ARC Review: A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

A Dangerous Collaboration
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Series: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery (Book 4)
Publication: Berkley (March 12, 2019)

Description: A bride mysteriously disappears on her wedding day in the newest Veronica Speedwell adventure by the New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey series.

Lured by the promise of a rare and elusive butterfly, the intrepid Veronica Speedwell is persuaded by Lord Templeton-Vane, the brother of her colleague Stoker, to pose as his fiancée at a house party on a Cornish isle owned by his oldest friend, Malcolm Romilly.

But Veronica soon learns that one question hangs over the party: What happened to Rosamund? Three years ago, Malcolm Romilly’s bride vanished on their wedding day, and no trace of her has ever been found. Now those who were closest to her have gathered, each a possible suspect in her disappearance.

From the poison garden kept by Malcolm’s sister to the high towers of the family castle, the island’s atmosphere is full of shadows, and danger lurks around every corner.

Determined to discover Rosamund’s fate, Veronica and Stoker match wits with a murderer who has already struck once and will not hesitate to kill again.…

My Thoughts: This is the fourth Veronica Speedwell mystery. Veronica and Stoker have been working as colleagues preparing exhibits for Lord Rosemorran's museum from the many collections his family has amassed. But this story story begins with Veronica taking Lady Cordelia and heading off to Madeira for six months. Veronica uses some of her time while she is gone thinking about her relationship with Stoker. She is happy with her friendship with him but doesn't know what happens next. She definitely doesn't want to marry, but believes she's falling in love with him and fearful that declaring it would ruin their friendship and collaboration.

After six months of not hearing from him, Veronica is back in London to a changed Stoker. There is a coldness to him that wasn't present before she left. Before she can do something to bring about a thaw, Lord Templeton-Vane, Stoker's eldest brother Tiberius, comes to Veronica with a proposal. He would like her to accompany him to the Cornish island which is the home of his eldest friend. He seduces her with promises of a rare butterfly that she can add to the vivarium she is creating for Lord Rosemorran. He also says that Stoker is not invited.

As they arrive, Tiberius indicates that he has told his old friend Malcolm Romilly that Veronica is his affianced wife telling her that it is because of Malcolm's religious beliefs. To no one's great surprise, Stoker is waiting for them as they disembark from the train having invited himself along.

When they arrive at the island, Stoker and Veronica discover a mystery. Three years earlier Malcolm's new bride disappears on her wedding day. No one has seen Rosamund since. Veronica is curious to know what happened to the missing bride and begins her investigation.

There are quite an assortment of suspects. From Malcolm's sister Mertensia who is a devoted gardener who takes special pride in her poison garden to Malcolm's brother's widow and son to the devoted housekeeper who raised them all to Lord Templeton-Vane himself, suspects abound and so do motives. And, while the investigation proceeds, Veronica is still dealing with her relationship with Stoker.

I loved the setting of this story - an isolated island steeped in history and the stories of mermaids and piskies and all manner of creature. I love Veronica's personality. She is a Victorian free spirit who doesn't care about her reputation and the social mores of the day. She is bright, abrasive, and particularly guarded in her emotions. Stoker is also a wonderful character and a perfect partner for her. I liked getting to know Tiberius better as we learn more about his past and the choices that have formed him.

This was a wonderful addition to an excellent series. I can't wait for more adventures.

Favorite Quote:

He fell silent a long moment, and I would have given a piece of my soul to have known his thoughts. My own were so disordered, I could not trust myself to speak. It was the smell of him, I thought idly. Whenever he was near, I detected leather and honey and something more— unplaceable but fresh and sharp like the wind off the sea.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

Scandal Above Stairs
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: A Below Stairs Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Berkley (July 3, 2018)

Description: A mystery of stolen antiquities has Kat Holloway setting aside her apron once again for the intrigues of the upper echelons of Victorian London

Priceless artwork has gone missing from the home of a wealthy baronet, and his wife stands to take the blame. When Kat's employer asks for help in clearing her friend's name, Kat trades her kitchen for the homes of Mayfair's wealthiest families. Soon antiques are disappearing not only from the extravagant households of connoisseurs and collectors, but from the illustrious British Museum.

As the thefts increase in frequency, Kat calls upon her friend Daniel McAdam, who has already set himself up in a pawnshop on the Strand as a seedy receiver of stolen goods. When a man is murdered in the shop, Kat must use all of her wits to see that the thieves are caught and justice is done.

My Thoughts: Kat Holloway has to leave her kitchen and solve another mystery when Lady Cynthia asks her to help a friend clear her name when her husband is accusing her of stealing valuable paintings to pay off her gambling debts.

