BOOK REVIEW: The Rome Affair by Addison Fox

The Rome Affair (The House of Steele #3)

by Addison Fox (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, 288 pages

Published March 4th 2014 by Harlequin (first published January 1st 2014)

Goodreads synopsis:

Two security experts must work too closely for comfort in Addison Fox's The Rome Affair 

   Jack Andrews has once again snatched a covetable job from the House of Steele. But now that the assignment has gotten complicated, he must call upon the last person he wants to ask for help: Kensington Steele. Jack never flinches at danger, but working side by side with his fascinating, sexy competitor might be more than he can handle. 

   When the assignment brings them to the Italian vineyard of a corrupt diplomat, Kensington vows to keep things professional, even if working as a team fans the flames of their mutual desire. But once a murderer begins stalking them, they realize getting close may be the only way they'll survive….

4 Stars

I have been following this House of Steele series by Harlequin Romantic Suspense for awhile now. This is book three in the series by Addison Fox. House of Steele is a family run security company and the main character, Kensington Steele is the level-headed one of the bunch. She gets a bit miffed when competitor Jack Andrews keeps outbidding her for clients. And when he asks her to help him with the current client he outbid her for, she wonders what the heck is up with this?

She finally relents after much prompting from Jack, whom she has an attraction for that she has not completely owned up to even in her own mind. They travel to Rome and are immediately placed in the fray. They find angry opponents in Italy when looking into the affairs of a diplomat and the recent murder of a vineyard owner. It leads them to being under the gun to find out who is behind the looming conspiracy before they lose their own lives in the process.

I felt this book wasn’t as good as the previous two I had read. I didn’t feel the connection between Jack and Kensington as I did with Fox’s previous characters. But beyond that, I enjoyed this book.

I paid for this book with my own money.

BOOK REVIEW: Cursed by Benedict Jacka

Cursed (Alex Verus #2)

by Benedict Jacka (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, USA Edition, 293 pages

Published May 29th 2012 by Ace (first published January 1st 2012)

Benedict Jacka's acclaimed Alex Verus series continues with Cursed.

Since his second sight made him infamous for defeating powerful dark mages, Alex has been keeping his head down. But now he's discovered the resurgence of a forbidden ritual. Someone is harvesting the life-force of magical creatures—destroying them in the process. And draining humans is next on the agenda. Hired to investigate, Alex realizes that not everyone on the Council wants him delving any deeper. Struggling to distinguish ally from enemy, he finds himself the target of those who would risk their own sanity for power...

4 Stars

Alex Versa is a diviner. He can see multiple versions of the future and where those timelines  might lead. From there he decides which version of reality he wants to take by taking the next step toward that reality. Alex is also smart and quick thinking. He knows when not to dabble in there strange and possibly dangerous areas of life.

Alex gets pulled into a war between people who want to drain magic out of magical creatures. Apparently when you separate a person from his magic, that person dies. Someone is trying to invent a process where the person says intact. 

This book reminded me a lot of the Harry Dresden novels except that Harry is a wizard and Alex a diviner. The book was easy to follow even though I had not read book one in the series. I had picked up this book at Dollar General for either $1 or $3. Either way, I got a lot of bang for my buck. This is definitely an interesting series to follow if you are interested in the fantasy genre. Highly recommend this one, guys.

I paid for this book with my own money.

BOOK REVIEW: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1)

by Laini Taylor (Goodreads Author)

Hardcover, US, 418 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads synopsis:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

   In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

   And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

   Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

   When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

4 Stars

This was my first venture into the fantasy realm and I wasn’t disappointed. I was intrigued by Karou, main character gal, who is an artist. I seemed to be able to relate to her even though I am far from the target market for this type of book. Karou  lives in Prague which was also intriguing to me. I love learning about other cities. She is a collector of teeth for a monster chimera which lives in another dimension. She gains access through these doorways and suddenly her route is cut off by an angel who is triggering memories in her. She is piece by piece discovering who she really is… or was.

This book tends to jump back and forth between Karou in the present and Madrigal ion the past. That part could get a bit confusing. But I was glad I was listening to the audio version of it because that kept me from being so confused. I guess I am a better listener than a reader because the info gained from listening was much greater for me.

I wasn’t too happy with the ending but what did I expect? It was the first book in a three book series. Things must go awry before they can be resolved.

I bought this book with my own money.

BOOK REVIEW: The Unexpected Hero by Rachel Lee

The Unexpected Hero (Conard County & Conard County: The Next Generation #19)

by Rachel Lee

Paperback, 216 pages

Published July 1st 2009 by Harlequin (first published January 1st 2009)

Goodreads synopsis:

Nurse practitioner Kristin Tate had hoped her new job would be a welcome change from her military tragedy--not a chance for Dr. David Marcus to set her vulnerable heart on fire. But there was more to the handsome doctor than his rough, war-hardened exterior suggested, and soon Krissie wondered if she had finally found the love she desperately craved....Until patients started dying and she became a suspect for murder.David knew the beautiful nurse wasn't a killer, and powerful feelings for her threatened his best-laid plans. With evidence mounting, could he help clear Krissie's name before she turned up on someone's fatal list?

4 Stars

It has been awhile since I enjoyed the exploits of a Harlequin Romance but they don’t seem to call to me as much as they used to. I am enthralled by the cozy mystery now.

