Unwrapping a Review for FINDING NATHAN, book two in the Jordan Spagnato series by H.J. Harley

In February of 2013, I reviewed an amazing debut novel, FINDING JORDIE by a talented new writer, H.J. Harley that blew me away. Well, I’m so excited to tell you that the sequel, FINDING NATHAN is now here! In this amazing story, Jordie and Nathan’s journey continues and gets a whole lot hotter.

***I was provided with an unedited copy by the author for the purposes of professional editing but by switching hats, I’m providing you an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for FINDING NATHAN:

The long awaited honeymoon is finally over for leading man, Nathan Harper and his feisty bride, Jordie, but settling into a contented routine as a newly formed family proves as bumpy as their whirlwind love affair and the dangers it drew to them. Now an anonymous internet stalker seems bent on destroying Jordie and upsetting the hard-won balance she’s found with the love of her life. On top of that, she’s never needed her strength more than when her husband puts his private journal into her hands and lets her see the darkest months of her life through his shadowed eyes. Who will wound her more, the man who loves and cherishes her, or her hidden enemy?

*           *            *            *            * 

Jordie and Nathan Harper are married, have a son together, are raising Jordie's daughter, Emma together, and after a harrowing experience with Jordie’s ex-husband, and Nathan losing his memory, they are finally together, happy, and starting a new life in a new place.

If only things stayed that simple, that contented, and safe but being married to a sexy movie star comes with its problems and one of them has become a huge pain in the ass for Jordie. An anonymous Internet stalker is determined to upset Jordie, her life with Nathan, and even put her family in danger. Then as if her life isn’t stressed enough, Nathan decides to share his journal from when he lost his memory. He wants her to know what was going through his mind and his heart during that time, but Jordie isn’t too sure she wants to know once she starts reading when she discovers entries mentioning the women in Nathan’s life, especially one who is currently making herself far too available to her husband.

FINDING NATHAN, a Jordan Spagnato novel by H.J. Harley is even more fast-paced, romantic, brimming with affection, tender moments, and definitely sexier than FINDING JORDIE – but then they’re married in this one! The sex is wilder, hotter, and certainly very spontaneous. The journals are interspersed throughout the story and will guarantee to bursts of emotion for both Jordie and Nathan as well as the reader.

If you read FINDING JORDIE then you’re going to thoroughly enjoy revisiting the wonderful characters you came to love in FINDING NATHAN. Frank, Rachel, and Emma are constants that keep Jordie and Nathan on their toes and keep the story real. Jordie is still as rough and tumble as she was when we first met her, motherhood hasn’t softened her attitude or her language but we wouldn't want her any other way. Nathan is still as sexy as before and he makes sure he shows Jordie often just how much he loves and desires her. But all of that aside, there’s the angst that travels through this story that keeps us turning the pages, worrying about Jordie, and whether or not Nathan’s world is going to leak into their happy world causing more harm than good. The suspense is definitely felt throughout the story and in the end, you’re going to be very surprised at the culprit.

H.J. Harley does an excellent job of using redirection to keep us guessing as to who is making life miserable for Jordie and why. Love a good suspense, and this one did it for me.

I highly recommend FINDING NATHAN by H.J. Harley most definitely to anyone who read FINDING JORDIE because this one brings you the answer to every question you had at the end of the first book, and treats you to life after a HEA for Jordie and Nathan. If by chance, you haven’t read FINDING JORDIE, I highly recommend it but honestly, FINDING NATHAN can hold its own as a stand-alone read but frankly, why would you want to miss how they met, fell in love, and came to marry. My suggestion to you is to read them both, and then get ready for the third Jordan Spagnato book that gets a tease at the end of this one. And the fun continues.

Happy Reading Everyone!

FINDING NATHAN, a Jordan Spagnato novel by H.J. Harley, Epublishing Works, available now in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click links or cover below for purchasing information
even pennies on a sale help support this blog.

