Viking Warrior Rebel - Asa Maria Bradley

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Published: October 2016

ISBN: 9781492618874

She can’t let him discover… Immortal Vikings are among us

Astrid Irisdotter is a Valkyrie—a fierce warrior fighting to protect humanity from the evil god Loki and his brutal minions. She’s on an urgent mission for her queen when everything goes hideously sideways. Undercover agent Luke Holden arrives on the scene just in time to save her life—and put his own on the line.

Luke may have saved her, but that doesn’t mean Astrid can trust him. Tempers flare as they hide secret upon secret from each other, but Astrid’s inner warrior knows what it wants…and it will not take “no” for an answer.  

My review
Immortal and very independent woman - check. Good looking guy with dark secret - check. Ugly and scary monsters to fight - check. Unexpected feelings and sexual tension - check. Well... Asa Maria Bradley has certainly all the ingredients to make a very appealing story. And she has one brewing here. Since I haven't read the first part of this series (Viking Warrior Rising), I don't know if the first one is as good as the second one. But Astrid is one fierce, yet funny character. 

She is on a mission to retrieve the brother of her queen from a hospital. Since she has failed on her last assignment, she is determined to not fail her queen again. What she didn't expect, was to run into the good looking Luke Holden. She had a fling with him, but he disappeared after one night of (well, let's just say they didn't get a lot of sleep). So, naturally, Astrid is not very excited to meet him yet again. However, when Luke saves her life from some ugly looking minions of Loki, she has some explaining to do. But how do you explain that you lived for hundreds of years and that you are not totally normal? Well, you kind of stretch the truth a bit. "I was born in Sweden. Almost a thousand years ago, but a woman didn't discuss her age.

But since Luke has some secrets of his own, Astrid and Luke have a lot of difficulties in trusting one another. "Apparantly Mr. We-Need-An-Honest-Talk wasn't all the chatty when he was the one responsible for sticking to the truth" . 
So the tension is through the roof. Take into account a jealous viking and we have some fireworks. The story unfolds nicely, yet suprisingly, so you just keep on reading.

A very good read. Four out of five stars for Viking Warrior Rebel. With special thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. And now I'll have to go find part one to read.

Thieving Weasels - Billy Taylor

Publisher: Dial Books

Published: August 2016

ISBN: 9780525429241

Skip O’Rourke is dragged into one last con . . . but he doesn’t know the con’s on him in this funny, page-turning debut YA for fans of Winger and Ocean’s Eleven.

Cameron Smith attends an elite boarding school and has just been accepted to Princeton University alongside his beautiful girlfriend, Claire. Life for Cameron would be perfect, except that Cameron Smith is actually Skip O’Rourke, and Skip O’Rourke ran away from his grifter family four years ago…along with $100,000 of their “earnings” (because starting a new life is not cheap). But when his uncle Wonderful tracks him down, Skip’s given an ultimatum: come back to the family for one last con, or say good-bye to life as Cameron.

“One last con” is easier said than done when Skip’s family is just as merciless (and just as manipulative) as they’ve always been, and everyone around him is lying. Skip may have given up on crime, but there’s one lesson he hasn’t forgotten: always know your mark. And if you don’t know who your mark is . . . it’s probably you.

Witty and irresistibly readable, this standout debut will always keep you guessing.  

My review
It will not be easy to classify this debut from Billy Taylor. Is Thieving Weasels a YA, Humor, Romance (you have got to admit: committing a crime to keep your girlfriend is pretty romantic, isn't it?) or Crime Fiction? No matter the category, this book is funny and surprisingly easy to read. The characters are funny (especially Vinnie, he is just the prototype of a dumb wannabe mobster. Fortunately the whole family agrees), the story is fast paced and the plot keeps unfolding. I can see the slapstick musical coming from this story. The whole story is about the family O'Rourke, who take pleasure in deceiving and conning their way through life. They scam insurances, neighbours and easy targets. Skip O'Rourke managed to escape his family and start a new life as Cameron Smith. He has a perfect life, a pretty girlfriend and a bright future. That is, until uncle Wonderful drags him back into the 'family business' for one last con. But since everybody is lying to everybody, the actual job and the implications just keep getting fuzzier and fuzzier. In all a fun read, with lots of chuckles along the way. Four stars for this debut. And keep an eye out for the film.

A Very Jaguar Christmas - Terry Spear

Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca

Published: October 2016

ISBN: 9781492621805

There are all kinds of surprises under the mistletoe!

As a protector of all jaguar-kind, Guardian agent Demetria MacFarlane isn’t surprised to get a call near Christmas—but when she’s sent to protect a cub whose species she didn’t even know existed, her holiday season gets complicated. And it doesn’t help that her partner is a distraction of the hottest kind.

Hotshot JAG agent Everett Anderson can handle dangerous poachers and wildlife traffickers, no problem…but kids? Everett fears he’ll be stuck cub-sitting under the Christmas tree, but working with one sexy Guardian she-cat may be the best present he’s ever gotten.  