Kristin Tate is a veteran and starting a new job fresh from a breakup of a dysfunctional relationship. She doesn’t make a good impression on the main doctor on the ER floor, Dr. David Marcus. Then someone on her first day dies under mysterious circumstances and the stigma that started her first day continues as they all think she had something to do with the strange death. Someone is out to prove that Kristin is a killer and they are doing a very good job at it.

This book kept my interest , which has been a challenge for me lately. The plot piqued my interest as I tried to discover whodunit. I enjoyed all the back and forth play between Kristin and David which was the best part of the whole book.

This is definitely a good choice if you love romantic suspense or intrigue. It will keep you guessing until the very end. Definitely an exciting read.

I paid for this book with my own money.

BOOK REVIEW: Undercover in Copper Lake by Marilyn Pappano

Undercover in Copper Lake (Calloway Brothers - Copper Lake #12)

by Marilyn Pappano

Goodreads synopsis:

A past he'd rather forget, a future he secretly longs for… 

   DEA informant Sean Holigan never imagined he'd return to Copper Lake and revisit the ghosts of his past. But bad memories aren't the only thing waiting for him. With their mother in jail, Sean's nieces are in the care of their foster mother, Sophy Marchand. Years and miles haven't erased Sean's high school memories of the young, studious Sophy, but she certainly has grown up. Beautiful and benevolent, Sophy represents a life, and love, Sean longs for—and one of three lives he must protect. Targeted by ruthless killers, Sophy and the girls depend on Sean…almost as badly as he depends on them.

3 Stars

I  struggled to finish this book. I did not find the flow of the text while reading it and it just fell flat for me. As the last third of the book approached, the writer found her groove and that part was so much better than the first two-thirds.

The whole situation surrounding Sean’s past wasn’t quite understandable in the beginning. If it had been more clear, I think I would had an easier time reading this book. Sean’s whole backstory was only revealed near the end. I could not quite figure out why the DEA was so interested in having him come back to his hometown to force his sister to reveal her part in a drug operation that somehow concerned Sean’s boss.

I have a hard time believing Sean wouldn’t have seen through his boss’s false familiarity. The characters were strong and I identified with them during the story but the story itself is what fell flat for me, sorry to say.

Only pick this one up if you are a true Marilyn Pappano fan.

I bought this book with my own money.

BOOK REVIEW: Your Mind is What Your Brain Does for a Living by Steven Jay Fogel / Mark Rosin

Your Mind Is What Your Brain Does for a Living: Learn How to Make It Work for You

by Steven Jay Fogel (Goodreads Author), Mark Rosin

Paperback, 288 pages

Published March 11th 2014 by Greenleaf Book Group Press (first published March 6th 2014)

Goodreads synopsis:

Your default programming—the automatic choices all of us make in life without even noticing—can sabotage you, but you can learn to interrupt your self-defeating behavior and make better choices. Steven J. Fogel shares what scientists have discovered about your ability to “rewire” your brain to act in ways that will make you happier and offers sage advice about how to resolve long-term dysfunctional relationships that are causing you stress, frustration, and pain. Put the past where it belongs—in the past. Be mindful, live in the present, and lead a fulfilling life full of possibilities!

My thoughts: 4 Stars

This is one of those books that you need to read once and then go back and employ all the different exercises. I think that adding a journal with this book would be key. There are a ton of great insights here. It is like a guidebook to life and how to get more out of it. I came away understanding so much more than I thought I would. 

My favorite part was about how we can be a frog in hot water. I know that really applied to me personally. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about  how our brains work for and against us. Definitely a powerhouse book. Check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

BOOK REVIEW: Clock and Dagger by Julianne Holmes

Clock and Dagger (Clock Shop Mystery #2)

by Julianne Holmes

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Published August 2nd 2016 by Berkley

$7.99 on Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Ruth has three days to pull off four events—including the grand reopening of Cog & Sprocket, the clock shop she inherited from her grandfather—so she doesn’t have time for Beckett Green’s nonsense. The competitive owner of a new bookstore, Green seems determined to put other businesses out of business by also carrying their specialty items. He’s trying to steal Ruth’s new watchmaker, Mark Pine, not to mention block her plans to renovate the town clock tower.

Ruth is already all wound up when she’s alarmed to discover Mark’s dead body. As the denizens of Orchard each chime in as to who they think the murderer is, Ruth needs to watch her back as she investigates on her own. Despite the danger, Ruth won’t stop until the killer is behind bars and serving time.

My thoughts: 4.5 Stars

Ruth Clagan is a horologist. Horology is by definition the art or science of measuring time. This makes Ruth somewhat of an expert at clock and watch repair. So, it is no accident that she takes over the shoppe called the Cog & Sprocket for her late grandfather, GT.  Ruth has decided that one of her missions is to refurbish the old clock tower but she is being blocked right and left by a lady on the city board. When the residents are getting ready for a downtown party which includes the reopening of the Cog & Sprocket, one of Ruth’s assistants is found dead with a strange watch located nearby.

I like how the town Sheriff unknowingly becomes somewhat of a foil for Ruth’s budding relationship with shop owner, Ben. I enjoyed all the twists and turns which I won’t get into here because that will just ruin the fun for the rest of you.

Ruth just can’t help but stick her nose into the investigation and ends up helping the Sheriff locate an old conspiracy that was kept hush hush by people close to Ruth.

This was an enjoyable mystery and even though it took me awhile to read it, that had nothing to do with the greatness of the book. That was only due to the business of my schedule. Definitely check this one out. It is the second book in the Clock Shop Mystery series. I am looking forward to checking out book one entitled: Just Killing Time.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.