Cold Cruel Kiss by Toni Anderson Book Review

 

I had the opportunity to read an early copy and am providing a review.

This is book 4 in Ms. Anderson’s Crossfire series and certainly can be read as a standalone.

This story is based around the abduction of the US Ambassador’s daughter, Kristen, and her friend, Irene, and takes place in Buenos Aires. Russian intelligence plays a part in this story as well. SSA Max Hawthorne was called in to assist in the rescue of Kristen and Irene. Lucy Aston is a very interesting character. She comes across as someone who does not want to be recognized in her position as assistant to the personal assistant of the ambassador. Lucy has secrets that she wants to remain secrets. She may not want to be noticed, but Max certainly noticed her.

If you like a bit of intrigue and some sparks flying between two coworkers, you are sure to enjoy this read. This is such a well-written tale that you will be surprised at who the bad guy turns out to be.

Cold Cruel Kiss by Toni Anderson New Release

 ★★ NEW RELEASE ★★

Check out the newest release from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Toni Anderson. 

COLD CRUEL KISS is a heart-stopping and addictive romantic thrilled and it just went live! 

Read it Now: 

→ Amazon: https://amzn.to/39SzsfD

→ Apple: https://apple.co/36UsnJD

→ Nook: https://bit.ly/3qEagiS

→ Kobo: https://bit.ly/37KGuk6

→ Google: https://bit.ly/3oANC9y

When the daughter of the US Ambassador to Argentina is kidnapped in broad daylight on Christmas Eve, the FBI sends one of its best negotiators to investigate.

Supervisory Special Agent Max Hawthorne arrives at an embassy thrown into chaos as US and local law enforcement hustle to track the young woman. Is this a simple kidnap for ransom, or part of a political agenda? Could it be something more sinister?

Lucy Aston has something to hide. Preferring to stay in the shadows, the lowly, fashion-challenged office assistant resents being assigned to help Max. But Max can’t resist a puzzle…he’s starting to suspect Lucy Aston is not what she seems.

When rumors emerge of a suspected Russian spy operating out of the embassy, Lucy’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble. As she and Max race to rescue the ambassador’s daughter, Lucy has to do whatever it takes to keep her cover from being blown—even if that means betraying the man she’s falling for.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Toni Anderson writes award-winning, bestselling, FBI Romantic Thrillers. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, gardener, mom. Anderson's books have won the Readers' Choice Award, Aspen Gold, National Excellence in Romance Fiction, Book Buyers' Best.  

 

Originally from a small town in Shropshire, England, Toni studied Marine Biology at University of Liverpool (B.Sc.) and University of St. Andrews (Ph.D.) with the intention she'd never be far from the ocean. Well, that plan backfired and she ended up in the Canadian prairies with her biology professor husband, two kids, a rescue dog, and a laid-back leopard gecko. 

 

Toni started writing while pregnant with her first child and never stopped. Her greatest achievements are mastering the Tokyo subway, climbing Ben Lomond, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and surviving fifteen Winnipeg winters (fingers crossed). She loves to travel for research purposes and was lucky enough to visit the Strategic Information and Operations Center inside FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2016. She also got to shove another (police) car off the road during pursuit training at the Writer’s Police Academy. Basically she has way too much fun!

For more information about Toni and her books, please visit her website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com

Facebook Personal: https://www.facebook.com/toniannanderson

Facebook Like Page: https://www.facebook.com/toniandersonauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toniannanderson 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_anderson_author/  

Newsletter: http://www.toniandersonauthor.com/#!newsletter/c238q 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2r5la7G 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1kwEVw2

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-anderson

Audible: www.audible.com/tonianderson 

Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan Cover Reveal

 

As a member of Ms. Ryan’s Super Reader Team, I am excited to be a part of her new book cover reveal, Her Perfect Life. Scheduled to hit shelves on September 14, 2021.

Blurb: Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmy awards, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it—all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.

Her own.

Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips about others—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life! How does he—or she—know the truth?  

Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.

How much must she risk to keep her perfect life?

I’m looking forward to this one! How about you? It’s available for pre-order from Forge Reads right now, just click here: https://bit.ly/herperfectlifemac

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/herperfectlifegr  

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight Book Review

This is a book I received in 2020 via Goodreads via HarperCollins. 

I am late to the party on this one. I kept seeing reviews on this book and I finally snagged it off the shelf and settled in to read. This is my kind of book!

Lizzie and Sam. Lizzie is an attorney, Sam is an alcoholic. Lizzie tries to hide that fact from general knowledge. Everyone knew, they just didn’t say anything. 

Amanda and Zach. This couple met when Amanda was a teenager at the hotel she was working at. Zach jokingly told her to come with him. Boy, was he surprised when she was standing next to his car, packed and ready to go. Their son, Case, is away at camp in California. 

Lizzie and Zach went to law school together way back in the day. 

