Jane Doe

Jane Doe Author: Victoria Helen Stone

Publisher: Lake Union

Release Date: August 1, 2018

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

Jane returns to her college town of Minneapolis after taking a leave of absence from her high-paying and impressive job as a corporate lawyer in Kuala Lumpur for one reason only: to get revenge on the man she blames for her best friend Meg’s suicide. A self-diagnosed sociopath, Jane has changed her entire personality in order to befriend and eventually seduce Steven, Meg’s ex. Instead of dark hair, a power suit, and a strong, confident personality, Jane turns into a floral and lace dress wearing Christian girl who wants to do anything to please her man. She quickly grabs Steven’s attention at her new data entry job at the insurance company where Steve works, and soon, he is asking her out on dates. Once she gains Steve’s love and trust, Jane is able to put her plan of destroying Steven’s life into motion. The only complication is Luke, a boyfriend from college, who immediately recognizes the Jane he knew back in the day. He wants to renew their relationship, and Jane starts seeing him again for fun. The problem is, she’s falling in love with him, too.

Rarely have I come across a book, movie, or TV show in which the main character wants to get revenge on someone and actually goes through with it. Usually, the character comes to a moral epiphany, or the plan gets thwarted, or something else happens that prevents the revenge from taking place. I was pleasantly surprised to see some form of revenge- whether the original plan or not I won’t say- for once. It’s refreshing to see someone plan and carry out the plan when nobody gets hurt in real life.

Jane has self-diagnosed as a sociopath because she cannot feel empathy for others. She talks about her struggle to fit in as a functioning member of society when she feels so differently from others, and I am sure many people can relate. Rather than making her seem unlikeable because of her personality, Stone manages to make her more relatable because of her ownership of it. We readers can see her struggle and therefore feel for her.

The story is pretty far-fetched as far as plots go, at least in my experience, but the fantasy of getting back at someone for a wrongdoing exists in each and every one of us. That part is fun and cathartic as we live out scenarios we know we would never personally do.

I can’t say enough about this book, and other than the obvious fantasy of the plot, it’s all positive. I was worried when I received this book that I wouldn’t have enough time to read it, but that was a fantasy, too. From the first line I was hooked, and I quickly devoured the story. The characters are each fascinating in their own way, some acting as wonderful studies of human nature. The plot moves along quickly although the reader doesn’t know until the very end what will end up happening. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep us interested until the very last page. I couldn’t get enough of Jane and her flawed personality just because she kept me on my toes.

No matter how much I loved this book, I would not recommend it for everyone. The language is frequently crude and not recommended for younger readers. The subject matter itself is for mature readers who will not take it to heart. There is a suicide (The basis behind the whole story) and revenge porn. Some mild violence and rough sex are also included. This book came in way beyond my expectations, and I believe that readers who enjoy thrillers and who can overlook some challenging themes will have an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Murder at the Flamingo

Murder flamingo Author: Rachel McMillan

Series: Van Buren & DeLuca Mystery #1

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: July 10, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An intriguing historical mystery set in Boston’s North End in the 1930s. Could Van Buren and DeLuca be the next Sherlock & Watson?

Hamish DeLuca has fought bouts of nerves all his life. But after freezing up in the courtroom on his first case, he gets tired of feeling as thought his father is trying to protect him and buys a train ticket from Toronto to Boston to visit his cousin Luca Valari. Lucas has a magnetic personality, yet a troublesome past. Even so, he easily conjures influence and people invest in his ideas. The newest one is to open up a new club in Boston called The Flamingo. Luca believes it will be wildly successful and launch additional clubs across the county. Hamish can’t help but get caught up in the excitement, but soon realizes that not everything in Luca’s life is as it seems. People seem to be following him and claim that they will catch him. But what could he be up to?

Regina Van Buren, or Reggie for short, is tired of living of the life that her parents have planned out for her. She is spontaneous and wants to become skilled at several things, not just being a high society housewife. When her suitor suddenly announces their engagement without even asking, she slaps him across the face and takes off from New Haven to Boston. There she quickly realizes that she may have bit off more than she can chew, but manages to find a boardinghouse and get work for a man named Luca Valari. As a secretary, she takes phone calls from men that are trying to hunt him and tells them about the great Flamingo Club that will be opening soon. She and Luca’s cousin Hamish quickly strike up a friendship over cannoli and begin to work together to determine what sort of business Luca is really in. On the club’s opening night, one of the cigarette girls is found dead in the basement. Although the police rule it as an accident, both Hamish and Reggie believe otherwise. Can the solve both the mystery around Luca and who killed this poor girl?

