Cold-Blooded by Lisa Regan

Fourteen years ago, high school track star Sydney Adams was gunned down in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The investigation yielded useless clues, and the case went cold. But homicide detective Augustus Knox never gave up on finding Sydney's killer. Now, retired from the police force and with only months to live, he enlists the help of private investigator Jocelyn Rush to clear the case once and for all.
Armed with little more than a theory as to who murdered Sydney, Jocelyn tries to lure a killer into the open. But unraveling the mystery means facing-off against a cunning psychopath whose ruthlessness knows no bounds. When more bodies start to pile up, Jocelyn has to decide just how far she's willing to go to catch a cold-blooded killer.

Review: I was given an ARC of Cold-Blooded from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
All I can say is wow. I was not able to put this book down it was that good. I have never read anything from Lisa Regan but after reading Cold-Blooded I am definitely going to find more of her books because her books are awesome.
Now for this book. I really don't want to get into it that much because I hate giving spoilers but I will say I loved the characters in this book. Jocelyn and Knox are an unlikely pair who form a very special bond while trying to solve the fourteen year-old cold case murder of a teenager named Sydney before Knox passes away. I liked how their relationship played out throughout the book and what solving the case for Knox started to mean to Jocelyn and her team and friends.
Even though I figured out who was behind the murder early on I had no idea how truly sick in the head the person behind the murder was. It was fascinating as this book unraveled with all the twists and turns of what was going on during the time of the murder and I will leave it at that.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it and am.giving it five out of five stars.  

Falling Hard (Falling Fast #2) by Tina Wainscott

There’s no one Pax Sullivan wants to run into less than Gemma Thornton. Back in high school, she revved his heart more than street racing. But she picked his clean-cut brother over him—only to accuse Blake of an unforgivable crime. Eventually the charges were dropped and Gemma left town, but the hard feelings lingered . . . along with Pax’s gnawing “what-ifs.” Seven years later, just as he quits the police force to open a racetrack, Gemma’s back—and their chemistry is more combustible than ever.
If it were up to her, Gemma would never lay eyes on another Sullivan. She hates them, and they hate her—even Pax, who just so happens to be fixing up her father’s B&B. But the more time she spends with the lean, hard-bodied ex-cop at the inn and on the track, the more Gemma sees that Pax is nothing like his brother. Despite their anguished history, she’s tempted to take their relationship into high gear . . . if she can face the past and risk her heart.

Review: I was given an ARC of Falling Hard from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I loved Falling Hard and I was also very pleased with how it picked up from the first book in the series and kept a bit of the story line going on so the reader was kept up to date with the characters from that book and what happened with them.
Now for Gemma and Pax, they were a perfect couple for each other in this book. I loved Gemma's character and everything she overcame and what a strong woman she was. I also liked Pax and how he was willing to stand up for the woman he loved even if it meant having to prove his brother was able of raping women.
This book was a sweet romance about second chances, overcoming the past and finding out who you really are. Waistcoat has a very well written series going on with these books with engaging characters that a reader starts to think of as friends.
I am giving this book five out of five stars.

Give it Up (Dean Brothers & Friend #1-3) by Lori Foster

Some Like It Hot 
Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. Now he’s out to prove that when it comes to loving her forever, he’s just what the doctor ordered… 
Playing Doctor 
Dr. Axel Dean likes his women with sensual moxie, not virginal innocence. But when Libby Preston won’t take no for an answer, Axel is more than willing to administer the cure… 
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping 
What Booker Dean wants for Christmas isn’t under the tree, it’s right next door. Frances Kennedy is everything Booker desires…and the gift he has planned for her involves a lot of delicious unwrapping…

Review: I was given a copy of Give it Up from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
This book consists of three short novellas that make up the book that is Give it up.
 
The first novella He Sees You When You're Sleeping is Booker and Frances' story. This is a very fast paced novella about two friends that secretly are in love with each other. I enjoyed the story and I will say it was hot.

The second novella is Some Like it Hot and is the story of Cary and Nora. They both are interested in each other but Nora is not as experienced as Cary so he has his work out for him in this novella to prove to her that he is ready to settle down.

The final novella in this book is Playing Doctor and that is Axel and Libby's story. This is sweet and hot at the same time.

This was a great collection of novellas. They all had good stories and were all hot in their own right. I am giving this collection four out of five stars.