   

   

Coming to THE END When Writing a Novel

Hi my darlings, recently I typed those final two words that every writer sets as a goal, and simultaneously dreads because it means that a story that has occupied her thoughts for months, maybe even years, has ended. Writers come to care about their characters as we do friends and family, so when we type THE END, we say good-bye to friends and close the door on a story, a part of our life, and a love affair with a couple that will never exist again. No matter how many revisions are required.

KEEPING FAITH is my first suspense romance that I hope will be the first in a series I’m calling Rescued By Love. The story centers around a series of prostitute disappearances throughout New York City, and the hero has come home to his rented apartment to work undercover in hopes of solving the mystery. He’s totally crushing on the woman from whom he rents his apartment and who also lives across the hall. She also owns the hair salon located in the same building. Suspicions have the led the police to center their surveillance on the salon, the train station located across the street where local prostitutes hang out selling their trade, and on the employees of the salon. There were times while writing KEEPING FAITH that I made myself uneasy when encountering the bad guy. My hope is that readers will be as caught up in the terror that one human can inflict on another as I was while writing it. What amazing things lurk in the imagination of a writer.

My goal is to either find a publisher who will be as eager to share my book with readers as I am or if not, to self-publish, and promote it myself. In the meantime, I’m moving on to another previous work-in-progress that I started before KEEPING FAITH and am anxious to finish and type those two little amazing words – The End.

So, tell me, what things in your life sadden and excite you when they end? If you’re like me, when I finish reading a wonderful story, it’s always satisfying and a little sad. Or perhaps when a good movie ends. The best things are always things we don’t want to see end but like most good things, they do.

Here’s to, someday, sharing KEEPING FAITH with you and eventually, the next books in the series. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll get my undercover detective to come talk with us about his endeavors to catch the bad guy.

If you'd like to read the Prologue and Chapter One of KEEPING FAITH, please do. I'd love to know what you think and whether it's something you'd like to read in its entirety some future day. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

Tasty Review Stop on the BELIEVING AGAIN by Peggy Bird Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Tasty Review Blog Tour for BELIEVING AGAIN by Peggy Bird. I am a huge fan of Peggy’s stories because she’s never let me down in conjuring sexy men that I can fall in love with, and strong vibrant women that make me wish I can be them. The wonderful couple, in BELIEVING AGAIN, is no exception but this time, she’s added a twist. She gives us a look into the heartbreaking world of the homeless veterans who return from war and bring a piece of it with them – in their thoughts and dreams. Oh, and be sure to hang around - there's a giveaway!

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for BELIEVING AGAIN:

As the youngest woman ever to make detective in the Portland Police Bureau, Danny Hartmann has racked up an impressive record. It doesn’t keep her warm at night, but it does make up for feeling she’s somehow disappointed her family with her career choice. Called to the scene of the murder of a homeless veteran in a transient camp, Danny doesn’t expect it to be anything other than another case she clears.

Then she meets the man who made the 9-1-1 call and everything changes.

 Jake Abrams, a volunteer doctor at the Veterans Medical Services Clinic, doesn’t have much faith in anything other than his work and the vets he cares deeply about. Not shy about voicing his opinions, even to the cops investigating the murder of one of his patients, he annoys Danny with his snarky remarks.

However, working the case, she has to rely on Jake to help her find her way around the transient camps under the bridges and in the city’s huge wilderness park. As they work together, their attraction becomes mutual and passionate.

But Jake has demons. Like the vets he cares for, he carries scars both mental and physical from his service in the National Guard in Iraq. He fears Danny will turn from him in disgust when she discovers them. She’s afraid his experience in Iraq makes it impossible for him to love someone who does what she does for a living.

When the murderer of the homeless vets comes too close to Jake, it’ll be up to Danny to save his life. It’ll be up to their love for each other to save them both.

