Claire-Louise Book Addict

Synopsis : Former Army Ranger Marcus O'Bannion and homicide cop Scarlett Bishop have met only briefly but when Scarlett receives a phone call in the middle of the night, she immediately recognises the hauntingly smooth voice asking her to meet him in one of Cincinnati's roughest areas.

On arriving, Scarlett finds the body of a seventeen-year-old Asian girl and Marcus injured. A fierce champion of victims' rights, Marcus claims the young woman was working for an affluent local family and the last time he saw her she was terrified, abused, and clearly in need of help. Having agreed to meet her, both Marcus and the young woman were targeted for death.

As they investigate, Scarlett and Marcus are pulled into the dangerous world of human trafficking where they soon realise they are going to have to become as ruthless as those they are hunting.

Because if they don't, how many other girls may end up alone in the dark?

Thoughts : I would start by saying that you really need to read the first in this series (Closer than you think) before starting this one as this book makes quite a lot of references to events and characters.

This wasn't my favourite book by Karen Rose, i thought it was too long and i got a little lost in the middle. It did pick up at the end and i was happy with how it concluded. I loved the secondary characters and have everything crossed that they will be getting their own stories, especially Stone and Diesel.

“Incredulous, Marcus just looked at him. 'Are you kidding me? You have stormed enemy bunkers with bullets flying all over the damn place.' Marcus should know - he'd been shoulder-to-shoulder with Diesel every time. 'Are you seriously trying to tell me you're scared of "women stuff"? What the hell, Diesel? Just . . . what the hell?”

Synopsis : A killer is targeting lone women, torturing and murdering them. The precision of his methods leads Detective Jane Rizzoli to suspect he is medically trained. Then Jane makes a terrifying discovery. Years ago a young woman was assaulted in a similar way. She escaped by shooting her attacker dead. So why does it feel like he's stalking her again?

Thoughts : This is the first Tess Gerritsen book I have read, and I really enjoyed it! The story kept my attention and interest through out the entire book. Gerritsen can describe a situation to make you feel like you are really there. Bring on the next in the series The Apprentice.

“The most intimate feeling people can share is neither love nor hate, but pain.”

Synopsis : The sleepy town of Heartsdale, Georgia, is jolted into panic when Sara Linton, paediatrician and medical examiner, finds Sibyl Adams dead in the local diner. As well as being viciously raped, Sibyl has been cut: two deep knife wounds form a lethal cross over her stomach. But it's only once Sara starts to perform the post-mortem that the full extent of the killer's brutality becomes clear.

Police chief Jeffrey Tolliver - Sara's ex-husband - is in charge of the investigation, and when a second victim is found, crucified, only a few days later, both Jeffrey and Sara have to face the fact that Sibyl's murder wasn't a one-off attack. What they're dealing with is a seasoned sexual predator. A violent serial killer... 

Thoughts : Ok so this book is not for the faint of heart. I've read mystery/suspense before but I have to say this could be one of the more graphic ones. That being said I did enjoy it. The suspense part of the book was  well written and kept me turning the pages. I found the relationship between Sara and Jeffrey odd but I hope to see it  progress in the remainder of the series. I did have a problem with Lena, usually I like the "tough-woman" character but her inability to deal with her sisters lifesytle and clear embarassment of her family was something that i didn't like. 

Synopsis Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

Thoughts I really enjoyed this one. From the very beginning the story gripped me and kept hold of me till the end. It's a beautifully paced story with vivid descriptions of the Washington state town, Sunrise Cove, where Naomi has decided to renovate a rambling, dilapidated old house, badly in need of repairs, and make it her new home. The relationship between Naomi and Xander was well written, neither one of them was looking for love but love had a way of finding them. Secondary characters are just as good and well written from the uncles to the townspeople and lets not forget Tag the dog.

"It’s easier to keep moving than to root… For someone like me."

Synopsis A fortuitous encounter.

A meeting that should never have happened.