It’s not often that I find a book that can actually transport me to the location of the setting. But this book did just that. The descriptions that McMillan gave took me to Boston during the time frame when clubs were beginning to pop up all over the place. I could see the Flamingo and walk along the cobble stones in the north end. I cycled through Back Bay and felt the breeze off the water. I also quickly related to Hamish through his personal struggles and could feel the same emotions as they were splashed across the pages. However, I do wish there had been a third member of the detective group. I have become accustomed to some enjoyable banter between characters and just didn’t feel it was quite there with Reggie and Hamish. I’ve seen some authors throw in a another male character to the mix that breaks it up a bit between the romance and sleuthing and it works quite well. Even so, this is definitely an interesting new series that I will be following.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Hotel on Shadow Lake

Hotel on Shadow Lake Author: Daniela Tully

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Release Date: April 10, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Intriguing past/present mystery mash up with a forbidden romance.

Maya Weisberg grew up in Germany and shared an intimate bond with her grandmother. When she took a trip over to the United States for a year, her grandmother disappeared a month into her trip, but her father never told her because she knew she would come back. Feeling betrayed, she left Germany upon her return and never came back, until they found her grandmother’s remains. To make matters more interesting, her remains were found about 70 miles north of where Maya was staying in New York when she disappeared. Filled with remorse, Maya decides to make the trip back to New York to the Montgomery Resort close to where she was found. While there, she discovers that her grandmother was murdered. The Montgomery family that runs the resort is full of secrets and any one of them could be tied to her grandmother’s death.

I always enjoy a good past/present mashup that involves World War II Germany and this was no exception. Throughout this book the characters are mysterious, treacherous, deceitful, and downright nasty. But in the end it makes for a very intriguing mystery. The whole Montgomery family itself could be its own book. I enjoyed getting the read the backstory into the family history almost as much as the story itself. It was easy to see that the author has had experience in the film industry as it almost played out like its own movie. Add that it is a book clean of language or graphic sex and several readers will find it very enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Thirst of Steel

Thirst of Steel Author: Ronie Kendig

Series: The Tox Files #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

As the final book in the Tox Files concludes, readers will have their emotions taken on a roller coaster ride. Ronie Kendig brings one of the best novels of the year and all others I’ve read will have a hard time toping it.

The Arrow and Flame Order has plagued Cole Russell and his group for years. Just when they think it’s over, things heat up again when Tox has to leave Haven Cortes, the woman he loves, to go deep undercover and complete a final mission to find the sword of Goliath and keep it from the order. The AFO wants the sword more than anything and use Tzivia and Ram’s father to get them to find the sword for them. Tzivia wants to see her father alive again, even after he walked out on them years ago, and Ram is afraid his secret will be exposed and his life in more danger if he doesn’t do this. With the team being split apart and loyalties in question, Tox, Ram and the others have to work harder than ever before to protect those around them and do what is right.

Ronie Kendig has done it again with another spectacular novel about Tox and his team. After three books, it is hard to not love these characters and feel deeply impacted by what happens to them. Thirst of Steel is one of the best books as far as getting the reader deeply invested in every single character, no matter how much page time they receive. I enjoyed seeing Ram and Tzivia at the fore front of this novel and watching them flesh out a little more than in the previous novels in the series. There is no stop to the action, adventure and suspense in this novel and I am very sad to see this series come to an end.

I have really enjoyed the teams adventures and the way they have tied their missions in with history and ancient artifacts. It kind of makes it feel like national treasure at times, which makes the story even more fun and exciting. When reading a Ronie Kendig book you can be sure of a few things, you are going to have characters you can’t help but fall in love with and root for them to succeed. Secondly, you are going to have a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I love that I know that going into these books, it makes everything better and Kendig never disappoints. A lot of books written today have a lot of unnecessary filler material that could be skipped and still enjoy the story, these are not like that. I read every page and get something from every line and feel so much more connected to the story and characters by the end. That shows how good the writing is and how much effort was put into it and I for one appreciate that as a reader. This is a book I recommend to all Kendig fans as well as those looking for a great suspense thriller. I do recommend reading the first in the series before starting this one to have a better understanding of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

After Nightfall

after nightfall Author: A. J. Banner

Publisher: Lake Union

Release Date: August 7, 2018

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fascinating who-dun-it that feels like playing a game of Clue.

Marissa Parlette has finally found joy in her love life. She has loved working as a speech language therapists with children and met her fiancée at the school his daughter attends, who also happens to be one of Marissa’s pupils. She has also invited her childhood friend Lauren back into her life after several years apart when she discovered Lauren’s betrayal. On the eve of Marissa’s engagement, Lauren is flirting openly with her fiancée and she confronts Lauren about it. Lauren suddenly leaves and tells Marissa that she has something to tell her about her fiancée. Unfortunately she never gets the chance when Marissa discovers Lauren’s lifeless body on the beach after falling over a hundred foot cliff, which doesn’t make sense given Lauren’s fear of heights. Each of the guests at the party appear to have a motive for Lauren’s death with the secrets that are hidden behind the layers. Will the true reason and murderer ever be brought to light?