It doesn't take long for Kat to find out what actually happened to the paintings but that just begins her investigation. Her friend Daniel McAdam, who has been away for a couple of months without a word, has set himself up in a pawnshop as a receiver of stolen goods. Kat just happens to visit him when one of the criminals who want to sell the goods comes into the shop. Daniel hides her in a back room but she manages to hear some things which raise questions.

Daniel tells her that he is investigating the theft of Greek antiquities from back rooms of British museums. When Kat realizes that there have been a number of thefts of antiquities among upper class families, she decides to help Daniel out by investigating below stairs while Lady Cynthia and Daniel's friend Mr. Thanos handles the above stairs part of the investigations.

Meanwhile, at home, Daniel has sent a young woman named Tess to be trained up as Kat's new kitchen assistant. Tess is bright and a quick learner but she has some secrets of her own which add an interesting plot twist.

I enjoy the setting of the Kat Holloway mysteries. Victorian England is shown from the point of view of someone who works for the upper classes but isn't a member herself. Kat is a fascinating woman who has made a good career for herself as a cook which is a big jump in social class from her beginnings. She is a kind woman who helps those who need help and who is very loyal to her friends. She is also quite bright and observant. Daniel McAdam is still a man of mystery but at least some of the secrets of his past are finally being shared with Kat. I'm still really curious about who his mysterious employer is.

This was a great historical mystery and I look forward to reading more about Kat and Daniel.

Favorite Quote:

I’d tried to tell the silly girl that looking after a husband was far more difficult than being in service ever would be. Husbands didn’t pay wages, for one thing, and you never got any days out. Asking for extra pin money or an hour to oneself could send a husband into a towering rage and earn a wife a trip to the doctor, both to have her bruises seen to and so the doctor could assess whether there was something wrong with the woman’s mind. A true wife was a sacrificing angel who asked nothing for herself.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

May 1881

The clatter of crockery on the flagstone floor broke my heart. I knew without turning that it was my platter of whole roast pig, the crowning glory of the vast meal I’d spent days creating for the supper party above stairs in this grand Mayfair house.

Friday 56:

“He is not my Mr. Thanos,” I said stiffly. “And he is quite a different sort of person than Sir Evan Godfrey. You know this. Mr. Thanos is a kind man, if a bit featherheaded about ordinary life.”

Cynthia waved this away, though her cheeks grew pink. “Oh, he’s all right. Don’t take offense. But men do become titillated at the thought of females in gentlemen’s  clothing— do not tell me they do not.”

This week I am spotlighting Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley. I got this review copy from Penguin's First to Read program. It is the sequel to last year's Death Below Stairs. Here is the description from Amazon:

A mystery of stolen antiquities has Kat Holloway setting aside her apron once again for the intrigues of the upper echelons of Victorian London

Priceless artwork has gone missing from the home of a wealthy baronet, and his wife stands to take the blame. When Kat's employer asks for help in clearing her friend's name, Kat trades her kitchen for the homes of Mayfair's wealthiest families. Soon antiques are disappearing not only from the extravagant households of connoisseurs and collectors, but from the illustrious British Museum.

As the thefts increase in frequency, Kat calls upon her friend Daniel McAdam, who has already set himself up in a pawnshop on the Strand as a seedy receiver of stolen goods. When a man is murdered in the shop, Kat must use all of her wits to see that the thieves are caught and justice is done.

ARC Review: Ocean Light by Nalini Singh

Ocean Light
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity
Publication: Berkley (June 12, 2018)

Description: Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment--taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling...

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine...

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back--even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy...

My Thoughts: This second book of the Psy-Changeling Trinity series concentrates on Bowen Knight who is in charge of the Human Alliance. The story begins with him becoming conscious and in the care of underwater changelings. Dr. Atalina Kahananui might have a way to keep the chip in his head that protects him from Psy mind invasion from going bad and killing him. The only problem is that there is a 95% chance that her procedure will leave him brain dead.

Kaia Luna is helping her cousin Atie but her main job is being a chef. She delights in feeding all of her clanmates and taking care of them. She also becomes interested in Bo and Bo is equally intrigued by her. But, besides the medical timebomb that might take them from each other, the fragile peace between the Alliance and BlackSea is being tested. Isolated members of BlackSea are going missing and the clues lead to the Alliance.

One of Kaia's childhood friends named Hugo is the latest to disappear.  Before he disappeared, he gave Kaia evidence that the Alliance was behind the disappearances. This immediately causes Kaia to mistrust Bowen which throws a crimp in their romance. Meanwhile, Bowen wants to clean his own house and make sure that there are no traitors in his organization while he is still in his right mind.