*               *               *               *                *

Danny Hartmann is woman who takes her job seriously. She lives, breathes, and thrills at being a cop. She long ago decided that any man who wants to be part of her life must accept this or hit the road. All of this becomes first, and foremost, in her thoughts after she meets a handsome doctor who not only takes his job as a surgeon as seriously as she does hers as a detective, but also takes caring for his patients just as seriously as she does protecting them.

Jake Abrams, a veteran himself, introduces her to a world unseen by most but currently the center of her investigation as well as the delights of a relationship with a man willing to give his all to her in the same way he does his patients. Fearful that she may lose herself in his world, his family, and his love, Danny pulls back when he tries to convince her there’s more to life than being a cop.

When the danger of the case encroaches closer to Jake and the veterans that they both try to protect, Danny must trust her skills, her instincts, and the love she’s developed for this stubborn, relentless man or risk them all losing their lives.

BELIEVING AGAIN by Peggy Bird is a poignant, action-filled, suspense romance that unlike the others in the series that are truly second chances at love, this one takes us through the beginnings of love, only to have it fall apart but then gives this matched pair a second chance at love in the end. Jake and Danny together is a match made in heaven. Each is stubborn, sharp-witted, and accepting of each other’s fears yet individuals with their own way of looking at the world. Jake reminds me very much of one of my favorite heroes created by Peggy – Tony Alessandro from TOGETHER AGAIN. Like Tony with Margo, Jake isn’t willing to give up on Danny and their happily-ever-after. Once he decides that she’s the only woman for him, he will stop at nothing, including giving her up, to prove to her that they are meant to be together. This endears Jake Abrams to me in a way that other hero-types can’t. Actions really do speak louder than words.

The suspense of the murder mystery behind the romance keeps the story tight and the reader on the edge of their seat as Danny and Sam try to find out who is shooting up the homeless camps and why the victims are all Jake’s patients. The clues are there but I was still surprised. That’s a good thing.

I highly recommend BELIEVING AGAIN, book five in the Second Chance series by Peggy Bird for anyone who loves a good suspense story, the thrill of falling in love, and experiencing those first moments in a love affair as well as the fear that it’s not going to work out. Thankfully, it does and you’ll love the way it ends. Jake is one patient man and so sensitive, you just want to hug him - all the time.

Happy Reading Everyone!

About the Author:

Born in Philly, Peggy Bird spent most of her adult life in the Pacific Northwest where she has happily grown webs between her toes and moss

behind her ears. She pursued a number of careers—nurse, legislative staffer, lobbyist, public affairs consultant, non-profit association executive, workshop teacher, oh, and mother and wife—before deciding to leave it all for what she loved through every stage of life—writing. She’s been published in anthologies, magazines, newspapers and in the brochures, newsletters, and reports of her consulting clients and employers. Unless you count speeches for politicians, she’d never written fiction until a cast of characters began inhabiting her daydreams. A glass artist and a gallery owner were there. So were a sculptor and a jewelry designer. When some dead bodies showed up, a couple of cops and a deputy DA arrived. Soon they began to fall in love with each other and work for their happy-ending. Bingo. Peggy was a romance writer.

If you’d like to learn more about Peggy Bird, please feel free to visit her website, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads. She loves hearing from her readers.

GIVEAWAY:

Peggy is giving away a $10.00 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card to one lucky person tour wide so feel free to enter for a chance at winning – you can buy her books! Please use the rafflecopter for entry. Thanks and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BELIEVING AGAIN, a Second Chance novel by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, available in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information

   

Review Stop on the IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL by Nancy C. Weeks Tasty Book Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL by Nancy C. Weeks Blog Tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours and this one is a must read if you love suspense filled romance! Sticky around for the giveaway – today’s the last day of the tour but I promise, the excitement over this story will around for a while.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL:

Elías Mendoza’s personal vendetta against the McKenzie family rests on Jennie’s shoulders. As she cradles the bullet ridden body of her ten-year old student, she knows Mendoza is responsible. Quinton’s death is a message. Jennie’s life belongs to only Mendoza. But she has her own message. No one else dies. Her life means nothing as long as Mendoza is free.

