The world had caved in on Amelia Bailey. Literally. Aftershocks from the earthquake still rumbled the gritty earth under her cheek, jarring her out of her hazy micro nap.

Her name was Carly Watson. The final hours of her life were brutal.

“So. Are you going to see him again?"
"Technically, I haven't seen him at all . . ."

“How white is an Irishman's ass?" Eve wondered out loud.
"You should know, darling.”

“Oh thank you, Jesus."
"It's Roarke." He tapped a finger on Eve's head. "You really shouldn't forget your own husband's name.”

“I'm not putting up with this," she continued. "You can't even go out and buy a solar system without worrying I'll fall apart. How are you supposed to get anything done?"
"Actually, I'm not in the market for a solar system right at the moment.”

 “I once stood in a field in Ireland, alone, a little lost, and wishing for you more than I wished for my next breath. And you came, though I never asked you, you came because you knew I needed you. We don't always do what's right, what's good. Not even for each other. But when it counts, down to the core of it, I believe we do exactly that. What's right and good for each other. There's no rule to that. It's just love."
Just love, she thought when he stepped out. She may have been going into her own personal hell to face a killer, but right at that moment she considered herself the luckiest woman in the world.”

 

Author Name: J.D. Robb
ISBN #: 978-0-399-15703-5
Publisher Name: G.P. Putnam Sons/The Penguin Group
Date Released: February 2011
Page Count: 375
Price: $26.95 Retail
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a brutal, senseless crime – an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. And for the first time, Peabody is primary detective on the case, which means she has to get used to a new level of authority and responsibility. Good thing she learned the ropes from a master like Eve.

But after rounding up the perps, Peabody stumbles upon a much trickier situation. Determined to start working out as hard as she grills suspects, she chooses to do it at the old, rarely used gym at Central. After a grueling workout, she squeezes into one of the narrow shower stalls, happy to have the place to herself. Just after she shuts the water off, the gym door clatters open – and while she cringes inside the stall, trying not to make a sound, Peabody overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. References are made to delivering product and a house in the islands, and someone named Keener who’s supposed to look like an OD. It doesn’t take long for a naked and vulnerable Peabody to realize that both officers are crooked – guilty not just of corruption but of murder as well. Fortunately, the two clear out of the locker room without realizing there was a witness.

Eve Dallas may have trained Peabody well – but this is too dangerous for one person to take on alone. Now Peabody, Eve, and her husband, Roarke, must try to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down – knowing all the while that the two have already killed to keep their secret, and are no doubt willing to do it again.

COVER SNARK:
Standard J.D. Robb Cover. So used to them I can’t think anything to snark about. Fits the brand.


FIRST LINES:

The old man lay dead on a scattered pile of candy bars and bubble gum. Cracked tubes of soft drinks, power drinks, sports drinks spilled out of the smashed glass of their cooler in colorful rivers.

FAVORITE LINES:

“Have I missed a national holiday? There must be celebrations in the streets for you to be home at this hour of the day.”

“I’m calling it Summerset Goes Mute Day. The city’s gone mad with joy.”

“Why?” Eve leaned forward. “Sincerely, I’ve always wanted to know why anyone buys multiple pairs of shoes at a time.”

“If I have to explain it, the joy is lost.”

“She thinks you married me for power,” he said as they walked on. “Renee. As that’s what she would’ve done. The power and the money is one in the same to her.”

“She’s wrong. I married you for the sex.”
He grinned. “So sure of that am I that I work diligently to hold up my end of it.”

“I changed your life.” She looked down at the peach they shared. “You changed min. I’m glad of it.” And back into his eyes. “Every day. I’m glad of it. I’d like a pond, and maybe something to sit on so we could watch the creepy, interesting fish.”

“That would suit me very well.”

She linked her arms around his neck, laid her cheek on his. Love finds a way, she thought.

While we know who the villain is from almost the beginning, what I loved is the steps Eve has to take to prove it and the emotional toll that it’s taking on her and those that are close to her. To me, this seemed more realistic, as that is often how real police work is handled, by this I mean gathering enough evidence to prove your case. I thought the emotional angst for Peabody, Commander Whitney, Mira and others provided the perfect emotional backdrop and I loved how Eve supported them. It was nice to see her providing the emotional support to her friends, which you know if you read the series, is a big step up in her emotional development. I also loved the big cat fight in the end. And I loved the support Eve received from those under her command. And yes, I’m still annoyed that Roarke is still involved in Eve’s cases. I think he should stop being the leader of the universe and just work for Eve (yes that was sarcasm).