Both Kaia and Bo had childhood traumas that have impacts on their relationship too. Kaia fears the land and blames humans for the death of her parents when she was seven. And Bo was assaulted and mind raped by a Psy when he was a boy which has made him distrustful of telepaths. What they have in common is stronger than their differences though. Both are honorable and loyal and willing to do anything for their people.

This was a great romance and an engaging mystery too. I liked the way Bo and BlackSea worked together to track down their various traitors. I loved getting to know more about BlackSea whose changelings have made some appearances in earlier stories and finding out more about their world. I liked the focus on Bo and the ties he was trying to build with the changelings and even with Kaleb Krychek.

Favorite Quote:

“Bridges are built over thin air. Someone must lay the first plank, the first brick, take the risk.”

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh.

Silver Silence
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trilogy
Publication: Berkley (June 13, 2017)

Description: New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her extraordinary Psy-Changeling world with a story of wild passion and darkest betrayal...

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that's exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence--her mind clear of all emotion--Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That's what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious...and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed...

My Thoughts: This book is the first of a new trilogy that takes place after an alliance has been formed between the Psy, Changelings, and humans. It is currently a shaky alliance because the humans don't trust the Psy. They have years of memories of Psy abuse to get over. It also doesn't help because a secret group is determined to bring down the new, shaky alliance. Silver Mercant is in charge of a worldwide emergency response network and coordinates aide from all three groups. She is very busy because of both natural disasters and terroristic attacks. She is also both intrigued and bewildered by Valentin Nikolaev who is the alpha of the StoneWater bears and who is determined to court her.

Luckily, he is present when an assassination attempt is made on Silver. His quick thinking lets her survive the attack. Until her assassin can be tracked down, she takes refuge with the StoneWater clan which Valentin considers a positive step in his courtship. But Silver is Silent and believes that Silence is the only thing keeping her from going insane. Any kind of relationship with Valentin threatens her life. Unfortunately, her shields are crumbling and she sees insanity approaching.

I enjoyed this story. I liked that we had the viewpoint of the leader of the Human Alliance and the viewpoint of the terrorist who wants to bring it down along with Silver and Valentin's viewpoint. I loved the brief glimpses of some favorite characters from earlier books in the Psy-Changeling series. And I loved getting to know the bears. Wolves and cats are great, but ... bears! This book had great romance, some humor, and lots of intrigue.

Favorite Quote:

A glance up, Ena’s expression impossible to read. “Brash and astute. An unexpected combination.”

Valentin shrugged. “Element of surprise.” Many people took the bear‑ish approach to life as evidence that bears were dense and unintelligent. Bears made no effort whatsoever to dissuade the idiots.

I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Author: Amanda Quick
Publication: Berkley (May 9, 2017)

Description: Amanda Quick, the bestselling author of ’Til Death Do Us Part, transports readers to 1930s California, where glamour and seduction spawn a multitude of sins…

When Hollywood moguls and stars want privacy, they head to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every need. It’s where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool…

The dead woman had a red-hot secret about up-and-coming leading man Nick Tremayne, a scoop that Irene couldn’t resist—especially since she’s just a rookie at a third-rate gossip rag. But now Irene’s investigation into the drowning threatens to tear down the wall of illusion that is so deftly built around the famous actor, and there are powerful men willing to do anything to protect their investment.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician—until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago…

With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under…

My Thoughts: Personal Assistant Anna Harris discovers her murdered boss one evening and takes the warning her boss wrote in blood - Run - as very good advice. When she goes to her stash of cash, she discovers that her boss had added more cash and a notebook written in code to it.

It's the 1930s and many people are reinventing themselves in Los Angeles, California. Anna - now Irene Glasson - has traded in her secretarial skills and now works as a reporter for a Hollywood gossip paper. When her mentor is found drowned in her bathtub, Irene is determined to investigate. Her investigation leads her to the Burning Cove Hotel which caters to the rich and famous. Many actors and actresses go there and are protected from unwanted publicity. When Irene arrives, budding actress Gloria Maitland is floating dead in the hotel pool and Irene hears stealthy footsteps coming her way. Irene's immediate thought is that Gloria's former boyfriend Nick Tremayne is involved.

Oliver Ward is the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel. He was a former stage magician but a magic trick gone wrong has left him with a permanent limp and the need for a new career. He is determined to discover who is killing guests at his hotel and is eager to team up with Irene. The two are attracted but neither is quick to trust. The two begin their investigation and have to deal with still another mysterious death which almost caused the deaths of the pair of them.

There are a variety of suspects including a deluded fan of Nick Tremayne who wants to help him out when it looks like he might be accused of murder. Then there is the man who killed Irene's boss and who really needs the notebook that came to California with her. Also throwing their weight around are movie studio fixers who will do anything to protect the reputation of Nick Tremayne.

