Author: debra

Books, great reads, Mystery, Romance

Fatal Flaw by Marie Force

debra

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Hey everyone,

The Blurb:  Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them. When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she’s not sure if she or Nick is the target.
Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she’s chasing her tail.
With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer’s clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily-ever-after.

My Thoughts:  I like this series more and more as I read further into it. The author writes good mysteries that you really have to think about if you want to solve them. I like that. We also have the continuing relationship of Nick and Sam. They are returning from their honeymoon and immediately head into another murder. The stories take place in Washington, D.C. As a politics junkie, I enjoy this aspect–it is the perfect setting for stories of corruption and angst. I enjoy the author’s writing style. It is tight and the dialogue well-written.

Happy Reading,

Debra

Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, Urban Fantasy

The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

debra

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Hey everyone,

This is the first book I have read by this author and I plan to continue in the series because it is fun. I have had this series recommended to me for quite a while on the website I buy books at, but was always put off by the covers (and I never judge a book by its cover!!).

The Blurb:  Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists t hink it’s all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better.

Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. She finds her groom-to-be living in a town that celebrates Halloween every day. Weird. But not as weird as what she doesn’t know. Her groom-to-be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the arranged set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. In thirty days, whatever bridezilla shows up at his door will be escorted right back out. His past means love is no longer an option. Not if the woman’s going to have a future. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.

Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets..

I give this a solid 3.75 stars. Don’t let the covers fool you–the characters are well-written and not cartoonish at all. I would classify this series as a romantic comedy for me. It is set in the town of Nocture Falls–a town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year. Delaney has witnessed a murder by her boss of the restaurant she works in another state up north. In fear, she takes the identity of a woman who has agreed to an arranged marriage to a man in Nocturne Falls. She heads to Nocturne Falls not knowing that her intended is a vampire. As a matter of fact, the entire town is a town of supernatural characters (vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.). It is an enjoyable fun, quick read about an unusual little town of quirky, unusual characters.

Happy Reading,

Debra

Books, great reads, Mystery

Fatal Justice by Marie Force

debra
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Hey everybody,

The Blurb: She looked into the dead face of the man she’d dined with the night before

Standing over the body of a Supreme Court nominee, Lieutenant Sam Holland is hip-deep in another high-profile murder case. The fact that she was one of the last people to see Julian Sinclair alive just complicates things even more. On the plus side, her relationship with Senator Nick Cappuano is heating up—but it’s also attracting a lot of unwanted media attention and blinding flash bulbs.

The pressure is on for Sam to find Sinclair’s killer, but a new lead in her father’s unsolved shooting puts her in unexpected danger. When long-buried secrets threaten to derail her relationship with Nick, Sam realizes that while justice can be blind, mixing romance with politics has the potential to be fatal…

My  Thoughts: This is installment #2 of The Fatal Series. I enjoyed Book #1 (Fatal Affair) very much and was hoping that book 2 would be just as good. Unfortunately, I did not feel it was and I think simply put, it was that the ratio between the murder mystery and the relationship was off. I felt the murder mystery in this book was intriguing but, whereas the mystery took the lead in book 1 to the relationship between Nick and Sam that I felt helped the book, the mystery in book 2 took the back seat to the relationship. I felt this hurt book 2. The mystery was interesting, but somewhat stunted because it wasn’t in the forefront. The relationship between Nick and Sam, however, did not seem to have the magic that it did in book 1. Overall, I liked the book because of the murder mystery but I preferred book 1. I intend to move on with the series to at least the next book to see if I like it more.
Happy Reading,
Debra
Books, great reads, Mystery

Fatal Affair by Marie Force

debra

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Hey everyone,

The Blurb:  Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career–and her confidence–after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff…and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can’t afford–especially when the bodies keep piling up.

My Thoughts:  This is my first book by Marie Force and I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.  I liked this book.  Fatal Affair is a romantic mystery/suspense, which I enjoy.  This story had a really good murder mystery to solve and it was interesting with several suspects.  The mystery had depth and took some time to solve.  The first victim (there are several bodies that start piling up) is a U.S. Senator whom  we learn a lot about through the course of the book, including his secret side.  The victim’s family is also interesting and we end up really understanding the foundation of the whys behind the mystery.  I felt the romantic part of the story took somewhat of a backseat to the murder mystery, but I actually liked that about the story.  I do wish that the author had given us some detail of the one-night stand between the characters six years ago, maybe as a prologue.  It was the basis of their ongoing feelings for each other but we didn’t learn much about their connection except that both characters thought it was an earth shattering night.  Before I forget, there are also a couple of great secondary characters, including Freddie, Gonzo and Sam’s father.  Although all were important in this story, I hope all these characters come to the front even more in the future.  I plan to continue  with this series.

Happy Reading,

Debra