Overall, I really liked TREACHERY IN DEATH and the In Death series continues to be a must read for me.

WHERE PURCHASED:
Borrowed from my local library.

RATING:

Author Name: J.D. Robb
ISBN #: 978-0-399-15687-8
Publisher Name: G.P. Putnam and Sons/The Penguin Group
Date Released: November 2010
Page Count: 373
Price: $26.95 Retail
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

Attention, she thought. Her killers enjoyed it.

Considered it their due? Possibly. A different matter from the killer who sought attention because on some level he wanted to be caught, wanted to be stopped, even punished.

If it was, as her lone of theory followed, some sort of contest or competition, getting caught wasn't an issues. Winning was – or if not winning, the competition itself.

However, competitions head rules, she concluded. Had to have some sort of structure, and in order to win, someone else had to lose.

How many more rounds of play? She wondered. Was there an endgame.

COVER SNARK:

Typical J.D. Robb Cover

FIRST LINES:

The road was a killer, hardly wider than a decent stream of spit and snaking like a cobra between giant bushes loaded with strange flowers that resembled drops of blood.

FAVORITE LINES:

Testing, she lifted her hips, let them fall. "Oh, for God's sake. We can't do this on a talking bed. Everybody in the house will know what's going on in here."

Enjoying himself, he nuzzled at her throat. "I believe they already suspect we have sex."

"Maybe, but that's different than having the bed yell out, 'Whoopee!"

Was it any wonder he adored her? he thought.

Watching her face, he trailed a finger over her breast. "We'll have quiet, dignified sex."

"If sex is dignified it's not being done right."

"I hear the cock woke you up."

Eve choked on her coffee. "What?"

"Not that kind of cock." Sinead sent a sparkling look over her shoulder. "Though if that's true as well, good for you. I meant the rooster."

"Hell, I'm packed five minutes from now. Do you really think somebody could try to hurt us?"

"Probably not. But I don't take chances with you guys."

"Aw, I love you, too."

"Why is that? Why do we love each other?"

"Because we are what we are, and we're both okay with it."

"Eve, I know this continues to astound and baffle you, but I actually like to socialize."

"I know. If it wasn't for that, you'd be perfect."

"It's Major Ketchup in the bathroom with the laser scalpel."

"Hmm." He sliced a delicately herbed spear of asparagus. "Obviously we were meant for each other as I can interpret that as you meaning something more like Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the candlestick."

And I could go on and on and on. LOL





LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

INDULGENCE IN DEATH is the 31st book in the In Death series and the series is still not old. Other authors try to do this and fail miserably and they even vary up their hero and heroines (cough, cough Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward). But this is La Nora we are talking about. I believe that the reason In Death is still fresh is because we meet Eve and Roarke at the start of their relationship and with each book you see how they develop and grow inside that relationship (some books more than others). While the character development nor the mystery weren't as compelling as in some of the previous releases, INDULGENCE IN DEATH is still a solid entry into the series.

INDULGENCE IN DEATH opens with Eve and Roarke visiting his family in Ireland. Of course Eve on a farm is full of laugh out loud as well as some tender moments as she presents Roarke with his anniversary gift. The gift by the way was totally perfect and I loved it. I loved how this hard woman has slowly developed into this loving, considerate person (but still no nonsense). When they return from vacation, Eve is immediately assigned a homicide. The victims are all shot with hunting or old school weapons and it turns out that the suspects have all had their identities stolen and are made to look like the culprit. (This is not a spoiler as it's immediately ruled out). Eve, the great detective that she is, quickly concludes that this seems to be some type of thrill seeking game and she has her suspects, now all she has to do is prove it.

I liked that Eve was able to narrow on what was going on so quickly but had to work to build her case to prove her theory. That is more in line with the reality of police work in my experience.

MINOR RANT COMING.