This was an engaging story with interesting characters. Irene was smart, independent, and a modern woman. Oliver was a nicely mysterious hero. I liked the romance that developed between Irene and Oliver. I liked the time period and setting. Hollywood in the 1930s was a fascinating time period.

Favorite Quote:

There was no point in arguing with him. She had agreed to the partnership. Besides, she had to admit that there was a great deal to be said for having him in her corner. He was both mysterious and intimidating. She knew that Tremayne had not been oblivious to the impact Oliver made.

The problem, she thought, was that she wasn’t accustomed to having anyone else in her corner, least of all a man like Oliver. She wasn’t sure what to do with him.

I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

The abstract painting on the bedroom wall was new. It had been painted in fresh blood.

This week I am reading The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick. I am a long-time fan of the author no matter what name she uses. I was excited to get this DRC from First to Read. Here is the description from Amazon:

Amanda Quick, the bestselling author of ’Til Death Do Us Part, transports readers to 1930s California, where glamour and seduction spawn a multitude of sins…

When Hollywood moguls and stars want privacy, they head to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every need. It’s where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool…

The dead woman had a red-hot secret about up-and-coming leading man Nick Tremayne, a scoop that Irene couldn’t resist—especially since she’s just a rookie at a third-rate gossip rag. But now Irene’s investigation into the drowning threatens to tear down the wall of illusion that is so deftly built around the famous actor, and there are powerful men willing to do anything to protect their investment.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician—until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago…

With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under…

ARC Review: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

When All the Girls Have Gone
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Publication: Berkley (November 29, 2016)

Description: Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth...

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished. 

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.  

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...

My Thoughts: Krentz's latest romantic suspense title pairs a struggling PI named Max Cutler and a woman who works in a retirement community. Charlotte has recently been jilted by her fiance five days before their scheduled wedding.

They meet when Charlotte picks up her vacationing stepsister Jocelyn's mail and finds a note from her sister's best friend and fellow member of their investment club. When Charlotte tries to contact the friend, she learns that she has died, the apparent victim of a drug overdose. Charlotte decides to go to the friend's - Louise's - home to pick up some papers that she wanted Jocelyn to have.

Max Cutler has been hired by Louise's cousin who doesn't believe that his cousin was using drugs. Max has relocated to the West Coast after some issues with his previous job as a profiler. He is obsessed with trying to find a villain from his childhood. His mother got involved in a cult and, when the cult fell apart, the leader set off a series of explosions. His mother died but he and eight other children were rescued by a local police officer. Most of the kids were reunited with relatives but Max and two other boys were orphans. They were raised by the cop who became their foster father. The question of what became of the cult leader has haunted Max ever since.

When Charlotte and Max try to contact her sister Jocelyn, they learn that she is not where she said she would be. Max and Charlotte partner up to try to find her. Meanwhile, the other members of her sister's investment club are also receiving threats. Max and Charlotte also find themselves barely surviving an attempted murder.

I enjoyed this story. I liked that both Max and Charlotte had similar characters. Neither is looking for a new relationship but something just clicks when they meet. She has an unwavering faith in him and an innate understanding of him. He also feels comfortable sharing things about his past with her that he hasn't shared before.

This is a great story with a couple of nice twists along the way.

Favorite Quote:

His dark hair was cut short with military‑style precision. The style suited the rock‑hard planes and angles of his face. It was impossible to read his gold‑and‑brown eyes.

Not the handsomest man in Seattle—not by a long stretch, she thought. But probably the one most likely to survive if he went into the gladiators’ ring to confront the  best‑looking guy.

I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

“That’s none of your business,” she said, going for cool and determined. “At least, not until I know more about you.”

“I told you, I’m working for Daniel Flint, the cousin of the deceased.” Max took a phone out of his pocket and keyed in a number. “I’ll let you confirm that with him.”

This week my teaser comes from the latest Romantic Suspense title by one of my favorite authors - When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz. Here is the description from Amazon:

Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth...

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished. 

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.  

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...

ARC Review: A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

A Study in Scarlet Women
Author: Sherry Thomas
Series: The Lady Sherlock Series (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley (October 18, 2016)

Description: USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas turns the story of the renowned Sherlock Holmes upside down…

With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society.  But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.

When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her. But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.