Jared McNeil has spent ten years with Maryland’s Special Crime Unit and very little rattles him. When the haunted teenager he once tried to protect walks into his precinct now a beautiful woman, he wants nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. But he soon realizes she is there only to settle her debts before she goes after his nemesis, Mendoza. Jared’s vow to stay away from Jennie until the task force destroys Mendoza now means nothing.

What Jared and Jennie don't understand is there are forces at play greater than the evil shadowing them, but time is running out. United, they can do anything. Alone, they will fail.

*           *           *            *            * 

Jennifer McKenzie lives in a world where evil shadows her every move. She’s lost everyone she ever loved to the man who represents that evil and fears she’ll lose the man she loves if she doesn’t stay as far away from him as possible. Left with little time to end things, she sets out to trap and finally exact her revenge on Elías Mendoza for those who cannot – her father, her mother, and Nick, who was like a brother. Now others are in the path of destruction that only Mendoza can wreck and she’s determined to stop him for good.

Jared McNeil can’t stay away from Jennie no matter how hard he tries. He watches, he waits, he hopes for a time when it will be safe to be close to her, all the while wondering if his connection and affection for her goes both ways. He knows the danger that surrounds her. He wears the scars as proof of what the mad man, Mendoza, likes to hand out to anyone who gets between him and his Jennifer Marie. But why? What is it about this woman grown up from a teen once in the care of Mendoza and why won’t he let her go? All Jared knows is that he’d die before he allowed anyone to harm Jennifer McKenzie, including his own twin brother.

IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL by Nancy C. Weeks is a fast-paced, exciting, edge of the seat, dangerous journey that Jennie and Jared travel to save loved ones, innocents, and each other from a mad man. Mendoza is truly vicious and insane with an obsession for revenge against Jennie yet the need to possess her and destroy anyone who loves her. What Mendoza doesn’t realize is that it is love in its purest form that will be his undoing. The love of family, the love of friends, and the love that has existed for so many years and finally requited between Jennie and Jared, is what will destroy Elías Mendoza.

Nancy kept me glued to this story through the characters. Her characters are lively, personable, and their familial relationships are honest and believable. The characters kept the story, the edginess, and the intrigue moving forward without question or delay.  

I highly recommend IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL by Nancy C. Weeks if you love danger and true – what’s going to happen next – suspense with your romance. Whereas the romance isn’t overly steamy, it works well, and for those who like it mild, you’ll be certainly pleased with the level that Nancy infuses into this amazing story, but the love is there - in abundance.

Happy Reading Everyone! 

About the Author:

Nancy C. Weeks has loved happy-ever-after romances since she was in her early teens. While still in college, she met and married her hero and spent the

next several years honeymooning and working overseas. Today, she lives in suburban Maryland with her husband of more than thirty years. Her two children are in college and she spends her days out on her deck writing as the local bird population keeps her company. She loves to hear from her readers.

Feel free to visit Nancy’s website and her blog and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY:
As part of her celebration, Nancy is holding a Giveaway. If you’d like to enter, please use the rafflecopter and be sure to congratulate Nancy on the release of IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL.

Happy Reading and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL by Nancy C. Banks, Crimson Romance, available now in ebook format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information

   

New Cover Reveal for SECRET MANEUVERS, an Ex Ops novel by Jessie Lane

Back on June 15, 2013, I reviewed a fabulous suspense romance by Jessie Lane – a writing duo – called SECRET MANEUVERS, the first book in the Ex Ops series. It seems a lot of folks weren’t too thrilled with the cover, although as I said in my review, once you read it, you’d understand the strange filter color – well, Jessie Lane decided to give it a new cover and re-release it with its new showstopper! Feel free to stop by my review of SECRET MANEUVERS by Jessie Lane to get my thoughts, simply click the title. This is one to read – whichever cover graces it.

Blurb for SECRET MANEUVERS:

Some mistakes from the past haunt us forever...