Maude and Sebastian (they call him Sebe). Sebastian is the good-looking French fellow in this tale. All the women pretty much swooned over him. Maude and Sebe throw a certain kind of party every year when everyone’s kids are at summer camp in one form or another. Their daughter, Sophia, was at camp and having some issues of her own. Maude worried. 

Sarah and Kerry. Sarah went to work for the foundation that Zach and Amanda set up. Kerry is the deadbeat husband in this tale, having lost yet another job much to Sarah’s dismay.

None of these marriages are perfect as you can well imagine. When the unthinkable happens to Amanda, Zach reaches out to Lizzie, his long-lost attraction and law school co-ed, because he needed an attorney. Little did Lizzie know, until it was practically too late, how much Zach knew about her and the secrets she harbored. In the end, Lizzie came out the winner and got a bit of revenge. 

All of these families are connected because of the neighborhood they live in as well as the case brought against Brooklyn Country Day (the school their children attended), because there has to be another underlying story and this one fits. The guilty party will surprise you. 

This is the first book I have read by Ms. McCreight, and I am certain it won’t be my last. If you have not read this book yet, you are in for a treat, especially if you like legal thrillers. It is quite long at 388 pages but well worth the time.

Whispering Hearts by V.C. Andrews Book Review

 

I received a copy through Goodreads via Simon and Schuster.

Emma Corey has just graduated from high school at the age of 18 and has decided to leave her home of Guildford for the bright lights of New York, much to her family’s displeasure, most especially her father. She wanted to pursue a career as a singer and was ready to do what it took. She arrived in New York not knowing what to expect and was captivated by the bright lights and all the attractions, until she started experiencing the “real” world. She met some shady people along her journey, but she also made some new friends as well. Just as Emma was about to give up entirely on her dream, after having gone to numerous auditions and going through a couple of roommates, her luck changed. She received an offer that she just could not refuse.

Not a bad read, but definitely not a “typical” V.C. Andrews book, at least not from what I remember when I read “Flowers in the Attic” way back. I can just imagine what it would be like for an eighteen-year-old just out of high school traveling to a place she knew nothing about, let alone not knowing anyone, as well as being outcast by her father.

The Admirer's Secret by Pamela Crane Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. Not my picture.

Haley, the main character of this story, is an aspiring screenplay writer so when she gets a chance, she signs up for Allen Michaels’ college course. Mr. Michaels is apparently taken with Haley and tries to lead her down a road paved with his own secrets. Marc is another integral part of this story. He’s the good-looking computer guru that Haley hires to help fix her computer. Julie is also important, because what story would be complete without a little female competition? Then, there is Haley’s mom, Gabrielle, who kept Haley’s secrets hidden in order to try and protect her daughter. There came a point when she couldn’t help or hide her daughter’s troubles anymore. That is a hard realization for any parent.

Ms. Crane has an uncanny way of reaching deep inside a person’s innermost thoughts. If you are into psychological reads that are based on her own experiences, full of twists and turns you won’t expect, I highly recommend you read her books. This particular book, “The Admirer’s Secret,” explores the mind of one who is afflicted with erotomania. I applaud Ms. Crane for bringing forth some mental health issues that you usually don’t hear about. This book also brings forth how important it is to forgive those who have wronged us, not to forget the lessons learned, but to forgive in order to be able to move on. Though I have never personally experienced this sort of situation, I do know how important it is to forgive someone. You don’t do it for that person per se, you do it for yourself in order to move on.

Dead Already by Mike Krentz Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy from Touchpoint Media and am providing a review.

This is the type of book that I truly enjoy reading. It combines two of my favorite genres, those being in the realm of medical and legal thrillers.

Zack Winston is an ER physician at Bethesda Metro. Dr. Winston is the sort of man who appears confident on the outside, especially in his abilities as an ER physician, but has some of his own personal struggles going on, on the inside. Patients started showing up in the ER with symptoms that were unexplainable and the outcomes were not positive. Dr. Winston finally figures out the cause and goes on a quest to find the answer as to the why of the problem and the how … not to mention the who. In so doing, he encounters Bridget Larsen who becomes his attorney, never giving up on him though she wanted to. Ange, Zack’s ex-girlfriend, disbands her own law practice and joins Ms. Larsen’s team. The question is – do they find the answer in time?

There is quite a lot going on throughout this book. Zack is battling his own inner demons, not to mention the relationship he has with Ange, the relationship he has with Noelle, and the relationship he wishes he could have with Bridget. There are a couple of background characters in Dr. Paula Cho (another ER physician) and Monica Harris (an ER nurse) who I found to be vital to this story. Then, of course, there is Zack’s boss, Dr. Dennis King, not to mention the cardiology specialist in this tale, Dr. Jerry Hartman. Janice and Carl Barnett are also integral to this tale. Keisha is also an important player. Roger Meadows, the “ferret” lawyer because there has to be one. Just as soon as I thought I had figured out who was to blame, I was led to believe it was someone else altogether.

To me, there are just enough characters in this tale to make it a compelling read. If you like the medical and legal genre, I would recommend you give “Dead Already” a read … it combines the two but without the courtroom drama. Dr. Krentz is a retired physician and also served in the US Navy, which adds credence and realism to this tale.