Many years ago, two children from completely different worlds forged a connection, a fateful connection, an unbreakable bond that would change their lives forever…

Salome knows only one way to live—under Prophet David’s rule. In the commune she calls home, Salome knows nothing of life beyond her strict faith, nor of life beyond the Fence—the fence that cages her, keeps her trapped in an endless cycle of misery. A life she believes she is destined to always lead, until a horrific event sets her free.

Fleeing the absolute safety of all she has ever known, Salome is thrust into the world outside, a frightening world full of uncertainty and sin; into the protective arms of a person she believed she would never see again.

River ‘Styx’ Nash knows one thing for certain in life—he was born and bred to wear a cut. Raised in a turbulent world of sex, Harleys, and drugs, Styx, unexpectedly has the heavy burden of the Hades Hangmen gavel thrust upon him, and all at the ripe old age of twenty-six—much to his rivals’ delight.

Thoughts Wow. This is by far the best MC book i have ever read and i've read a fair few. Flawlessly written, extremely original, completely captivating, an outstanding read.

There are however some very graphic scenes of abuse that may upset some people but i thought that they were executed with care and consideration.

“We were always fated to be together. He is my everything. He is my entire world….Styx is my salvation.”

Synopsis For Nate Dean, love is a four-letter word. As part of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be ruthless soldiers with an expiration date. They were loyal only to one another . . . until Nate laid eyes on the woman who stole his heart and blew his world apart. Now, years later, his family is still paying the price for his mistake. But as time runs out, there's only one person who can save his family: the very woman Nate swore he'd never trust again.

The moment Audrey Madison spies Nate across a crowded ballroom, she can barely breathe. He's just as undeniably sexy as she remembers, yet there's an edge to him now that's as irresistible as it is dangerous. When he asks for her help, Audrey can't refuse. But she has secrets of her own--secrets that, if Nate ever discovers them, may cost them both their lives . . .

Thoughts The third book in Sin Brothers Series and this series just keeps getting better and better. I've been hooked since book one.

Romance, action, intrigue, suspense, loyalty, twists and turns are all packed in to make this a fantastic read.

"We're going to watch a movie? I haven't seen the new Disney one. I love monsters that talk."
The commander glanced over his shoulder. "You're under the influence of potent truth-inducing drugs. You really do love Disney movies."
Nate tried to shrug. Disney movies rocked.

Synopsis 

One touch is just the beginning… He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual, black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night – or this man – is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly and in that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed – a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite. Her future inextricably bound up with the black-haired stranger’s, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction and the darkest pleasures of all…

Thoughts

I agree with a lot of other reviews that this is very similar to the first book in J R Wards BDB series, but so are a lot of others in this genre. This doesn't mean it wasn't any good, i thought it was well written, had a few little twists that i didn't see coming and the characters are interesting and well developed. One tiny little thing that had me rolling my eyes was the heroine Gabrielle referring to her vamp as her "dark lover". 

I enjoyed reading it, thought it was a good first instalment to a series and I'm looking forward to Kiss of Crimson.

'Gabrielle's heart accelerated with a mix of anticipation and fear as he moved away from the door frame and walked into the room. She looked at him, really looked at him, for what he was: ageless strength, wild beauty, unfathomable power. A dark enigma, both seductive and dangerous'

Synopsis

Trez "Latimer" doesn't really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S'Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He's never had anyone he could totally rely on . . . except for his brother, iAm.

iAm's sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he's failed. It's not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez's life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it's too late. The pledge to mate the Queen's daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

 Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he's in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice.

Thoughts

I have always had a soft spot for the BDB series, as Dark Lover was the first PNR that i read. 

With the series you know what you're getting, a little action, hot dudes, sweet romance, a fair few steamy scenes and a HEA to wrap it all up. I went into The Shadows expecting it to be as all the others have been, Um no, not by a long shot. It was beautiful, poignant, passionate and has left me emotionally overwhelmed. 

‘Destiny was as uncaring and influential as the wind to a flag, carrying the fabric of an individual’s existence this way and that, subjecting that which it rocked to its whims without an inquiry as to what the banner may have desired. Or may have prayed for.’