One 'dear John' letter haunts Bobby Baker's every living moment. It’s the letter he stupidly wrote to his high school sweetheart, Belle, right after he left to join the Army. The letter that he told her that he wasn't so sure if they were ready for forever yet. But before he can let her know that the letter, and his second thoughts, are nothing but a mistake, she up and disappears from the small Georgia town they were both raised in.

unless fate steps in with a second chance.

Fifteen years later, Belle unknowingly walks back into Bobby's life when her job as an ATF Agent forces her to work with a group of men secretly headed by the CIA to help her track down whoever is involved in funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico.

Bobby will use this mission to try and soothe Belle's hurt feelings while proving to her that their love is still meant for forever. He'll use every dirty trick he's learned since he joined the Army to maneuver her back into his life for the long haul. But Belle's not making it easy as she keeps him at arm's length in the hopes that mistakes of her own never come to light.

*                *                 *                  *                   *

Excerpt from SECRET MANEUVERS:

Belle headed out of the room first to disappear in the parking lot while the guys proceeded to file out a few minutes later. Being at the back of the group I missed what made the guys catcall and laugh until I came into full view of Belle leaned up against a black jacked up Ford F350 decked out with a ram air hood, brush guard, monster-sized tires and a banner on the top of the windshield that read ‘G.R.I.T.S.’.

Lucas’s slightly New York accented voice sounded confused as he asked, “G.R.I.T.S.? Isn’t that like a food or something?”

Logan clapped him on the shoulder as barks of laughter echoed in the parking lot. “Naw, buddy. That stands for ‘Girls Raised In The South’. You could say that Agent Roberts is showing off her southern pride a bit, that’s all. It’s a damn good thing to be proud of, too.”

Belle climbed up into the cab of the truck. Still hanging out of the door a bit she yelled, “Come on Sullivan brothers. We’re gonna have some fun before we head to the bar!”

Declan and Riley Sullivan looked wary. “What kind of fun exactly?”

“Muddin’ and Jason Aldean. Let’s go, baby!” The heavy rumble of her engine came to life as ‘She’s Country’ blasted out of its open windows.

The Sullivan brothers looked at each other nervously. Riley spoke in a low voice to Declan, “You think she’s alright upstairs or should I be worried?” Declan clapped his brother on the back before hopping up into the passenger side of the truck.

I was insanely jealous as the truck tore out of the parking lot to head down the highway while the rest of us piled into our respective vehicles to leave. It almost felt as if she was trying to rub my nose in one of our best memories. When you lived in a small southern town, out in the middle of nowhere, muddin’ with your buddies, your girl, and pilfered beer where you could cut loose and be free was one of the few options for entertainment. There went my buddies. There went my girl. Here I still stood, looking like a jackass.

Jaxon watched the retreating vehicle with a mix of amusement and trepidation. Turning to Sheriff Jenkins he asked, “Should I be worried about any of that?” His finger pointing in the direction of where Belle’s truck had already disappeared.

The Sheriff’s easy smile didn’t seem to convince Jaxon. “Not at all, Commander Wall. Annabelle is harmless. Swear.”

I snorted. “Tell that to the guy she knocked unconscious her senior year. He was twice her size.”

Sheriff Jenkins’s eyebrows shot to his hairline as he turned to face me in the back seat. “You knew Annabelle in high school?”

My mouth kicked up in a half smile. “Yeah, you could say that. We grew up in the same small town. Belle and I were as close as you could get until I left for the Army just after graduation.”

The Sheriff’s eyebrows pulled down into an intense expression as something flashed over his face before he could cover it up. He quickly turned around to start the car. “I’m just going to turn on the radio. Hope you don’t mind.”

The radio kicked on and a local country station came on. All conversation in the car stopped. The last look the Sheriff had made bothered me. There was something there that made my instincts flare up. The Sheriff knew something. What in the hell could that possibly be?