Pretty Ugly Lies by Pamela Crane Book Review

 

This was my last read for 2020. Not my picture. I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. 

The definition of noir: “A genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity.” If you like this sort of book, this one will definitely keep you turning pages.

Jo is married to Jay; children, Preston, Abby, Amelia. Jo has also held onto a 10-year-old secret. Something happens to make her fess up to Jay after all this time.

Jo and Shayla are best friends.

Shayla is married to Trent; children, Arion and Tenica. Shayla suffers from bipolar disorder so her actions are sometimes hard for her to explain. She also finds out a secret her sister has been holding onto for a very long time. She also has a secret that she finally fesses up to Trent. 

June is married to Mike; children, Austin (who is autistic), Arabelle, Kiki, and Julie. Mike is a deadbeat, but June loves him … even with all his flaws. Something tragic happens to their family. 

June and Ellie are friends. 

Ellie is married to Denny; children, Darla and Logan. Ellie has some deep-seated emotional issues. Something tragic also happens to their family. 

Oleandar Way is where you find perfect houses and perfect relationships … that is until you open the front door of each home. Once you do that, you will find some incredibly mixed-up families inside, so much so that their lives are full of deceit and lies. Each of these family’s lives are intertwined in one way or another, they just don’t know it yet. 

This is the kind of book that I can devour in a day if given the opportunity. I am most interested in the psychology behind the thinking. I think Ms. Crane does an excellent job of “getting into” women’s heads, hearing their innermost thoughts. 

This book is the very definition of noir. It is very dark. I highly recommend this book if you have a strong constitution and take it for what it is … a book. Sadly, as Ms. Crane points out in her acknowledgements, some women (and probably men, too) feel this way from time to time. I think this book will hit home for quite a few people. I applaud Ms. Crane for putting this kind of book out in the world, to hopefully let those women struggling emotionally know that they are heard, that they are valued.

Have You Seen Me? by Kate White Book Review

I have to admit that I was drawn to the cover of this book since I first started seeing it around social media. I broke down one day and ordered myself a copy. Not only is this a beautiful cover, but the story inside is a good one!

Ally is a financial podcaster and writer who is married to Hugh, an attorney. She discovers herself in the ER one day, not being able to recall at least the past two days. The question is what happened to her? This tale will take you on her quest to find out what happened in those two days in her disassociated state. She even goes so far as to hire a private investigator to help her find out. This tale includes some underlying themes to include a best friend relationship between Ally and Gabby, the marital relationship between Ally and Hugh, along the way Ally encounters a previous love interest Damien, and a whole host of other turns that you won’t be expecting. And, ohmygoodness, the “bad” guy in this story – you won’t be expecting that one! As soon as you think you know who it might be, you’ll be led down another path entirely.

I am sure I will be reading more from Ms. White in the future.

Coffee, My Love by Alicia Crofton Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Emery has just been promoted to vice president of operations for Coffee Benz. Jake, her long-time coworker, has been promoted to senior director of supply. Don, their boss, has given them an assignment to cut costs by 10 percent … meaning they have to renegotiate with the coffee growers who probably won’t take the news well … another hit to their pocketbooks within a couple of years. Emery and Jake go to Columbia for renegotiations. While in Columbia, Emery and Jake meet Luca, one of their coffee growers, and he shows Emery the realities of being a coffee grower in Columbia. Will Coffee Benz have a change of heart about their renegotiations?

This is what I would consider “clean romance.” Ms. Crofton writes scenes that are sexy without being explicit, leaving the reader to their own imagination. There is adult emotional baggage along with teenage tragedy. There are family relationships, some good, some bad, but ultimately the family sticks together. This book comes across as if it could actually happen, like it could almost be based on a true story (not necessarily the romance part, but the rest of the story). Plus, Ms. Crofton is from my hometown – Portland, Oregon!

Where She went by Kelly Simmons Book Review

This is a book I won in 2020 through BookTrib.

Emma was not raised a spoiled rich brat. Her mom was a hairdresser, her dad a cop. She was not prepared for college at Semper at all. She decided to sign up for the roommate bingo and was placed with four other girls ... to say they did not get along well is an understatement. In Emma’s quest for trying to fit in, she stumbled into the journalism room where she met Jason. Jason, the paper’s editor, basically told her to go find a story. So, she did.

This story is told in the voices of Emma and Emma’s mom, Maggie. An entertaining tale of the road Emma traveled down to find her story. A tale of the road Maggie traveled down after Emma. Maggie, the overprotective mom. Maggie, being a cop’s widow, was not happy with the police that were involved; she felt they were not doing enough. Emma met some folks while chasing her story that she would not necessarily have met otherwise, an eye-opening experience for her. 

Not a bad read to start 2021 off with, a tale of the intricacies of college life for those who fit in and those who don’t, a tale that ends Emma up somewhere that you won’t expect in the end.