is one of my favorite authors, and I have read almost everything she has published. I credit Krentz for introducing me to the world of paranormal woo-woo, with her novel Second Sight, the first book in the Arcane Society published under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.

I gave this novel 3.5 coffee cups out of 5. 

Other reviews I wrote for this series:
Canyons of the Night 
Crystal Gardens 
Cooper Beach

The Reckoning by Alma Katsu

The Reckoning
by Alma Katsu
Series: The Taker Trilogy #2
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: June 19, 2012
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository


*contains sexual content/recommended for mature readers

SECOND IN ALMA KATSU’S GRIPPING SUPERNATURAL TRILOGY THAT BEGAN WITH THE TAKER  Lanore McIlvrae is the kind of woman who will do anything for love. Including imprisoning the man who loves her behind a wall of brick and stone. She had no choice but to entomb Adair, her nemesis, to save Jonathan, the boy she grew up with in a remote Maine town in the early 1800s and the man she thought she would be with forever. But Adair had other plans for her. He used his mysterious, otherworldly powers to give her eternal life, but Lanore learned too late that there was a price for this gift: to spend eternity with him. And though he is handsome and charming, behind Adair’s seductive faÇade is the stuff of nightmares. He is a monster in the flesh, and he wants Lanore to love him for all of time.

Now, two hundred years after imprisoning Adair, Lanore is trying to atone for her sins. She has given away the treasures she’s collected over her many lifetimes in order to purge her past and clear the way for a future with her new lover, Luke Findley. But, while viewing these items at an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Lanore suddenly is aware that the thing she’s been dreading for two hundred years has caught up to her: Adair has escaped from his prison. He’s free— and he will come looking for her. And she has no idea how she will save herself.

I read and reviewed The Taker, Alma Katus’s first novel in this trilogy with a Goodreads group. I found it to be disturbing, compelling and one that left me breathless. I found myself repulsed and drawn to Lanore MciLvrae’s story and had to know more. You can see my review here. The group decided to read The Reckoning for August and again I found myself completely drawn to this tale and its fleshed out and complex characters.  Katus is a powerful story teller and I encourage you to pick this trilogy up.

The tale picks up shortly after book one ended, and we find ourselves in England with Lanore and Luke Findley. While at a museum, Lanore senses that Adair has escaped the prison that she and Jonathan trapped him in over two hundred years ago.  Lanore is terrified for she knows he will hunt her down and seek revenge.  Adair wakes up to find his fortune gone and the world around him completely changed. He seeks one of the others and makes plans to find Lanore. The tale that unfolds left me breathless, as Lanore tries to escape and the two of them deal with their complex feelings.  

The characters in this tale are unique, complex, and twisted. I find myself completely surprised that I connected with them and understood them. They are all flawed, all damaged and despite what they claim they all want love. We get to know more of Adair’s back story, and things we thought were true, turn out to be lies. We learn more about the other members of Adair’s twisted family and I enjoyed getting to know them. I liked Lanore more in this novel, perhaps I understood her a little better. While a part of me still fears Adair I was completely floored by the other side of him that Katus unveiled to us.  I am amazed at the hold Lanore has on Jonathan, Luke and Adair. I think what I find refreshing is that she doesn’t think she deserves it, and has a twisted idea of “happiness”. These characters will haunt you long after you close the book. 

While there is still a veil of mystery to the alchemy behind Adair and his ties to them all, I found this to be a wonderful middle book. Often, it can fall flat, but this was action packed and took me on an emotional ride. Character development and depth brought the tale to life. The author’s writing style flows beautifully as you ride one intense scene after another. Elements of suspense, mystery and fear had me turning the pages, oblivious to the world around me. This is a dark tale that explores love, greed, hatred, selfishness and power. The characters kept me riveted and I consumed this in a single afternoon. This tale will take you out of your comfort zone and intrigue you at the same time. Readers in our group have made comments like, “It made me uncomfortable, yet I loved it.” “It’s sick but addicting.” It has left me eagerly awaiting the final installment and has currently earned a place on my top five adult novels for 2012.