Dying to Play by Debra Webb

A baffling series of multiple homicides leaves Atlanta's Deputy Chief of Detectives Elaine Jentzen no choice but to call in FBI agent Trace Callahan. Elaine is aware of Trace's reputation for being as ruthless as the killers he tracks—but she isn't prepared for the immediate and dangerous attraction that ignites between them.
Trace is convinced a serial killer known as the Gamekeeper is behind the deadly sprees. But all the evidence begins to point to Trace—until Elaine discovers a link in the crimes: a computer game with an ominous warning—Trace will be next to die. Now the only way Elaine can save Trace is if she plays the game. But not by the Gamekeeper's rules….

 Review: Dying to Play is a reissue from Debra Webb so it is a book that is new for those of us that missed it the first time around and for those who have already enjoyed it before a chance to get it with a beautiful new cover.
The Gamekeeper, who is the the bad guy in this book, is a timeless character who would fit as perfectly as a killer today as he did when this book was first published so I loved how this book did not feel like it was dated at all like some books that are brought back are. I also loved the matchup of Elaine and Trace. They both balanced each other out very well by complimenting each other's weaknesses and strengths. I also liked how as a reader you could feel the attraction between them.
I thought the mystery of who the Gamekeeper was and who the bad people were was well written in this book. It kept the reader guessing because you are not really sure who to trust besides Elaine.
I am giving Dying to Play five out of five stars.

Now You See Her... (Psychic Visions #8) by Dale Mayer

Tia spent years imprisoned in a 'special' program. When she finally escaped, she ran as far away as she could. But it wouldn't leave her alone. 
Only one person can help her. Stefan. But when she contacts him for help, she gets more than she bargained for. Six weeks later, she awakens from a coma to find more problems than ever – and she's still being hunted.
Dean, moonlighting as a guard at the hospital, finds himself in an impossible situation. His belief system is stretched out of control by someone whom he can't forget ... and can't believe. Until he has no choice.
With everything on the line, Tia and Dean must work together to solve the problem that has somehow – in a very unique way – entwined them both.

 Review: I was given an ARC of Now You See Her from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
This was my first book from Dale Mayer and I was not sure what to expect but after reading this book I can't wait to read more of Mayer's books.
I am usually a bit picky about the paranormal books I read and I was a bit worried about reading a book about a woman who could control energy to the point where she could make herself totally or parts of her disappear but I really wanted to read a Dale Mayer book so I decided to open my mind and give it a try and boy am I glad I did. I love the character of Tia. She had gone through so much in her life so I guess if one was going to have an ability with all she had to deal with, hers fit her perfectly. Then her connection with Dean was perfect and added another dimension to the book and the story that hooked the reader and had the cheering for them.
As for the suspense part that was also well written because the reader really was not sure who was after Tia. There were so many possible things that could have been going on the reader was kept guessing throughout the entire book.
This was a well written book and I am giving it four out of five stars.

Hidden Away (Hearts of Montana) by Jennie Marts

Secrets have a way of revealing themselves….
Right after a fire breaks out in her diner, a phone call changes Cherry Hill’s life. The tragic death of her cousin leaves Cherry sole guardian of her eight-year-old nephew. But the upper crust side of the Hill family deems her unfit and is determined to take Sam away from her. The only one on her side is the sexy sheriff, Taylor Johnson, the man who broke her heart nine years ago when he left town.
Taylor Johnson has sworn to protect the citizens of Broken Falls, but should that extend to a fake engagement to the woman who captured his heart so long ago? It doesn’t take long for his pretend feelings to turn real for both Cherry and her adorable nephew, Sam.
But Cherry’s been hiding a secret from Taylor that could rip this new family apart…

Review: I was given an ARC of Hidden Away from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
Hidden Away was a very good romance book. I found myself laughing out laughing loud in spots with thing the little boy Sam said. He was a delightful character in this book and I absolutely adored him.
As for the adults, Taylor and Cherry, I enjoyed them as well. Cherry was a fun character with a lot spunk that had a lot of great lines. Taylor was more refined but a perfect match for Cherry so he balanced her out.
The storyline was well thought out and interesting. I enjoyed the conflict with the family and the past history between Cherry and Taylor. I am not going into more due to spoilers.
I am giving this book four out of five stars. 

Last Chance Christmas by Joanne Rock

Fashion buyer Shea Walker had a fast track lifestyle until a car accident sidelines her to a painful recovery. Seeking quiet for the holidays, Shea returns to the snowy mountains where she grew up to make peace with her past and spend time with her estranged family. She never expected J.C. Royce–now a hockey star–would return to their hometown, too. Determined to avoid that particular sexy mistake, she’s caught off guard when her first night in town brings them face to face.
Seeing Shea practically fall at his feet is gratifying, until J.C. realizes his proud former friend, who he once thought would become a whole lot more, is truly hurt–and in more ways than she lets on. Lucky for Shea, he’s got a big house just sitting empty and a tree ready to decorate, as she is in no shape to stay by herself. With his bad boy arrogance down to an art form after eight years in the NHL, J.C. is more than a match for feisty Shea. Especially when it comes to her outrageous claim that there was never any chemistry between them…
But when it comes to convincing her to stick around town until the New Year, he just might need a Christmas miracle.