My Thoughts: A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN is a vastly re-imagined version of Sherlock Holmes. In this case, Sherlock is actually Charlotte Holmes, the youngest daughter of a gentleman and is wife. She is something of a favorite of her father in that he is amused by her eccentricities  but not enough of a favorite that he feels obligated to keep his word to her. Having expressed her desire to never marry, he agreed to send her to school and finance her quest to become a school mistress when she turned 25. However, when that date came, he reneged and left Charlotte to do something outrageous to take herself off the marriage market. She is caught in flagrante delicto with a married man which ruins her reputation and would have caused her parents to send her away to their country home if she hadn't decided to run away first.

Previously, to relieve some of her boredom and to exercise her talents and high intelligence, Charlotte had worked through a friend to offer the police insights on certain crimes. Her friend is Lord Ingram Ashburton who happens to be the only man she has ever kissed. Unfortunately, he has entered into a society marriage and is the father of two young children. Even though he and his wife are living a sham of a marriage, his morals don't allow for him to take Charlotte as his mistress which she would like. They have developed a strong friendship though. When she runs away to London, he keeps an eye on her and engineers a meeting with a former member of the demimonde, actress and widow Mrs. John Watson. Mrs. Watson takes Charlotte in as a companion and encourages her to set herself up as a consulting detective.

There are three interconnected crimes that she is working on. The first is the suspicious death of a man who lived a reclusive life but who was connected to society, the second is of another young woman who was also a member of society, and the third was the death of the mother of the young married man who compromised Charlotte. The cases are nicely tricky and provide quite a challenge for Charlotte.

There are many parallels to the original Sherlock Holmes stories with Charlotte as Sherlock, Mrs. Watson playing Dr. Watson as a companion and sounding board. There is even a Mycroft Holmes equivalent in Lord Ingram's older brother Lord Bancroft. The police contact is Inspector Robert Treadles of the Metropolitan Police. What I found particularly interesting was the way the author managed to infuse each of the characters with beliefs of the day and make them each - with the exception of the shadowy Lord Bancroft - well-rounded and fully developed people. This story is firmly set in Victorian England and the characters really act as Victorians.

This was a page turner of a mystery for me. I wanted to know who committed the crimes and why. I also wanted to know that Charlotte would finally find a place for herself that let her use her talents to the fullest. I hope that Charlotte has many further adventures.

Favorite Quote:

It was after a fair bit of practice and no shortage of awkwardness that she at last grasped the point of all that persiflage, which was merely to avoid the silence of people having nothing to say to one another.

The uncomfortable silence, in other words. But since there was no such thing as an uncomfortable silence for Charlotte, it was as difficult for her to understand as it was for a man with vertigo to master the Viennese polka.

I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

“ I—” Livia decided she had better shut up before she blurted out that she could scarcely have wondered whether Charlotte was kissing boys when she had  half suspected Charlotte had been sent from Mars to investigate the cultural observances of Earthlings. “How did it happen? Did it take you by surprise?”

“Not at all. I set it in motion.”

This week I am reading A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas. I got this eARC through Penguin's First to Read program. Here is the description from Amazon:

USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas turns the story of the renowned Sherlock Holmes upside down…

With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society.  But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.

When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her. But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.

ARC Review: Otherworld Chills by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Chills
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: An Otherworld Novel
Publication: Plume (October 4, 2016)

Description: Embrace the obscure. In the final installment of the Otherworld anthology series, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong once again opens the gates to the Otherworld. This collection of rare and never-before-published novellas and short stories brings the clever wit, dark twists, and intense suspense Otherworld readers have come to expect. Favorite characters return, secrets are revealed, and several important storylines reach their conclusions.

My Thoughts: This anthology contains Brazen, Chaotic, Amityville Horrible, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, Off-Duty Angel, The Puppy Plan, and Baby Boom.

Brazen gives Nick a chance to shine. Chaotic chronicles Hope and Karl's first meeting. Amityville Horrible stars Jaime with a guest appearance by Jeremy. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word stars Zoe Takano and Cassandra DuCharme. Off-Duty Angel has Eve fighting boredom. The Puppy Plan stars Logan and includes also Kate and their parents. Baby Boom stars Paige and Lucas with Savanah and Adam making guest appearances.

What I especially liked about this anthology was that most of the stories were longer - almost short novel length. I also like to have the convenience of this collection which gathers together stories that had appeared in a variety of publications.

It is always good to revisit the Otherworld and its characters. These stories helped fill in the gaps and bring closure to many characters and plot threads.

Favorite Quote:

In the movies, ventilation shafts are the escape route of choice for heroes trapped in industrial buildings. They’re clean and roomy and soundproof, and will take you anywhere you want to go, like a Habitrail system for the beleaguered protagonist on the run.

I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Obsession by Nora Roberts

The Obsession
Author: Nora Roberts
Publication: Berkley (April 12, 2016)

Description: “She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.”