I highly recommend The Reckoning to fans of dark, edgy paranormal romances. Alma Katsu is on my auto-buy list and Descent book three in the trilogy is expected to publish in 2013.

I gave this novel 4.5 coffee cups out of 5.

*Purchases made through buy links earns a small commission which helps fund our giveaways.

The Uninvited by Heather Graham -Release Day Review

The Uninvited
by Heather Graham
Series: Krewe of Hunters #8
Publisher: Mira/Harlequin
Publication date: August 28, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository 

1777: In the throes of the Revolutionary War, Landon Mansion is commandeered by British Lord "Butcher" Bedford. He stabs Lucy Tarleton—who spurned his king and his love—leaving her to die in her father's arms.

NOW: After the day's final tour, docent Allison Leigh makes her rounds while locking up and finds a colleague slumped over Bedford's desk, impaled on his own replica bayonet. Resident ghosts may be the stock-in-trade of stately Philadelphia homes, but Allison—a noted historian—is indignant at the prospect of "ghost hunters" investigating this apparent murder. Agent Tyler Montague knows his hauntings and his history. But while Allison is skeptical of the newcomer, a second mysterious murder occurs. Has "Butcher" Bedford resurfaced? Or is there another malevolent force at work in Landon Mansion? Wary, yet deeply attracted, Allison has to trust in Tyler and work with him to discover just what uninvited guest—dead or alive—has taken over the house.

Or their lives could become history!

If you follow my reviews you are probably aware that I love romantic suspense wrapped in a little paranormal woo-woo. Heather Graham is one of my favorite authors for when the mood strikes. Each of the novels can be read as standalone, as each book deals with one member of the special FBI unit and their romance. I love that each case brings us a mystery to solve and a swoon worthy guy. The Uninvited tells Agent Tyler Montague’s story as he works to solve a murder investigation.

The case is set in Philadelphia and involves the historic Tarleton House. Allison Leigh is a history professor and spends her summers working as a guide at the Tarleton House. Dressed in colonial attire, she is locking up after a busy day of tours when she discovers the body of a co-worker impaled by his own replica bayonet. While resident ghosts are good for drawing in visitors, the board is concerned because this isn’t the first bizarre accident to occur. They call Adam the head of the special FBI unit and Taylor Montague is dispatched from Virginia to investigate. Allison isn’t happy about this crew of “ghost hunters” invading  the historic home, but when she begins seeing and hearing the voice of her dead colleague ..she might just change her mind. The tale that unfolds is suspenseful as they race to stop a killer.

We previously meet Agent Taylor and I was delighted to finally get his story. He is ex-military and was a Texas Ranger who helped find a missing girl with the help of a ghost. Taylor is tall and lean and looks like a linebacker.  I really liked this soft spoken man. He feels like people are intimidated by his size and are quick to make judgment about him. He finds himself attracted to the sexy, refined, intelligent dark haired raven, Allison. Allison isn’t ready to deal with the murder, let alone all this ghost woo-woo, but Taylor is so patient with her. *sighs* These two were obviously attracted to each other, but the discovery and dance was paced throughout the book allowing the romance to slowly unfold. The rest of the Krewe of Hunters arrived, but as is Graham’s style they worked the case mostly in the background. Hints were dropped about whose story we will get next and I hope I am right. The list of suspects was colorful and the secondary characters including the ghosts added to the suspense and mystery.

The world building in Graham’s novels are always fun. I love the investigation aspect and piecing together the clues. Having ghosts provide clues and unlock lost mysteries is always intriguing. In this type of tale the story lines follow a predictable recipe;  murder, boy meets girl, search for clues, fall in love, solve the case. Graham takes this recipe and mixing up a delightful new batch each time and I always find myself completely immersed in the tale. I love that the romance is just a side dish to the mystery. She knows how to serve it and this one was spicy. I enjoyed watching it develop, the awkwardness, tension, that first kiss..eep! While there is sexual content it is all implied and should not offend. I loved the dead colleague and fans of the Ghost Bartholomew should be delighted by him. While I had my suspicions about whom the murderer was, Graham surprised me with a twist at the end.

