KILLING TIME

Killing Time by Cindy Gerard is a romantic suspense novel, published in January,2013 with 420 pages and published by Pocket books/ Simon and Schuster.Eight years ago in Afghanistan, Operation Slam Dunk went terribly awry. People were killed and Mike Brown was blamed because he disobeyed a directed order. He was given a dishonorable discharge. Now he runs a shady cargo business in Peru. One night out of the year, Mike falls off the wagon and gets drunk and remembers the men that were lost eight years ago.Eva Salinas lost her husband in Operation Slam Dunk. She has believed the reports about Mike Brown and so she follows Mike to Peru, drugs him and ties him up and demands answers. When the two of them start talking , Eva realizes she misjudged Mike. But, they still don't really know what went wrong eight years ago. When Eva shares her information with Mike they discover a plot that involves a crazy militia group and a dangerous drug cartel.<br />They also discover an undeniable attraction to each other. This is the first book in the One Eyed Jack series. The book starts off with a bang and never slows down.  I love military guys and the loyalty they have for  their teams and their families. I also like a strong female character that isn't bowled over by the alpha male type. Eva is a smart lawyer and doesn't back down when the going gets tough. I thought she and Mike were perfectly paired.The action and suspense was tense and absorbing, making it impossible to put the book down. There was also an emotional aspect to the story when the remaining members of Mike's team was informed of the conspiracy. In the end the story all came together for the perfect HEA!This one gets an A-Thanks to Edelwiess for the advance copy.

THE LEGACY OF EDEN

The Legacy of Eden written by Nelle Davy is published by MIRA a division of Harlequin. Merideth gets a letter from  a law firm informing her of the death of her cousin and telling her that he died in debt and his farm and all property was being sold to pay off those debts.Merideth and her two sisters had been raised on the farm and none of them have fond memories of the place. Merideth is the only one that feels a sense of duty. She decides to travel to Iowa and go through the house and see to things before the farm is sold.The ghost of her family appear to her now and memories long buried come bubbling to the surface.The story is told in flashbacks as Merideth remembers her talks with her grandmother. The farm - Aurelia- is the center of the lives of Hathaway family. Lavinia, Merideth's grandmother, begins the story of their family back when she was child and how she came to marry Cal Hathaway.The story switches back and forth between the past and present as Merideth faces the past and comes to terms with the present and her future.This family's history is mired in scandal and tragedy. Lavinia is a stong willed, manipulative, controlling woman that took charge of the farm and the family once she and Cal were married. Her need to have everything her way spreads resentment, kills relationships, and has far reaching effects on the family for generations to come.This is a dark family drama that sort of leaves you to decide if Merideth is able to make peace with her ghost and move forward or is she accepts her fate as one of Hathaways. The books is very absorbing. There is something that Merideth is leading us to that we know will explain everything, but we also know it won't be all that pleasant. But, I couldn't seem to tear myself away from the book until I knew what the worst secret of all might be.This book was published by Harlequin MIRA and usually in my mind I equate that with romance of some kind, maybe women's fiction and romantic suspense. However, this book seems to defy any set genre.So, be forewarned, this is not a romance novel. This is a family saga with the theme of forgiveness interwoven through out. I'm not really sure what to make of  Merideth's end story. I would like to think that she was both accepting of who she was and who her family was, but also that she was able to put her demons to rest and let go of the past and go on with her life, whatever that might be.From a personal standpoint my three star rating has more to do with the book not really being the type of book that I really like to read. It was still a good book and I'm glad I read it because I really enjoyed the writing and I think the author has talent. I think the book will appeal to  fans of literature and drama. Over all a B-/C+