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

My Thoughts: Eleven-year-old Naomi Bowes followed her father into the woods one late night and walked into a nightmare. Her father had a young woman locked in an underground cellar beside a burnt out cabin. He had raped her and tortured her and would have killed her like he had killed countless others before her if Noami hadn't rescued her and taken her to the sheriff.

That act of courage changed Naomi's life. She and her brother and her mother became almost as notorious as her father. They couldn't escape the media frenzy until her mother's gay brother and his husband swooped in to rescue them. They moved first to Washington, DC, and than later to New York City. Each time Bowes wanted something from prison, the media frenzy kicked in again, and the family moved again. Naomi's mother couldn't deal with the situation and took her own life when Naomi was in high school. Naomi and her brother Mason changed their name to Carson which was their mother's maiden name. But determined reporters kept finding them ... when the tell-all book came out, when the movie was released...

Naomi grew up to become a photographer who traveled almost constantly. She didn't set down any roots or let anyone into her life except her brother and her uncles. But then she arrived in Sunrise Cove on the West Coast and fell in love with an old house that needed major renovation, very reluctantly found herself adopting an abandoned dog, and found a man to love too. Xander Keaton was born and raised in Sunrise Cove, owned his own garage, played in a bar band, and wouldn't let Naomi keep him at a distance.

Only, though Naomi didn't know it, she had attracted a stalker who had followed her to Sunrise Cove and who committed a couple of murders that were eerily like those committed by her father. Her first instinct was to run because that was what she was used to doing. Xander convinced her to make a stand and try to end the problem once and for all.

I loved this story. The relationship between Naomi and Xander was so well written. Neither one of them was looking for love but love had a way of finding them. I loved watching Naomi become part of the Sunrise Cove community and make some good friends. I think that this building of community and connections is a hallmark of Nora Roberts' writing and it is done very well here.

Fans of romantic suspense and Nora's fans won't want to miss this excellent story.

Favorite Quote:

He’d walked up the steps with lilacs in a blue pitcher, set them down unceremoniously. Stolen flowers in an old pitcher, carried in big, callused hands.

And she’d fallen in love.

It couldn’t be that fast. It couldn’t be that simple. It couldn’t be.

I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

She didn’t know what woke her, and no matter how many times she relived that night, no matter where the nightmare chased her, she never would.

Friday 56:

“And therapists,” Seth continued, “but we have good recommendations there.”

“I don’t need to go anymore. I don’t,” Naomi insisted. “I’d say if I did. If this is a new place and all that, I can be new, too. I want to cut my hair.”

“Oh, Naomi,” Susan said.“I want to. I don’t want to look like the girl they’ve been taking pictures of. I can do it myself.”

This week I am spotlighting The Obsession by Nora Roberts. I got this review copy from Penguin's First to Read program. Here is the description from Amazon:

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.”

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

ARC Review: Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

Stars of Fortune
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Guardians Trilogy (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley (November 3, 2015)

Description: To celebrate the rise of their new queen, three goddesses of the moon created three stars, one of fire, one of ice, one of water. But then they fell from the sky, putting the fate of all worlds in danger. And now three women and three men join forces to pick up the pieces…

Sasha Riggs is a reclusive artist, haunted by dreams and nightmares that she turns into extraordinary paintings. Her visions lead her to the Greek island of Corfu, where five others have been lured to seek the fire star. Sasha recognizes them, because she has drawn them: a magician, an archaeologist, a wanderer, a fighter, a loner. All on a quest. All with secrets.

Sasha is the one who holds them together—the seer. And in the magician, Bran Killian, she sees a man of immense power and compassion. As Sasha struggles with her rare ability, Bran is there to support her, challenge her, and believe in her.

But Sasha and Bran are just two of the six. And they all must all work together as a team to find the fire star in a cradle of land beneath the sea. Over their every attempt at trust, unity, and love, a dark threat looms. And it seeks to corrupt everything that stands in its way of possessing the stars…

My Thoughts: This is the first book in a new trilogy. So the first thing we have to do is set the problem: Three goddesses are preparing gifts for a new queen when a rival goddess decides that the gifts should be hers leading the three to hide the gifts until they can be safely recovered.

Then we need characters:

*Sasha Riggs is an artist and a seer who has been dreaming of death and battle and five people who will be in this adventure with her. She is solitary by choice.

She believed in true  love—  for others. She’d never sought it for herself, as love demanded so much, brought such chaos into a life. So much feeling.

*Riley Gwin is an archaeologist and adventurer who searches for lost myths and legends. She is brash and brave and has two doctorates. She also has quite a secret.

*Bran Killian is a magician who owns clubs in Ireland and New York. He and his family have been searching for the lost treasures hidden by the goddesses for years. He also has secrets.