I recommend The Uninvited to fans who like paranormal suspense, crime, mystery and a side of romance.  There is no news on the next book in this series, but I will be sure and update you. Below you will find links to reviews of previous Krewe of Hunter novels.

I want to thank Mira/Harlequin and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Purchases made thorough buy links on this site earn a small commission and help support giveaways. 

I gave this novel 3.5 coffee cups out of 5. 

My reviews of Graham's earlier novels from this blog:

• Bride of the Night 
• Scared Evil (#3 Krewe of Hunters)
• The Evil Inside (#4 Krewe of Hunters)
• The Unseen (#5 Krewe of Hunters)
• Unholy  (#6 Krewe of Hunters)
• Unspoken (#7 Krewe of Hunters)

Dream of Me by Jennifer Froelich

Dream of Me
by Jennifer Froelich
Genre: Suspense/thriller
Publication date: September 16, 2011
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon

Bay-area dressmaker Erynne O’Keefe begins dreaming about a handsome stranger shortly after her mother’s suicide. Every night they walk along a damp street, empty beach or desert river until the light of morning pulls her back to reality. Practical and guarded, Erynne would like to dismiss her dreams as evidence of grief, but remembering her mother’s life-long struggle with strange dreams and nightmares, she fears they point to hereditary mental illness. Erynne begins searching for answers in a stack of her mother’s old love letters while trying to resist her growing feelings for the stranger.
But the man in Erynne’s dreams is quite real, living in Arizona and wondering why his nights are filled with dreams of a pretty stranger. Stubbornly resistant to commitments, Colin Green can’t believe he has become smitten with a figment of his imagination. To add to his concerns, his dreams always come with a persistent warning: Protect her. But how can he protect a dream? While Erynne and Colin move closer to finding each other, their dreams turn to nightmares as an unlikely foe becomes determined to keep them apart.

Dream of Me is a suspenseful thriller about one dream shared by three strangers. One is a hero, one will need to be saved and the other seeks to do harm. Froelich delivered a refreshingly unique tale that kept me on the edge of my seat. Once you start it you won’t be able to put it down.

The tale begins when we meet Erynne O’Keefe. She is a successful dressmaker whose mother recently committed suicide. Until she developed Alzheimer’s her mother suffered from nightmares and strange dreams. Right before she committed suicide the dreams began again. When Erynne suddenly begins having strange dreams she worries she is just like her mother. She begins exploring her mother’s past in an attempt to understand. The tale that unfolds is suspenseful and told from each strangers points of view.

Erynne lives in her childhood home and despite the radical changes she has made to it; she cannot escape the memories it holds. She begins to fear these dreams are a sign of mental illness. She cannot remember parts of her dreams or remember the face of the man who appears in them. She is determined to find answers. Collin Green wanted to be an F-16 pilot but instead works with numbers. He loves the home he restored but hasn't made it into a home. He begins having dreams and he doesn’t understand them. He is plagued and losing sleep. While visiting his mother, he learns his dad was haunted by dreams as well. He slowly begins to put the pieces together. Senator Michael Reardon has dreams too, and is frustrated by the mystery. As one hunts, the other two slowly put the pieces together. The characters in this thriller were well developed and believable.

The tale Froelich spins is suspenseful, creepy and very original. I found myself completely swept up in discovering the secrets and reasons for this dream. I feared the hunter and worried for the hunted.  Froelich quickly gives each character voice and descriptively describes the world and dreams around them. If you feel like I am being vague, I am! A part of me wants to spill details and applaud things, but I refuse to spoil one word for you. This is a captivating tale and I loved that it was told from each characters point of view. We quickly know who the hunter is but discovering why and whether he will be stopped is quite a rush. When the three characters come together..EEP!  Intrigued? You will just have to read it and find out.

Dream of Me is a tale that keeps you on edge and perfect for fans of romantic suspense and thrillers. This was beautifully told and I quickly consumed it. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this novel 4 coffee cups out of 5. 

Have you ever experienced the same dream

or awaken in fear and cannot remember why? 

Is it possible it's a warning?