What a fun mystery read! This book was almost like stepping into a game of Clue. It opens directly to the setting of the engagement party where the reader gets to meet all of the characters involved. Personalities are put on display for the reader to see and get an understanding of the dynamic between the characters. Then the transition to finding the body and the investigation begins. Each character has something to hide and Marissa is in the middle of it all. I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Marissa to try to understand who was behind it all. And it wasn’t some simple open and shut case, it was more secretive than that. Needless to say, as the secrets came to light, several were appalling, but still not conducive to finding the murderer. Being the detective on this case was definitely fun.

There was some strong language throughout the book and a little bit of sex, but nothing graphic for readers. Even so, I still recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Edge of Over There

Edge of over there Author: Shawn Smucker

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 3, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

I love it when the middle of a story gets filled in!

The Tree of Life changed everything. It changed the way Abra saw the world. It changed her relationship with her family. It even changed her relationship with Samuel. On the day Tennin fell and Abra became the next guardian of the tree of life, she started to notice changes around her. It started in the hospital where she and Sam were recovering. That is where she met the next demon taking over the search for the tree. She was even more ruthless than Jinn and more ambitious. She not only wanted here, she wanted over there too. Even with all Abra had learned, nothing could have prepared her for what was going to happen in New Orleans. No one saw it coming or could have guessed what was going to happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even more than The Day the Angels Fell. This one fills in part of the gaps between when Samuel and Abra destroyed the tree and Abra’s funeral, at least one event in particular. The previous book left that section pretty wide open and I’m glad this was the transition to the next phase. I enjoy the way that Smucker is weaving these worlds together to intertwine with popular stories that have been heard concerning different events. I also enjoyed the story of Leo and Ruby and how it tangled into Abra’s story, even though parts of it left me aching. I hope to see more of Ruby in the next book and maybe she can find her way into Samuel’s life. Either way, I’m sure it will be another fantastic read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Called to Protect

Called to protect Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Blue Justice #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

By far the best book by Lynette Eason I have read and maybe even the best book I have read all year. The tension was so crisp keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end!

Chloe St. John is one of the top officers in the K-9 unit with her partner Hank. After a rough break up, Chloe has decided Hank is the only man she wants in her life. She and Hank have been working on a human trafficking case that has ties to her missing cousin. US. Marshall Blake MacCallum has been on protective detail of a judge in town after the judge receives death threats for his tougher stance on human trafficking. When Blake’s daughter goes missing, he receives a message telling him that if he wants to see his daughter alive he has to kill the judge. A task force is assembled to take down the people behind everything and Chloe and Blake work together to find his daughter and hopefully find answers to what happened to Chloe’s cousin.

This has got to be one of the very best romantic suspense novels I have ever read. Most of the books I read lead up to that point of biting my fingernails to see what is going to happen and then it stops the tension before it actually gets to that point, something that is truly frustrating. I usually feel that the author could have carried the action and tension a little further, even without getting gory or to a point that would turn readers away. Eason found a way in Called to Protect to make every page a nail-biting experience. I felt a connection with Chloe from the very beginning. Her passion for her job and her passion for helping those around her pulled me in and had me rooting for her to succeed. I had a few questions about Blake and if I should really connect with him at first but it didn’t take long to find that connection and root for him as well. The plot line of this story is a very sensitive subject as it deals with human trafficking. As much as we would like to say it doesn’t exist, it does and we have to do what we can to keep it from expanding. Without giving anything away, I loved how it played out. It wasn’t a quick unrealistic ending, each character brought exactly what they were supposed to at just the right moment to let the scene come together perfectly. The ending is left open for the next in the series and I feel certain it will deal with Penny, Chloe’s cousin and after the little we read of her here I can’t wait to see what more is in store for these characters. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a fast paced suspense read that is going to leave you thirsting for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Immortal Gene

Immortal Gene Author: Jonas Saul

Publisher: Vesuvian Books

Release Date: July 17, 2018

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A new police procedural series with a bit of a sci-fi twist.

Jeffrey Harris takes families as he needs them, which is every so often. He has been coined as the Blood Eagle killer because of the shape that he leaves the father in when he is finished. He has never been caught because he is very, very careful. It’s always the same: take the mother, take the father, and then take the children. He is very good at what he does, which is why they’ve never caught him in the years he’s been doing this.