SCORCHED

Scorched is a romantic supsense novel by Laura Griffin, published  by Pocket books in Oct. 2012. The paperback version is 387 pages long.Kelsey Quinn is a forensic anthropologist working at the Delphi Center crime lab. While on a mission in the Phillipines, a body is discovered that raises a lot of questions. While looking for clues about the man's identity, Kelsey's ex-fiance,Blake, is murdered in front of her and she barely escapes with her life. Kelsey's ex-boyfriend Gage Brewer, a navy SEAL is suspect number one. But, Kelsey saw the whole thing and knows Gage is not responsible. Upon hearing of Kelsey's disapperance, Gage takes off to find her. The two of them find themselves on the run, with only each other to trust. They begin trying to find out who killed Blake and what connection his death has to the body found in the Phillipines. Gage and Kelsey undercover a huge terrorist threat that involves bioterrorism. The last person on earth Kelsy wanted to be alone with was Gage Brewer. She had spent the last eight months working overtime trying to get over him. Gage had broken off with Kelsey after she had given him the ultimatum of chosing the SEALS or her. Once they are thrown back together again the chemistry between them is still undeniable. Will they be able to work through their differences?This book has all the components a good romantic suspense novel should have. The plot was very well thought out and constructed. This is an edge of your seat thriller, with a perfect blend of romance .  The CSI team working with the SEALS mixed brains and brawn to make the story appealing to everyone. Watching Kelsey and Gage work together as a team and grow up emotionally along the way was also fun to watch. The secondary characters give us a hint of action and romance yet to come.Laura Griffin is now one of my favorite authors of this genre. SuperbI recommend this one for adults only. Language, violence, Strong sexual content/situations.Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for advancing me a copy of this book to review. I LOVED it!
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5210022-julie">View all my reviews</a>

THREE SISTERS

Three Sisters by Susan Mallery is women's fiction/romance novel. This book is scheduled for release in early February and is published by Harlequin Mira.<br /><br />Three Sisters - the beautiful, Queen Anne style Victorian homes on Blackberry Island house, three completely different women and families at various stages in their lives. As the story opens all three residents are going through very rough periods of their lives.<br /><br />Andi had her life all mapped out. She lived in Seattle, had her career as a doctor and was about to marry Matt, the man she had spent the last decade with. Then Matt jilts her at the alter in front of 300 friends and family, and leaves her to deal with the aftermath. Andi also has to deal with her over achieving family when she suddenly leaves Seattle and buys a two hundred year old Victorian home that will have be completely renovated. But, Andi needs a fresh start. She wants to be a pediatrician and the island is in desperate need of one. So, Andi is determined to put men, sex, and romance out of her life forever and focus on helping kids. But, her sexy contractor,Wade, keeps distracting her from her "no more men" policy.<br /><br />The home on Andi's right was beautifully restored, with a perfect garden and landscape. Deanna and Colin live here with their five daughters. On the outside it looks like the perfect home and the perfect family. But, looks can be deceiving. Deanna believes her husband has been having an affair. When she confronts him, Colin takes the opportunity to let loose on Deanna about how unhappy he is with their marriage and how miserable she makes their children. How dare he? Deanna works hard to be the perfect mother. No regular TV- PBS only, no sugar, no seconds at dinner, etc.  Her rules are strangling her marriage and her children. Suddenly, Deanna feels like the outsider in her own home. Not to mention the fact that she has put off most of people on the island and has no friends or family to turn to for a shoulder to cry on.<br /><br />The house on on the left is also restored. Zeke and Boston have lived on the island all their lives. It was love at first sight for Zeke and Boston. They had been in love and very happy until a horribly sad tragedy upended their lives. Now the once strong and happy home is crumbling rapidly and it looks like it may implode permanently unless they can both find a way to cope with, then accept what has happened and move forward with their lives.<br /><br />This is an emotional story of how three women are coping with difficult and overwhelming situations. It is also a story of how these women forge a friendship despite their differences and first impressions. Some of the women bonded from the start, but other got off to a very rocky start. As they began to confide in each other, they learned to lean on each other and support each other through the good moments and the bad.<br />The subject matter was hard to deal with at times, especially with one of the stories being so very, very sad. In each of the stories the men were often a bit too selfish or not supportive enough. One obviously could have helped more by addressing the need for medical intervention, but these men were also suffering as well and were doing what they could to cope, even if it wasn't always the right way to cope. None of these characters were without their flaws, which is of course what makes the story real and believable.<br />The only weak story line, for me personally, was with Andi's guy, Wade. Wade had some reason to feel like he did, but I thought he took it way too far and wouldn't listen to Andi when I thought she was being quite honest about everything. He was too cautious and too sensitive about their differences.<br />Even though the situations these women faced were monumental, in the end we are filled with hope and encouragement. We feel the power of love and friendship and community and come away with the knowledge that these three couples are on their way to the next chapter of their lives with the worst behind them and bright future in the front of them.<br />Adult subject matter, sexual situations/content, mild language. Overall this one gets an A.<br />I got this book from Edelweiss for an honest review. <br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5210022-julie">View all my reviews</a>