*Sawyer King is an American who is also searching for the same lost treasure. Like Bran, finding the stars has been a mission in his family for generations. He is a fan of pop culture and enjoys trading quotes from Star Trek, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc. with Riley. Of course, he also has secrets.

*Annika Waters is a beautiful woman who joins them in Corfu and asks to be allowed to help them find the stars. She seems unfamiliar with daily life and with English. She, too, has a secret.

*Doyle McCleary is a soldier and a swordsman who is also looking for the stars. He also has an amazing secret.

The setting of this story is Corfu and it is beautifully described through the eyes of artist Sasha. The first thing this disparate band of people have to do is form a team. They need to share their secrets and combine their skills so that the goddess Nerezza cannot defeat them.

The romance is between Sasha and Bran. I loved the way the two interacted and gradually came to trust each other. For Sasha, the issue is her lack of confidence in her abilities and her lack of acceptance of her own power of empathy. She has spent her life denying her visions and her gifts. It takes a lot of reassurance from Bran.

The group faces a lot of adventures on their hunt for the first star. Nerezza has all sorts of evil minions that she tosses at the group.

This novel has all of Roberts' signatures: a strong group of friends, beautiful descriptions, and a romance written in the stars. I can't wait to see what happens in the next two books. Although, I'll admit that I am not at all sure how the other four characters will divide into couples for their own romances. It seems like there are a lot of problems ahead for the romances. And Nerezza hasn't given up. She will be providing our characters with lots more challenges.

Nora Roberts fans and fans of paranormal romances won't want to miss this gorgeous start to a new trilogy.

Favorite Quote:

"Can we take a minute?” Sawyer asked. “To just lay this out. We’ve got a witch, a seer, a  werewolf—I like the word, okay?” he said with a laugh before Riley could growl at him. “A mermaid, an immortal, and a time and space traveler. Think about it. We’re like the freaking Avengers. That bitch-goddess is going to lose, big time.”

I got the eARC of this book for review from Penguin First to Read. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Deceptions
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Cainsville (Book 3)
Publication: Dutton (August 18, 2015)

Description: Olivia Taylor Jones’s life has exploded. She’s discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town’s mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.

Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Cainsville series. In it Olivia learns a lot more about her past. She is also learning about what the fae want from her. Being Olivia, she isn't going to give it to them unless it is what she wants too.

This story begins with a phone call from James who is Olivia's former fiance and her current stalker. Both Gabriel and Ricky have tried all they can to get him to stop harassing Olivia but nothing has worked. Olivia can't understand how the man she loved enough to accept a marriage proposal from could ever become the person he is now.

Meanwhile, Gabriel and Olivia are still working on getting her birth parents out of prison. They have already proven that they didn't commit one of the murders that they were convicted for. They are still pursuing leads that have grown cold in the twenty-two years since they were convicted. Olivia finally gets to meet her father in prison which is a very traumatic experience for her.

Olivia is also having visions of the past which are providing her with at least as many questions as answers. The fae are telling her that she, Gabriel and Ricky are reliving an old story and her choices could determine the fate of the fae.

I like Olivia a lot. As Rose's tarot card reading tells us, she is bright, perceptive, intuitive and independent and sometimes cold-hearted, critical and cynical. I like that she knows what she wants out of life and isn't going to let anyone push her around. I also like Ricky who is a perfect romantic partner for her.

I love Gabriel who is such a heart-breaking character. As a child he suffered both abuse and neglect at the hands of his drug-addicted mother. It has made him into an adult who is very protective of what he has. He can't touch and has no emotional intuition. He is very private and isn't going to risk his heart with anyone. He knows this about himself but has no way to change. I like that Olivia also knows who he is and is determined to be his friend no matter how hard it is.

While this book has a satisfying conclusion, I am glad that the author has already sold books four and five in this series. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Favorite Quote:

"This is how it begins. With two boys and a girl, back before Romans set their filthy boots on our shores. The Tylwyth Teg and the Cˆwn Annwn are the two sides of fae—light and dark. Light is not good nor dark evil."

I got this eARC through Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

When I first met Ricky, I thought he looked like Hollywood's version of a biker. Six feet, well-built, tousled blond hair to his collar,  hazel eyes, and a cleft chin when he shaved.

This week my teaser comes from the eARC of Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong. This is the third book in her Cainsville series and I got the ARC from Penguin's First to Read program. Here is the description:

Olivia Taylor Jones’s life has exploded. She’s discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town’s mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.

Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?