Why, why, why is Roarke so involved in Eve's cases. I could understand if there was a lot of high tech computer stuff like it started at first, but now he's involved at every turn. Buddy, you are the leader of the free world, go lead it and stop getting involved in your wife's cases. It is soooooooo not realistic. I know you and Eve are true partners but there has to be other ways of showing this besides you sticking your nose in every, single case she has. That is so freaking annoying, you are so lucky that your Irish and gorgeous.

MINOR RANT IS ENDING. NOW BACK TO MY REVIEW ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

Besides my pet peeve of having Roarke so involved, the mystery of INDULGENCE IN DEATH didn't borther me as it might have some readers, this is because this seemed realistice in my experience. I've also read reviews that were disappointed with the lack of interaction between Eve, Roarke, and the other great characters. After reading the book, I totally didn't get that. That review actually made me hesitate to read INDULGENCE IN DEATH. I need to stop letting reviews make me hesitant to read something, because I usually think the opposite. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LISTEN TO ME BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS RIGHT – LOL. There was great interaction between the characters and I love how Eve is slowly allowing her work and private life to mingle to make her into a fully person. I don't think she'll ever be comfortable, but to see her initiate stuff and make the effort made my day. In previous books it seems as if the stuff was reluctantly thrown at her and her initiating social stuff was the character growth that I loved.

All in all I totally enjoyed INDULGENCE IN DEATH and I just wish that I wasn't so far down on my libraries hold list for next release like I was on this on. I usually am near the top.


WHERE PURCHASED:
Borrowed from my local library.


Rating:

Author Name: Kay Thomas
ISBN #: 978-0-373-69464
Publisher Name: Harlequin Enterprises/Harlequin Intrigue
Date Released: April 2010
Genre: Series/Romantic Suspense
Pages: 216
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

NOTHING COULD INTERFERE WITH HIS ASSIGNMENT – UNTIL SHE STOLE HIS HEART.

Marcus North was an intriguing mystery to the residents of Murphy's Point, Mississippi – especially Cally Burnett, the single mom who ran the B and B where Marcus stayed. But despite the instant attraction that flared between them, Cally couldn't have guessed the secrets Marcus hid, or the way those secrets would come to haunt them both.

Working undercover on a crucial case, Marcus had to keep his identity hidden . . . but his desire to protect the young mother and her son had him putting everything else at risk. Including his career – and his life.

Passion – and desperation – rise as the determined mother and sexy cop come to an uneasy alliance, and everything rides on one deadly night.

COVER SNARK:

Frankly. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cover. It's perfect for the story. The model is rugged, handsome, and believable and no man titty in sight.

FIRST LINES:

Sweat rolled down Marcus's back and sides. The heat was cranked up too high and the room was stifling. To top it off, the tape from his body mike was ripping out hairs every time he moved.

I really loved this book. It was the perfect blend of suspense and romance. I hate when novels have too much suspense and you don't really get a feeling for the romance between the hero and heroine. I love character driven novels. BULLETPROOF BODYGUARD is very character driven, but it is also filled with suspense that kept me turning the pages. I never got bored. Something was happening on every page. Marcus was a great conflicted character and Cally's actions given the situation were realistic, and I believed her 110%


However, I did have a couple questions. These questions stem from my background and didn't distract from the quality of the story or the writing (both which were stellar). However, they were in the back of my mind. I doubt they'd be in yours, but here they are . . .. I didn't get how Marcus who was a police officer in Jackson, MS could be that far out of his jurisdiction on a case. It didn't seem plausible for me since he was not a federal officer. It seemed like he was in a different county than where he usually worked. I couldn't buy into that. While my department's undercover team incorporates officers from the various departments in the area, its scope is still regulated to a specific area. The area inside BULLETPROOF BODYGUARD seemed too large for me. Also, Marcus seemed to be suffering from a major case of burn out. Being an undercover officer in local police departments is not a career, it is an assignment. Like most assignments of that nature there is usually a limit to how long you can be assigned to a division like that to prevent instances of burn out like Marcus has suffered. Of course, I have no clue if other departments employ this action, but it gave me pause.

That was a quirk of mine and like I said, the above questions I had didn't detract from my enjoyment. I'd definitely read this author again. And I'm seriously thinking of purchasing this for ShaNayNay (aka Kindle) so I can have a copy of my own.