BROOKLYN BONES

<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15950425-brooklyn-bones" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Brooklyn Bones" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355843063m/15950425.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15950425-brooklyn-bones">Brooklyn Bones</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/260071.Triss_Stein">Triss Stein</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/475772451">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Brooklyn Bones is scheduled for release in early February. This is a Poisoned Pen Press publication. The author is Triss Stein. I recieved this book from Netgalley for an honest review. <br /><br />Erica Donato, a young widow and mother of a teenage daughter, is renovating her house a little at a time. Her friend Joe is helping her do the work and has hired Erica's daughter,Chris to help him out a little. One afternoon, while knocking down a wall, Chris makes a gruesome discovery. The skeleton of a teenage girl was 'buried' behind the wall.<br />Chris is shocked and can't stop thinking about the girl. She wants to find out who the girl was and what had lead to her death. Her innocent questions start making some people very nervous. So nervous in fact that Erica and Chris start receiving warnings to stop asking questions. Erica, a historian, starts doing a little investigating herself after sending her daughter off to camp. Some people are more than willing to help Erica by letting her look at old pictures,documents, and files. Others are outright hostile about Erica's looking into the past.<br />One layer peeled back, reveals another layer, then another. Somehow, Erica's own neighborhood and  house had been a melting pot of hippies, drug abuse, slumming rich kids, slumlords during the 1970's.<br />Then out of the blue, another murder occurs that rocks Erica's world.  With no help from the police,Erica leans on old and new friends to help her uncover what happened to the murdered girl and to her old friend. But, is Erica too trusting? Does one of her friends or neighbors have a secret they've been hiding all these years? <br /><br />This is good old fashioned murder mystery. The setting is obviously Brooklyn. The author is very knowledgeable about the area and neighborhood she is writing about, which brings the scene alive.<br />Erica is a relatable character. She's not wisecracking, silly, or any over the top type character. Erica is just a single mother trying to make ends meet and carve out her own little comfortable place, sharing her life with a few close friends and family. When a new job opportunity, her part time job at a museum and the investigation into the murdered girl start to intertwine, the mystery deepens and the suspense builds up to a cresendo. My e-reader had to be replaced while I was in the middle of this book and I had to wait several days to finish it. It drove me nuts.  <br />I would recommend this book to any mystery lover and maybe even to those who enjoy more of a lighter/cozy type mystery. The language is mild, no sexual content, and no overly graphic violence. <br />Overall I would give this one a B.
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5210022-julie">View all my reviews</a>

THE ESCAPE DIARIES

<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15797841-the-escape-diaries" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam (A Loveswept Contemporary Romance)" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349520047m/15797841.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15797841-the-escape-diaries">The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6459142.Juliet_Rosetti">Juliet Rosetti</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/473610631">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A dazzling debut!<br />For the past three years Mazie has been in prison for killing her no good husband.  When mother nature provides her with a freak opportunity to escape,  Mazie seizes it. Little did she know it was the first of several escapes she would have to engineer over the next several days. <br />As the feds hunt for Maize so do reward seekers. She also becomes a media darling as half the population cheers her on. With a little help from a hunky journalist,  Maize has an epiphany.  She needs to find out who really killed her husband. This leads to a run in with her crazy mother in law, and puts her in more danger. <br /><br />It's not easy to get a laugh out me . A smile or chuckle maybe,  rarely do I laugh out loud at a book. But,  this one really had me going. A break neck paced caper with loads of zany characters .   A good mystery,  a sweet romance,  and a Happily Ever After!  I hope Maize has more adventures in store for us in the future. <br />I still have a big smile on my face. Overall this one gets an A.
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5210022-julie">View all my reviews</a>