OWNING VIOLET by Monica Murphy

The Fowler Sisters Book One
Bantam

December 2^nd, 2014
978-0-553-39326-2
Contemporary Romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher

3.5 Hearts



Ryder McKay is ruthless as he is mysterious. He can be charming, sexy as sin and has a hidden agenda that will shake the foundations of Violet’s world. But when he inds that Violet is much more than the prim and proper daughter of the boss, will Ryder try to win her heart even as he plays his games with her?

Violet Fowler is the middle daughter, the one who smoothes things over and is dutiful, buttoned up and just a bit prim. When her boyfriend cheats one too many times, she finds herself falling for Ryder, a man who stirs something dark and delicious inside her. What starts out as sexy fun turns to something deeper each time Ryder and Violet come together. But when Ryder’s plan comes out, can Violet find a way to forgive him even as she loses her heart to the rogue?

Wow is all I can say after reading OWNING VIOLET. This is one sinfully hot book to read so I recommend having your significant other or cold water nearby to help cool you down. Monica Murphy introduces the Fowler sisters in OWNING VIOLET and I got to admit I was quite intrigued by this first book. The writing was tight, story moved smoothly and at a nice even pace with a few twists I didn’t see coming. I really thought this author’s character development shined. Her characters are quite well-written, life like and very enjoyable to read. With each page I was drawn more into this world that the author created, eager to see just what Ryder had up his sleeve for Violet even as Violet stole his heart right from under him. There were a few bumps along in the relationship of Ryder and Violet that helped keep things moving and it does end up all right in the end even if I wanted more of a fall out from Ryder’s plan in regards t o Violet. I just felt the story needed a little bit more conflict in order to move onto the next part satisfactorily. A few storylines were started yet never addressed completely in OWNING VIOLET which perturbed me a bit. It felt like the author just started something and never finished it. Maybe it will tie it up in the next two books though I am not sure on that aspect.

In the battle between lust, power and love, who will come out the winner? One or both people. That is the theme I got from OWNING VIOLET as both characters-Ryder & Violet- found their inner strength even as secrets, lies and games explode between them causing heartache and more around them . This is a great new series from Ms. Murphy and I cannot wait to see where she goes next with the sisters. Will it be Rose or Lily next in the crossfire? I am definitely a new fan of t his author’s now after reading this one. If you are looking for a hot read on a cold winter’s night then grab OWNING VIOLET and settle in for some major fireworks, sexy times and a love worth fighting for. Because as Violet and Ryder find out, Love can heal the most shattered of hearts…if they trust in it that is.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

AWAKENED by Virna DePaul

Belladonna Agency #2
Bantam Books, January/July 2014
Paperback
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN 978-0345542472
Paranormal Romance
***



Virna DePaul’s second Belladonna Agency book, AWAKENED, is a paranormal romance focused on retrieving a young girl from the clutches of a sex trade ring catering to vampires.

Barrett Miles works for the Belladonna Agency, a black ops section of the FBI that saves young women from sex traffickers catering to the undead.  In AWAKENED, Barrett has just discovered that the teenage child of a deceased friend is missing and as she has pretty much lost contact with the girl, she is frantic to find her.

Nick Maltese also works for the FBI eliminating rogue vampires.  When Barrett, Nick’s ex-lover and teammate, comes to Nick for help finding the missing teen, they will have to work together to bring Jane home and maybe even attempt to resolve their unfinished relationship issues.

Virna DePaul’s AWAKENED is a paranormal romance centering on the retrieval of a missing teen taken by sex traffickers.  While the romance between Barrett and Nick evolves throughout the story, the real focus of the story is the missing girl and how Barrett and Nick unravel the mystery behind her disappearance.  The main characters are unaware of each other’s involvement in the FBI, so the way their jobs intermingle on this search brought some weight to the storyline.  There appears to be a mole in the FBI and Barrett and Nick are closing in on him or her.  As the mole is still deep in hiding at the end of the book, this story arc will undoubtedly continue throughout the series.  As trust was a big issue for both lead characters, this reader had a difficult time connecting emotionally with their romance.  Still, the mystery and how it unravels really carried the story and fans of a good mystery surrounding paranormal romance will probably find AWAKENED worth taking for a spin.


Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."
 

COMPLETE ME by J. Kenner

Stark Trilogy #3
Bantam Books, July 2013
Paperback
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN  978-0-345-54586-2
Ebook ISBN 978-0-345-54585-5
Contemporary Erotic Romance
*** ½



The final installment in J. Kenner’s Stark trilogy, COMPLETE ME, once again centers on the complex love story of tortured millionaire Damien Stark and emotionally damaged Nikki Fairchild.  Nikki and Damien have managed to find in each other the other half of their souls.  They have both had to overcome very difficult pasts.  Now, Damien has gone to Germany to face the fallout from his past.  He is on trial for murder and Nikki refuses to leave her man, whatever the outcome.

The stress of Damien’s trial, unusual threats, a childhood friend gone missing and secrets on the verge of revelation all have Nikki poised on the sharp edge of panic and that in turn has Damien that much more determined to keep her safe.  They are finally beginning to rely on each other for strength.