My review
Since I was already into the hot and yummy shape-shifters of Paige Tyler (SWAT-series, with Werewolf shape-shifters), the Jaguar kind of Terry Spear sounded very appealing. And indeed, I was not disappointed.
You take a nosedive into the story of JAG agent Everett Anderson, with a mission going terribly wrong. His good friend and partner Matt dies in a rescue mission to save a young jaguar shape-shifter from a kidnapper. So you immediately are feeling sympathy for both Everett and Demetria, Matt's girlfriend at the time. 

The most funny thing about the story is the fact that the whole jaguar society is getting riled up, when a shape-shifter child is dropped at the nursery. The child doesn't shift into a jaguar, but into a wolf cub. Well, that's something strange. They didn't know this species exists. I mean, how funny is this? The jaguars are trying to hide from mankind and suddenly they are not alone in this world of 'strange' species. I found it hilarious.

The rest of the story, where Everett and Demetria get stuck together to solve the mystery of the little (very cute) cub and their mutual attraction is well written. The story builds up nicely and there are a few plot turns, so the whole story isn't totally predictable. It's a nice and relaxing read, especially for during the Christmas Holidays. Everett's family is very funny and those characters give a nice depth in the story. 
So, if you believe in shape-shifters, in any kind, the story is totally believable. If not: well, it still is a nice read. Sit back, grab a mug of hot cocoa and enjoy.
Four out of five stars from me.

Just Kiss Me - Rachel Gibson

Publisher: Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Published: July 2016

ISBN: 9780552170543 

The latest hot and funny love story from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson, author of RESCUE ME and NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. 


It's been years since Vivian last saw Henry. She was scrubbing houses for a living, he was the gorgeous son of rich parents, not fit for the likes of her.
She had vowed to get out of Charleston, become a big Hollywood star and stick it to the snooty girls who made her cry. Vivian got what she wanted – and more – but why does her glamorous life seem so trivial?

Henry got out too . . . making it all the way to Wall Street, until his life took an unexpected twist and he traded in his cufflinks for carpentry back in Charleston.
But escaping his heritage is nearly impossible. And now he’s come face-to-face with the one who got away. He’s not looking for love. He’s not even looking for sex . . . so why is resisting her the hardest thing he’s ever done? 

The one that got away just came back . . .

My review
Probably I've read almost every book of Rachel Gibson. Ever since her Writer Friends series I have been a big fan of her writing. I still haven't found another writer who can tell such hilarious stories with a twist, that keeps me chuckling constantly. But at about one third of this book, not even a little smile... Fortunately the famous plot twists did occur also this time in the book.

But somehow there is just no real chemistry between Henry and Vivien. Although the flash backs in the diary of Vivien are a very nice point of view, somehow Rachel doesn't convince that there is some kind of attraction between the two of them. I just can't put my finger on it, but where the sparks are flying in the Chinooks series, there's only a lukewarm feeling in Just Kiss Me. Both Henry and Vivien didn't look that friendly at all. They appear both selfish and arrogant, so especially in the first part it was very difficult to identify with the characters or feel even a glimp of sympathy.

The story is build up just fine and Rachel does an excellent job in building up the tension and sudden plot twists, so in all it is a great read. Of course there are incidents and things from the past, which makes sure you can never predict the ending. Even if you know that Rachel is a sucker for an happily ever after (just like me).

 But if you are a die-hard Rachel Gibson fan, you might be disappointed. If you are going to try a book of Rachel for the first time, I would recommend 'I'm in no mood for love' (with Mr. Right Now instead of Mr. Right) or 'Nothing but trouble'. They are just hilarious. I really love all Rachel's stories and I've re-read several of her books. But this one, I'll stick to this read only. Of course I'll be still looking out for the next novel of Rachel. But hopefully one with more sizzle. Three out of five stars this time. 

 

Outlaw Justice - Rebecca York

Publisher: Light Street Press

Published: July 2016

ISBN: 9781943191017

Long ago, they were a hot item. Then Leah left town, met, and married the wrong man. Escaping a living hell of a marriage, she runs straight into the arms of her old lover, Steve Outlaw. Passion flares again between them, but can he save her from a homicidal husband?


 
My review
It will be a challenge for me to keep this review short. Since Outlaw Justice is just a novella of 92 pages, it would seem strange to have a very long review. So the short version: a fast-paced, steamy story with a slightly paranormal twist. Love it!

To do Rebecca York some more justice, here is the longer version. Outlaw Justice is part 13 of the Decorah Security Series. This series is about a PI bureau, which hires people with 'strange' abilities. I've checked Goodreads and the series not only entails gifted people like Steve Outlaw who can see flashes of someone's past through the touching of an object of that person, but also werewolfs and shapeshifters. The series starts with the owner of the bureau, Frank Decorah, a guy with premonitions. Funny thing is: the cover of On Edge (Decorah Security Series, #0,5) is supposed to display Frank. However, this guy is the same guy used on the cover of Sacrifice (Elemental, #5) from Brigid Kemmerer. I guess paranormal guys are scarse...