WHERE PURCHASED:
Borrowed from my local library.

Rating:
B

ISBN #: 978-0373276936
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises/Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Date Released: September 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Book Format: Print/Series Romance
Pages: 224
Retail Price: $4.99

BACK COVER BLURB:

Ethan O’Brien is run over by a beautiful woman as she emerges from a burning building, children in tow. An arsonist is loose in Aurora, and Ethan plans on stopping him. But the beauty is no victim, oh no. She’s the very investigator assigned to work with Ethan on his arson case. And just his luck, standing near her makes him hot all over.

Kansas Beckett is determined to find the arsonist who’s been torching the city. And she sure doesn’t need the likes of Ethan O’Brien getting in the way. Something about the man spells “trouble.” But when he kisses her, her defenses melt, putting her in distinct danger of losing her heart....

FIRST LINES:

He smelled it before he saw it.

His mind elsewhere, Detective Ethan O'Brien's attention was immediatly captured by the distinct, soul-disturbing smell that swept in, riding the evening breeze.


LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:
For those who do not know in my real life I work in a public safety department. That is to say, I work with men and woman who perform dual roles as police officers as well as firefighters. The officers/firefighters love it because frankly as a result of the dual role they are one of the highest paid officers in the state. The city loves it because it's cheaper than having a separate fire department. And it sucks for me personally because whenever we're hiring we have everyone and their brother trying to apply to become a public safety officer in my department. We are one of the largest consolidated public safety departments in the country. With the way the economy is going a lot of smaller communities are considering adopting our dual model. If I had a dollar for every time I talked to other communities who called my office asking me how our department works in its dual role, I'd be rich.

So, of course I love reading books about police officers and fire fighters but sometimes, as in this instance it is hard for me to suspend disbelief. I was unable to suspend disbelief with CAVANAUGH REUNION to the point where I stopped reading before I got even halfway through the novel. And this is why:

• The total lack of professionalism showed between Ethan and Kansas when they find that they have to work together.

o I totally get having pride in your department. And I totally get rivalry and feeling as if someone is on your turf. Every day I work with people who bitch about something another department has done and how they screwed up something. Yet this is something that they talk about among themselves. They don't sit and b99ch and whine about it when they are working with the person on an important project. That is totally unprofessional. As I'm sitting reading this in the back of my mind I'm thinking of all the general orders they are violating and Kansas and Ethan should've been written up for acting like two whiny brats.

• The subtle gender crap Kansas has to deal with because she is a female. That she doesn't know her job or she has to be hard ass to get respect.

o Umm. It is 2010 people. Sorry that I keep relating this to my job but it's the only way I can explain my strong reactions to this book. We are going through a hiring process now for officers/firefighters. We conducted first round interviews several weeks ago. Our interviews are panel interviews with several members of the department on the panel. During one of these interviews we had a gentleman who walked into the room and greeted everyone on the panel with the exception of the lone woman on the panel. One of the other gentlemen on the panel told the candidate. "Umm, you might want to shake her hand, she's important." The woman whose hand he failed to shake was the head was the union. On another panel (yes there were two panels, like I said everyone and their mother applies to my department), one male candidate would not look at the female member on the panel when he was answering questions (that she asked) but would always look at the males. And this was after she identified herself as an Assistant Chief. Umm, do you think any of those candidates moved forward in the process? Candidates also go through extensive background checks before they are hired, to include family, friends, classmates, everyone. If someone had views where they couldn't work with woman or minorities, it would've been found out and it would've been questionable if they were hired. That is not to say that there aren't jerks in the department. There are, but they are freaking sneaky about it. It's not blatant as to where they can get written up for. People know who they are no matter their level and they know how to work around them.

• A grown man considering changing his name.

o I totally didn’t get the reasoning behind this. I would need some deeper psychological reason. Another personal story. When I was born I had my father's name. When my mother applied for my social security card, she used her maiden name even though she hadn't officially changed my name. They let her get away from it. It was a pain in the butt, all through school because I preferred my mother's name instead of my father's. It was especially when I joined the Army. So I get wanting a new identity, but not when you're freaking 30 something years old. Come on! If there was a reason, it wasn't explained to my satisfaction.