COMPLETE ME brings all the lose ends of the previous two books together.  The ghosts of the past finally come to light and the monsters under the bed revealed.  Nikki knows that the truth of Damien’s past coming out would destroy him and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his secret.  But when the trial is finally behind them and everything should finally be smooth sailing for these two love birds, Nikki picks up a stalker and their love is tested yet again.

This final installment in J. Kenner’s Stark trilogy, COMPLETE ME, brings the series full circle.  These two characters, while so perfect in appearance are so very damaged inside.  In each other, they are able to find their center.  They truly complete each other.  It is truly nice to see such a deserved happy ending.  Of course, the sex is hot, hot and hotter, but it is their love and their strength that really shines through in this story.  Kudos to Ms. Kenner for this touching and tasteful erotic romance.  This reader will truly miss these characters now that their story has been told.  If you haven’t yet started on this series, now is the time.


Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND by Monica Murphy

A One Week Girlfriend Quartet Story
Bantam Books
April 5^th, 2013
978-0-8041-7679-8
Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher
3 Hearts

Drew is lost without his girlfriend, Fable. She completed him and when he lost her, he truly realized what a treasure she was. But when he tries to get her back, Drew will have to pull out all the stops to show Fable he is the one she needs to be with and that he is lost without her and her love. The question is will Fable fall for Drew’s charm again and risk her heart once again with a guy who broke it into a million pieces?

I have to caution that if you have not read the first book in this quartet, then you will be a bit lost on this story. The author continues Drew and Fable’s story from One Week Girlfriend and I, for one, kept putting this one down while reading it. I just couldn’t get into the story fully and felt I was missing pieces from it. The author dies a good job in capturing the hidden nuances of her characters; the pace of the storyline was good, not overwhelming me at all. This was a new to me author and I am on the fence on reading the first book in this series. The points of views shift A LOT between Fable and Drew and that also through me out of the story as well. I wished the author would have kept it in either one or the other or even third person would have been preferred. I am the type of reader who prefers one or the other in point of view and felt the author was trying to get all the characters talking and it overwhelms at times. As it is, I am not a big fan on repetitive scenes and lots of drama between characters that just caused the story to read slower as you try to figure things out.

SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND is one of those love em or leave em books for me. The author is a talented storyteller but I felt the story could have been better understood if I didn’t come in the middle of the series/quartet, especially as there were countless scenes talking about what happened in past book(s). If you enjoy angsty new adult contemporary stories, then you might enjoy SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

GIRL MISSING by Tess Gerritsen

Publisher:  Bantam
Date published:   April 29, 2014
ISBN : B00GEYM6BC
Genre:   Romantic Suspense
Format: Electronic ARC
Obtained via:  Publisher / Above the Treeline
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

Three

Recently divorced Kat Novak takes her job as a coroner in the medical examiner’s office seriously.  She doesn’t just autopsy the deceased that pass through her doors, she digs until she finds out just why they died.  Because of the care she takes one morning she agrees to take on the autopsy of a young Jane Doe’s body.  While others may have deemed the young woman “just another junkie who OD’d”, because of questions on the table, she begins to dig deeper.  Who was this woman?  Where is the needle she used for that last final injection?  And what is this new drug that ended a life before it began?  In the victim’s belongings she finds a matchbook with a phone number.  When she dials the number the man on the other end tells her nothing except he will be right there.

When Adam Quantrell arrives at the coroner’s office he will not tell Kat who he is looking for, but he is clearly relieved the young woman Kat has called about is not the one he is looking for.  Kat cannot help but feel Adam knows more than he is willing to tell and she shows up at his home with questions.  Despite admonitions from the two police officers she generally works with to stay out of it, she continues to dig and when not only a second but third victim turns up, Adam can no longer stay out of it.  Despite Kat’s demands he back off Adam dogs her footsteps until she has nowhere to turn but to the very man who could be behind what are no longer simple overdoses.  Is Adam behind the killings or is he simply another victim?

Tess Gerritsen’s GIRL MISSING was originally written and released in the early 1990’s at the beginning of a stellar writing career.  Having read all of Ms. Gerritsen’s books starting back with her first, ADVENTURE’S MISTRESS back in 1985 I looked forward to what is, in a way, a retro-book.  One of the great things about Ms. Gerritsen’s books is you can see her growth and development as an author over the years.  She has truly honed her craft and each book, especially her Rizzoli and Isles books get better and better.  She captures the time she is writing the story for and her characters reflect a sense of realness.  They could be someone you know.  Had I not read GIRL MISSING after her Rizzoli and Isles books it would definitely have been an easy five hearts.  But because I know what a fantastic writer she has become, GIRL MISSING is not quite up there.  The story is a tad formulaic and seemingly told by rote.  I was kind of surprised that as a re-release certain aspects were not updated.  For instance Kat and Adam look for a payphone and a yellow pages at one point.  Given how wealthy Adam is, if the book were written today—or truly updated—he would definitely have had an app for that. 

Still, Ms. Gerritsen builds up to a white knuckle mystery that leaves you certain Kat will not make it out unscathed let alone alive.  If you are a fan, do check it out.  If Ms. Gerritsen is new to you, do read it and see if you don’t agree she is a fantastic story teller.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement this book.