*             *              *              *              *

About the Author:

Jessie Lane is the writing team of Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl. The two sisters-in-law share a passionate love of naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them. Because

Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl - aka JESSIE LANE

really, it is ALL about the characters. (They’re kind of megalomaniacs – but don’t tell them that we said that.)

 

Crystal lives in Kentucky with her husband, little 7 and 9 year old Rock Chicks in the making, and her Dad who likes to play the air guitar while listening to George Thorogood’s Bad To The Bone. Melissa just moved to Minnesota with her husband and giant furry Rottweiler baby named Yuffi. Crystal is now trying to talk Melissa into “polar bear” swimming in Lake Superior, but so far Melissa is adamantly telling her no.

  

Their first YA novel, THE BURNING STAR, was released in May 2012. BIG BAD BITE was their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance, and released in January 2013. Their third book, SECRET MANEUVERS, just released this past June, and will be the start of a new adult contemporary romance series (Ex Ops Series). They are now working on their next three novels, WALK ON THE STRIPED SIDE (Big Bad Bite Series #2), STRIPPING HER DEFENSES (Ex Ops Series #2) and THE FROZEN STAR (YA Star Series #2).With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!

Feel free to visit the Jessie Lane website, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, at Goodreads, and their Amazon Author page.

Happy Reading Everyone! This is a good one!

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:

Signed paperbacks, custom glow in the dark swag bag, Ex Ops dog tags, $20 gift card – lots of goodies to win, so use the rafflecopter to enter and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SECRET MANEUVERS, an Ex Ops novel by Jessie Lane, self-publish, in re-release and available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobobooks, All Romance EBooks, and Smashwords.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information

   

Unwrapping: DANGEROUS ALLY by Michelle Grey

I’m always excited about new authors …okay, maybe they’re not always new, but they are usually new to me! Well, Michelle Grey is NEW! She’s an amazing woman who, after surviving a run-in with cancer decided to fulfill her lifelong dream to be a romantic suspense author - very much a woman after my own heart. I was very excited about reading her debut novel, DANGEROUS ALLY.

***eCopy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for DANGEROUS ALLY:

Lacey Jordan is expecting dinner, and hopefully, an engagement announcement. Not her own, of course. After two serious screw-ups, she's all but sworn off relationships. When she arrives at her father's house to celebrate his future happiness though, he's nowhere to be found. As the hours pass, the worst scenarios Lacey's mind can conjure send her rushing into action. However, reality proves even more frightening as she discovers that her father's recent scientific breakthrough is one that people would kill for. To make matters worse, the source of the information is the one person she'd hoped to never see again. Caleb Mansfield, her father's former protege and her former lover, needs Lacey's cooperation, and the very trust he'd stolen years before. But Lacey can't be certain if Caleb's working with her or against her. Running out of time, she has nowhere else to turn. As the trail leading to her father narrows, Lacey becomes a target, risking her life to save him. Too late, she understands that with Caleb back in her life, she's risking her heart as well.

*                   *                    *                  *                  *

When Lacey Jordan arrived at her father’s home for a regular dinner evening, she expected him to announce his engagement to the woman in his life, Mona Nicholson. The last thing she expected was to discover Bill Jordan was missing. He’d simply vanished and no one had a clue as to where or why.

Caleb Mansfield had thought he’d actually take some time off when his boss, Roger Cantwell, ordered him to relax. He hadn’t expected to find himself mixed up in a search for his old friend, mentor, and father of the woman he let get away. It was possible that he held the key to why Bill Jordan was missing but he, just as Lacey and the police, hadn’t a clue as to who was behind it.

So, the mystery deepens. Lacey worries, Mona frets, and Caleb attempts to make sense of everything, including his feelings for Lacey, and her undeniably cold shoulder attitude. Insisting on staying around to sort out the many possible suspects, Caleb appoints himself Lacey’s round the clock protector. Of course, he’s also hoping to wear down her resolve and get her to trust him. Just as she had, once upon a time, one summer long ago when they were in love.