• Lack of chemistry between hero/heroine

o I don't know if it's because of these other issues, but I couldn't get into Ethan and Kansas (who is frankly annoying). Their interactions seemed to be set up like playful banter, but the banter didn't work for me because of the stated reasons.

So I didn't finish. It's hard for me to say if it was because of I couldn't suspend disbelief or the lack of chemistry I felt between the characters.


WHERE PURCHASED:
Copy provided by the Publisher for review.

RATING:
F

Author Name: Jenna Ryan
ISBN #: 9780373745487
Publisher Name: Harlequin Enterprises/Harlequin Intrigue
Date Released: September 2010
Page Count: 224
Price: $5.75
Genre: Series Romantic Suspense
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

Sera Hudson didn't need an invitation to Blue Ridge; she was looking for an escape. The only surviving witness of the Blindfold Killer, Sera wanted to lay low, but when danger found her yet again, she had no choice but to turn to the handsome local sheriff.

Logan may have patrolled a small town, but he had big-city instincts. The object of every woman's desire, he had a soft spot for newcomers and there was no chance he'd allow a murderer free rein over his charge. But he wasn't going to babysit Sera, either. He knew more about her than he let on, and their shared past held clues to the killer's identity. If they could find common ground, then maybe, just maybe, Sera could finally stop running away and see that he was her reason to stay….

COVER SNARK:

Given the snarkiness of Harlequin covers at times, I actually like this one. My only grip is that Logan isn't a cowboy so the cowboy hat is a little misleading.

FIRST LINES:

The dream unfolded piece by resistant piece in Serafina Hudson's sleeping mind.

LAST LINES:

As his mouth came down hungrily on hers, Sera slipped the Sedona rock he'd given to Sig as a child into the pocket of his jeans.

FAVORITE LINES:

As his mouth came down hungrily on hers, Sera slipped the Sedona rock he'd given to Sig as a child into the pocket of his jeans.

LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

Confession: I still read a lot of series romance. My favorite lines are Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Harlequin Intrigue, and Silhouette Desire. I love these books. They are my secret vice. While I can see the umm cheesiest sometimes, I still devour them.

I couldn't devour SHADOW PROTECTOR. Usually I can read a series romance in about a day and a half, it took me almost two weeks to read SHADOW PROTECTOR. I just couldn't get into it.

Usually when I read a series romance I can see that even if it wasn't to my tastes where it fit into the line it was published into. I didn't get that sense with SHADOW PROTECTOR. If you are familiar with the Harlequin/Silhouette lines, while reading SHADOW PROTECTOR if felt like I was reading a Harlequin American romance instead of a suspense novel and the American romance line isn't one of my favorites.

SHADOW PROTECTOR seems more about the quirky characters Sera meets in the town she's hiding away in instead of the suspense (who's trying to kill her) and her relationship with the hero (the local sheriff).

Things I didn't understand.

• Someone is trying to kill her and she is still wanders about all by herself. Despite various attempts made on her she is still wanders around town like she doesn't have a care in the world. VERY, VERY, VERY implausible!

• Sera the heroine is a psychiatrist, yet she acts in a manner that I can only describe as TSTL. One of her best friend's has died, someone keeps trying to grab her, yet she acts in a TSTL manner when the hero tries to protect her. She doesn't need him hovering over her.

• In a brand that is so focused on the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine, there was very little if any interaction and sexual attraction/tension/relationship buildup between Sera and Logan.

• All the quirky characters, some who seem very stereotypical to what you find in small towns, distracted from the developing relationship between Sera and Logan.

• Not sure how to describe it. The plot seemed very disjointed. Like it wasn't meant to be a series romance. As if the writer had written the story to be a single title romantic suspense and had to chop it down to try to make it fit as an Intrigue.

Although the Shadow Protector didn't work for me, I decided to let YOU DECIDE! Want to win a copy of SHADOW PROTECTOR? Look below to figure out how!


CONTEST:

I'm offering up a copy of SHADOW PROTECTOR for you to decide. If you'd like a copy please say ENTER ME in the comments section below so I know you're not just commenting on the review but want to enter the contest as well. I'll be announcing the winner Monday!


WHERE PURCHASED:

Received copy from Publisher for review.

Rating:
E