Detective Jake Wood has been working with his partner Kirk Aiken for quite some time and have developed a friendly relationship. Jake is shaken when the Blood Eagle killer murders an entire family in his jurisdiction. While on site, he comes in contact with horses and suddenly discovers that he has an allergy after he goes into shock. While in the hospital, he comes in contact with an old friend who needs him to come down to Brazil. He initially declines, but then heads down there after he finds out that it may be life or death. While there, he gets into some serious consequences that leave him in the hospital for at least 18 months. Upon release, Jake finds that his fiancée has moved on and so has his partner. Jake also learns that he suddenly has some new reptilian powers after a dose of snake venom. When he finds himself under tough circumstances now, Jake can use his powers to help protect himself and others.

This book started out as a typical serial killer novel with a little suspense here and there mixed with a lot of personal troubles for the protagonist of the story, Jake Wood. From there, it begin to mix with some sci-fi and sort of turned into a vigilante/police procedural mash up. It was definitely entertaining throughout, but had some weak dialogue at points. There were also times that the serial killer didn’t follow his profile, which makes for an interesting fiction concept, but not so much in real life. There was some strong language throughout much of the book as well as some sex scenes that make the book more suitable for mature audiences. I suggest readers give the book a chance before they make final decision.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The House at Saltwater Point

House at Saltwater Point Author: Colleen Coble

Series: Lavender Tides #2

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: July 3, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The follow up to The View from Rainshadow Bay is even more entertaining and suspenseful making it a must read and might just be Coble’s very best yet.

After learning how to fix up houses from her dad, Ellie Balckmore has turned into a house flipper in Washington state. When her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie knows there is more to the story and can’t believe her sister is dead. She follows the only clues left: a massive amount of blood left on her sister’s boat, indicating she went into the water and probably won’t find her body. Mackenzie has been tense with her ex-husband who is also Ellie’s partner in flipping houses. Even though Ellie doesn’t believe Mackenzie is dead, Coast Guard Intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw is sent to investigate Mackenzie’s involvement in a cocaine theft. The one thing that unites Grayson and Ellie is the search for the truth, a fact that might bring them together or keep them far apart from each other as their feelings intensify.

After reading The View from Rainshadow Bay, I kind of felt I knew what to expect with The House at Saltwater Point, a lot of romance and a little suspense. As I read, I found myself sucked into this story much more than the previous in the series. The chemistry between Ellie and Grayson was straightforward from the beginning and brought to a whole new level with the tension they both had to deal with while trying to figure out what happened to Mackenzie. Not only did you have the suspense of what happened with Mackenzie and the romance firing up between Grayson and Ellie but we also find out a little about Grayson’s missing sister. I feel that that will be explored more during the next book because so many questions were left unanswered. Usually with unanswered questions in a book, I feel a sense of betrayal with the author, always wanting to know more of what is to come, but this was left with just the right set up for the next book. I loved that this was such a clean read with no language, no violence, but still plenty of suspense to keep the story moving forward. I can’t wait to see what will happen in the third book to bring everything full circle with what we have been building up to through these first two in the series. I recommend this book to fans of Coble and those that love a good romantic suspense read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Love Letter

The Love Letter Author: Rachel Hauck

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: June 12, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Two timelines combined with two love stories and the way Hauck brings them together is better than the best Love Letter ever written.

Chloe Daschle has become known as the queen of the death scene and is in dire need of a change. She doesn’t want to be cast in a movie to just be killed off at the end. She wants to prove she can be deeper than what is shown on screen. Romance has never been successful for her, either on screen or in real life. When Chloe is given the script for the best love story she has ever read, she knows she is perfect for the role of Esther Kingsley. The story is one of romance, war, and finding out if true love can really exist. Jesse Gates, the screenwriter, has written this based off of a one-page letter found from his ancestors. He has had rocky relationships in the past and doesn’t feel he deserves happiness. Jesse wants to be deeply involved in the film and ends up as one of the extras. During a scene with Chloe, the chemistry is undeniable and they both start to play out their own love story.

I have to admit I had just a little bit of trouble getting into this book, a fact that surprised me since I have loved Rachel Hauck’s previous books. Luckily, I didn’t give up on the story and loved how it played out in the end. The love stories, both in the past and present played out in such a way that worked beautifully for the characters and settings they were in. There were some really special moments between some of the characters, in particular between Chloe and her dad and even Jesse and Chloe’s Dad. A few moments felt a little slow, especially towards the beginning, but once the story was part way in it really picked up the pace and captured my attention until the very end. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but the ending is well worth sticking with the story. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of the best romance writers out there and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. I recommend this to readers that love historical romance and a love story that spans time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.