DANGEROUS ALLY by Michelle Grey is a delightful second chance romance infused with a mystery that will keep you guessing all the way, right up to the reveal of the bad guy behind it all. The mystery starts slow, which isn’t always a bad thing, but soon begins to simmer as more suspects begin to surface. Michelle handles the mystery part of this story so well that my mind had nearly everyone named as the culprit, at least once.

Her characters are charming, sneaky, downright despicable, and believable in all the ways that matter. The only problem I had was that she had developed a secondary story that at first I thought was important but once the connection to the main mystery was severed, I felt it was no longer needed. Too much time was taken up with this aspect of the book and began to feel like filler. I would like to have seen more action pertaining to the mystery and the constant danger that Lacey and Caleb were in rather than drawing my attention away with something that could’ve been wrapped up in less time.

Overall, DANGEROUS ALLY by Michelle Grey was a great read minus the secondary story. I highly recommend reading this edge of the seat, mind-teasing mystery built around a second chance romance that will keep you captivated and cheering them on. I’m looking forward to Michelle’s next book with eager anticipation – there’s a teaser for her new one at the end that will definitely hook you.

Happy Reading Everyone!

DANGEROUS ALLY by Michelle Grey, Lucky 13 Unlimited via Amazon Digital, available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information.

   

Tasty Book Release Day Blast for THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP by Christi Snow and M.F. Smith

Welcome to my stop on the Tasty Book Release Day Blast for THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP, a Foxtrot Team novel by Christi Snow & M.F. Smith.

All the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Lubbock Red Cross, so keep that in mind because THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP is available today. Stick around for a tour wide giveaway after an excerpt from this new suspense romance from the team of Christi Snow & M.F. Smith. 

Blurb for THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP: 

To us, first responders are heroes. But for them, risking their lives is a normal, everyday thing.

Mudflap:

Born the baby of the family, Mudflap has always had something to prove to emerge out of the shadows of his older siblings. He spent eight years as a Special Ops elite sniper and is now a firefighter. But at his heart, he’s just a normal West Texas good old boy who loves his beer, women and football, until the Department of Defense calls him up to say they need his skills again.

Shanae:

Shanae is a first responder of a different sort. She’s a trauma nurse who works on a medical evacuation helicopter team. But while she lives a life full of adrenaline every day, it’s just a cover for her real life, where she hides in the shadows and is secret agent, Shadowfox for the Lubbock Foxtrot Team (LiFT). She’s living the kind of life that most people think exists only in movies and books.

Working for two different branches of the government, Mudflap and Shanae are in a race against time and the terrorists who threaten the very heart of West Texas life, football. They’re working toward the same goal, but find themselves in a confrontation against each other and the lies they’ve each had to hide behind. Can love win out in the end or will the cost be each other and their very lives?

First responders are heroes every day, but this story tells the tale of when they become even more and find love along the way. The key is for them to stay alive so that they can complete their mission and just maybe live happily ever after.

On an ordinary day, they save lives. On an extraordinary day, they save the country.

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Excerpt from THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP:

     “Hey, there. You look good enough to eat,” he growled. He glanced back at his Bronco. “Unfortunately, Derek is waiting for us in the car so I can’t take a nibble.”

     A frisson of awareness skated down her spine. That tone in his voice…yummy.

     “Thanks,” she said as she leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
     “You know how to make a girl feel good.” She lingered for a moment right below his ear to whisper, “You look pretty damn good yourself. But it’s hot and we don’t want the poor thing to suffer from heat exhaustion. I’m confused though.” She glanced at him as they walked out toward his truck.
     “Why would you bring your dog golfing? Are they even allowed on the course?”

     He pulled her door open for her, but stalled her entrance into the Bronco. “Dog? I don’t have a dog.”

     She sat in the seat, but scowled at him in confusion through the still open door. “Isn’t Derek your dog?”

     Mudflap burst out laughing as he shut her car door. But it was the outraged, “What the hell did he tell you to make you think that?” coming from the backseat that told her she’d gotten something wrong.