Review: I was given an ARC of Last Chance Christmas from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I really enjoyed this fast paced romance book by Joanne Rock. Shea and J.C. were both engaging characters who were well matched for each other. I liked the fact that they were sweethearts in the past who were given a second chance in this book.
I am going to give this sweet holiday romance four out of five stars.

Secret Santa Baby by Robin Covington

Tessa Stoneman hasn’t been able to get long-time friend and business partner Nicholas Boone out of her head since they shared a single kiss in college. Even when she dated Nicholas’s best friend. Now that she’s giving up her position at GameNerdz to strike out on her own—and now that she’s single—maybe it’s the right time to see if there’s still something between them.
Nicholas knows once Tessa leaves the company she helped found, they might drift apart. Before she starts her own company in the new year, he wants to woo the woman he fell in love with during college. So he poses as her Secret Santa, gifts her with items from the song “Santa Baby,” and plans a big reveal at the company holiday party. But when his best friend wants to rekindle his romance with Tessa, will Nicholas lose his last chance?

Review: I was given a copy of Secret Santa Baby from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
This novella is a reissue. I really enjoyed this very short novella. I loved the characters of Nick and Tessa and the chemistry between them. This was so face paced I really can't say much without ruining the entire story
I am giving this excellent holiday novella five out of five stars.

Dead in Her Tracks (Rogue Winter #2) by Kendra Ellio

On Christmas morning, Solitude, Oregon, unwraps murder…
This wasn’t how Police Chief Zane Duncan expected to spend his first Christmas with fellow officer and girlfriend Stevie Taylor. But when a local motel calls in the discovery of a dead body, the couple’s holiday takes a grim turn. This is the second murder in Solitude within the week, despite the fact that their primary suspect is already in custody. Together, Zane and Stevie must face a disturbing truth—their small town may be harboring two killers.
As their investigation digs deep into the backgrounds of newcomers and longtime residents alike, Zane and Stevie also struggle to adjust to life under the same roof. Even if the stress of homicides and cohabitation don’t bring an end to the couple, the murderer lying in wait just might.

Review: I was given an ARC of Dead in Her Tracks by NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I loved the conclusion of the Rogue Winter Novella series by Miranda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. In this book, the second book in the series, I was so happy it was focused around Stevie and Zane again. I fell in love with that couple in a previous novella so it was nice to have their story move forward in this one. I also enjoyed the plot in this book because I was not really sure who killer was so I kept changing my mind until the very end.
Dead in Her Tracks was another great addition to this series and I am giving it five out of five stars.

Dangerous Games (O’Connor & Kincaid #1) by Tess Diamond

A thirteen year-old girl has been taken - and Special Agent Maggie Kincaid is the only one who can get her back.
When a Senator’s daughter goes missing, every minute counts. The FBI’s best hostage negotiator, Agent Kincaid, knows what it’s like to be a terrified victim. Kidnapped as a child, those memories haunt her every day - and give her an insight into the evil mind behind this deadly crime.
But the Senator’s family has other plans, and have brought in ex-forces security expert Jake O’Connor to oversee negotiations. He’s got secrets of his own, and doesn’t play by the same rule book. With time running out, Maggie and O’Connor will have to overcome their differences to keep this case from ending in tragedy.

Review: I was given an ARC of Dangerous Games from the author for an honest review and this is my review.
Dangerous Games is one of those books that grabs the reader from the start and does not let go until the end. Now with the cliff hanger that the reader was left with this book I usually knock off points but the next book is due out in two weeks so I am not going to hold the suspenseful ending against this author because this is an excellent book and now I can't wait for book two to see what happens next.
I loved Maggie the damaged former FBI negotiator with a lot of baggage who was not sure if she still has what it takes to the job anymore. And Jake the former military guy and now consultant to the higher ups in DC is an interesting guy who adds a little spice to Maggie's well ordered operations. The chemistry between those two is also a very interesting element to the book.
I enjoyed the plot about Kayla's kidnapping and how she is portrayed as a resilient teen. Her father, the Senator, on the other hand is a jerk. I am not going to go further into the plot due to spoilers but I am going to say, read it.
I am giving this new author and her new book, Dangerous Games five out of five stars.