Back to Leah and her abusive husband Warren. After her escape from his loose hands, she literally bumps into Steve, her former lover. On the run, scared and alone, Leah has to decide if she can trust Steve or that she's better of alone. But when big apes hired by Warren are showing up on her doorstep, she doesn't have a lot of choice. So maybe Steve can be trusted, despite the special powers he claims to have. Soon enough Leah will find out if Steve really can see things of the past or not. And will this help her?

Find out in Outlaw Justice! Four out of five stars, mostly because the story was so short. I'm going to try the rest of the series. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. 

Forged in Smoke - Trish McCallan

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Published: July 2016

ISBN: 9781503945494

Faith Ansell could never be mistaken for an action hero. The scientist is content in her lab, working with her team on life-changing discoveries. But when a mysterious organization captures her colleagues, she’s forced to flee for her life with SEAL Team 7.

Lieutenant Seth “Rawls” Rawlings, ST7’s corpsman, hasn’t been himself since a near-death experience in the Sierra Nevadas. He’s tense and distracted, and the team caught him arguing with himself—loudly. Despite his erratic behavior, Rawls is the only one Faith feels comfortable confiding her life-threatening secret in.

But Rawls has a secret of his own: his wasn’t the only spirit to return to the physical plane when he was resuscitated. At first, Rawls assumed the “ghost” he saw and heard meant he was having a complete mental breakdown. But the apparition soon becomes convincingly real, and what’s more, he may be the key to the conspiracy looming over them. Rawls had better act quickly because ST7’s race to save their reputations—and Faith’s life—is on.

My review
Hot muscled SEAL men and mysterious spirits and conspiracies? Yep, count me in. So I was very excited to receive this ARC from Netgalley. Since this was the third installment of the Red-Hot SEALS series of Trish McCallan, I just dove in and thought: "let's just see how it goes". Technically you are able to read the book as a stand alone. However, if you haven't read the first two parts of the series, you've got a lot of catching up to do. The first quarter of the book you get a little dizzy and distracted by all the names and groups in every new chapter. However, about one third in the book you get to the good stuff. Faith is a scientist, working on some super secret discoveries, when most of her colleagues are taken hostage and some are shot. She has to flee for her life with the SEAL team. But who can she trust and who is on which side? Especially with her life-threatening secret, Faith is scared to show her weaknesses to them. Only lieutenant Rawls feels trustworthy to Faith. Well, more than trustworthy actually. More like sizzling-hot-attraction-feelings. And judging by the growing bulk in Rawls trousers, he is definitely also attracted to Faith. But why is he keeping her away? And why does he throw his cookies into the wall and calls it a spasm in his arm? Faith, the scientist as ever, doesn't believe a thing of the explanations Rawls tries to give her. 

But when Jude and Wolf show them there is more between heaven and earth, Faith is torn between her scientifical background and the believing in Rawls 'ghost'. What if this ghost is real and what if he is the key to the unraveling of the whereabouts of her colleagues? Find out more in this sizzling book.

The book is a delightful mix of paranormal, scientific and just plain hunky hot men. Definitely my kind of book. So four out of five stars for this Red Hot SEALS book. After this, I'm starting with the first two books of the series and I'm already waiting for part four. This will be about Rawls SEAL buddy Mac. Since there is already some tension between Mac and Amy, I'm guessing the theme already. Go Trish! 

The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman

Publisher: Tor UK

Published: January 2015 

ISBN: 9781447256236

The first installment of an adventure featuring stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies - think Doctor Who with librarian spies!

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case - permanently...

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake. 

My review
The ingredients for a perfect story are there: librarians (my favorites), different worlds, yummie dragons and dangerous missions. So I started this book with high hopes and a lot of expectations.
After about fifty pages, I started to reconsider. The storyline is excellent, Irene is a believable character (got to love strong, independent women with a quick wit), and the mission is exciting. But why I'm I still wondering what I'm reading? Genevieve Cogman has obviously tried to put together a very interesting story. But in all her excitement, she uses a lot of descriptions and a lot of storylines which makes the total book hard to read. Especially the first part. New realities, objects being told in an ancient language to do something and chaos-infected worlds? I'm sorry, but this was too much and too far fetched for me. However, the mysterious Kai kept me wondering and also the chase of the book in alternative Londen started to unfold in the second half of the book. So, after about one hundred pages, I finally started to feel comfortable in the book and actually starting to enjoy myself. What does the detective Vale has to do with the book? And what history is there between Irene and Bradamant, that Irene despises her so?
So when the story is unfolding towards the end of the book, I was compelled to read further. Unfortunately the book ended in a bit of an anti-climax, when the story didn't quite finish. You have to read on in the Masked City for the remaining part of the story. 
So in all, I'm afraid I can't give more than two out of five stars to The Invisible Library. It's kind of like my kitchen skills: although I can use the perfect ingredients, it doesn't mean we will have a five star menu on the table. I can try, but I'm just no chef...