     She turned slowly to him. He was a young, clean cut, extremely good looking guy, who was not happy right now. He looked like a model from a young, hip magazine ad; well, he would if he wasn’t scowling.

     Wincing, she offered her hand to him. “I guess you’re Derek, huh?”

     Mudflap got into the car and continued to laugh at Derek’s expense. Derek shoved at his shoulder and muttered, “Asshole,” before offering her his hand. “Yes, I’m Derek. It’s nice to meet you Shanae.” His scowl quickly morphed into a flirty smile. “Already I can tell you’re too good for this guy. I say we dump him on the back nine and you and I can make a fun day of it without him.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

     Uh oh, this guy and that mischievous smile was trouble. She couldn’t help the giggle that erupted. “Sorry about the dog comment. I misunderstood.”

     “Aw, sweetheart, no forgiveness is necessary. I know who to blame.” He turned to glare again at Mudflap. “Besides, gracing us with your beauty today more than makes up for it.”

     Shanae couldn’t help the eye-roll. This guy was digging it deep.

     “Hey, now. No horning in on my girl.” Mudflap frowned at Derek, but the corners of his mouth twitched with humor.

     The two guys continued the back and forth banter all the way to the golf course, renting their equipment, and meeting up with their golf pro for the day, a very attractive redhead named Lisa. Shanae clued in on the fact that Derek had a bit of a crush on her simply by the fact that he continued to give both Shanae and Mudflap a hard time, but then got stiff when it came to interacting with her. It was sweet, if not for the fact that Lisa seemed completely oblivious to Derek.

     Shanae would guess there was a pretty good age difference between the two. Derek was young, definitely early twenties, while Lisa was probably closer to thirty. Shanae doubted Lisa even saw Derek as a possibility for a date. She watched the two of them as Lisa corrected Derek’s form on the fourth hole. Lisa slid her hand down Derek’s arm to adjust his grip and Shanae could see all his muscles tighten in response.

    Mudflap slid in to stand behind her. His hand wrapped around her waist felt entirely too right, so right she completely forgot about Lisa and Derek. She could feel the heat coming off his body and her pulse skittered.

    But then Mudflap, who’d also been watching the other two, whispered in her ear, “I think his shaft is too big for that stroke.”

    Of course, Shanae worked with guys all the time so her gaze immediately landed on Derek’s crotch where his erection pressed against his pants.          

    “Don’t,” she hissed at Mudflap. “Don’t give him a hard time right now. Poor kid is infatuated and she isn’t even aware of him.”

    Mudflap nuzzled her ear for a moment before whispering, “Ask her for some help on the next hole and make her aware. He’s a good guy. It would be nice if he could hook up with a woman who might actually appreciate him.”

    And right there, Shanae’s heart melted a little bit more for this guy. Damn, sexy and sweet.

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About the Authors:

Christi Snow

As an avid reader her entire life, Christi Snow always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy she felt when she read. But...she never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes.

When she turned 41, she decided it was time to go after her dream and started writing. Within four months, she'd written over 150,000 words and hasn't stopped since.

She's found her calling by writing about sexy, alpha heroes and smart, tough heroines falling in love and finding their passion. She's truly living the dream and loving every minute of it.

Her tagline is... Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After. She's loving this adventure!

Feel free to visit Christi at her website, review blog, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and on Goodreads.

M.F. Smith

Mudflap is a morning show personality for 96.3 KLLL in Lubbock, TX. He’s been on the morning show for seven years and in radio for over ten years. He’s entertained people all over the world, and has helped raise money for many non-profit agencies and charities.

Mudflap loves to see people smile and believes everyone deserves a hug.

Feel free to check him out and his shows on the KLLL Radio Station website. 

To view the trailer for THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP, please click HERE but hurry back for the Giveaway!

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THE SHADOW OF MUDFLAP, a Foxtrot Team novel by Christi Snow & M.F. Smith, self-publish, available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobobooks, All Romance Books, and Smashwords.

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