ARC Review: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Nights
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publication: Plume (October 28, 2014)

Description: Rare and never-before published short stories featuring fan favorites from the New York Times bestselling series

It’s been more than ten years since Kelley Armstrong began the Otherworld series and drew legions of fans to a realm roamed by witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons. Many of the novels have become bestselling favorites, but not all of the Otherworld adventures have been easy to find. At last, Otherworld Nights shares short stories that have previously been available only online or in obscure collections. Fans have long been clamoring for this anthology and they won’t be disappointed—they’ll find plenty of surprises are in store.

My Thoughts: This is the first of three anthologies of rare and never-before published short stories and novellas. The focus of this anthology is love. The stories included are "Demonology," "Twilight," "Stalked," "Chivalrous," "Lucifer's Daughter," "Hidden," "From Russia, with Love," and "Vanishing Act."

All of the stories were entertaining. I liked learning about Reese's background in "Chivalrous" which was a story that I had never read before. Nor had I read "Twilight" which was a Cassandra story. Being a new story, "Vanishing Act" which was an Adam and Savannah story that takes place after Thirteen extended the scope of the world. I had been curious about what would happen for Savannah and am satisfied with the way this story went.

It is nice to be able to get these various stories assembled into a more easily obtainable format. The only thing that I would have found more useful would have been a timeline. A chronology of the stories and the novels would have helped me fit them into the whole world better.

Fans of the Women of the Otherworld series will definitely want to own this collection whether or not they had previously managed to locate and read these stories.

Favorite Quote:

Nelson dropped to one knee. "I am yours, mistress. I live to serve you. To worship you."

"Guess that demon soul isn't in the monkey anymore," Karl murmured.

"You don't think I'm worthy of worship?" I said. "Maybe—"

Demon Nelson started licking my shins.

Karl turned to me. "You were saying?"

"Never mind. You're going to need to disable him. Just don't—"

I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

When you've lost everyone, you learn the danger of attachments. As a vampire, you must accept that every person you ever know will die, and you are the only constant in your life, the only person you can - and should - rely on.

My first thought when I read this passage was how lonely that life must be.

This week my teaser comes from Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong. I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program for review. It was released on October 28. Here is the description:

Rare and never-before published short stories featuring fan favorites from the New York Times bestselling series

It’s been more than ten years since Kelley Armstrong began the Otherworld series and drew legions of fans to a realm roamed by witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons. Many of the novels have become bestselling favorites, but not all of the Otherworld adventures have been easy to find. At last, Otherworld Nights shares short stories that have previously been available only online or in obscure collections. Fans have long been clamoring for this anthology and they won’t be disappointed—they’ll find plenty of surprises are in store.

ARC Review: Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton

Straddling the Line
Author: Jaci Burton
Series: A Play-by-Play Novel (Book 8)
Publication: Berkley Trade (July 1, 2014)

Description: Trevor Shay has it all—a successful football and baseball career, and any woman he wants. But when he finds out his college mentor’s daughter is in trouble, he drops everything to come to her aid.

Haven Briscoe has finally landed a dream job as a sportscaster for a major network. But she hasn’t been able to move past the recent death of her beloved father, and it’s affecting her career. A plum assignment following the daily life of sports superstar Trevor Shay might be just the inspiration she needs…

Trevor will do anything to spark life back into Haven, including letting her into every aspect of his world. The chemistry between them flames higher than one of Trevor’s home runs and faster than his dashes to the end zone. But as they grow closer, Haven stumbles onto Trevor’s closely guarded secret, one he’s hidden his entire life. And despite his protests, now it’s Haven’s turn to put everything on hold to help Trevor. Will he let her in and trust her with a secret that could blow his professional and personal world apart?

My Thoughts: STRADDLING THE LINE was a nicely spicy sports romance featuring Haven Briscoe and Trevor Shay. They have known each other since college. Haven's dad and mom were the house parents to a house full of athletes. Trevor was one of them. Haven had a massive crush on Trevor but he didn't even notice. He was too busy being charming, skating around his schoolwork and developing his skills in baseball and football.

When Trevor gets a call from Haven's mother saying that Haven isn't doing well after the death of her father, Trevor decides that he will do anything to help. He knows how much Bill Briscoe loved his daughter and he feels that he owes Bill a big debt for all his help when he was in college. Since Haven is now a sports reporter, Trevor arranges things so that she can be the one to do the long sought in-depth interview on two sport athlete Trevor.

Haven isn't sure she wants the job. She is bogged down in grief and is ready to throw her career away to got back to Oklahoma to be with her mom. Also, she isn't sure she wants to be around the guy she had such a crush on. She decides to give the whole interview and career thing a try.

When they meet again, sparks fly. Trevor is seeing Haven in a whole new way. But Trevor has a long-held secret and he is willing to do almost anything to keep it, even give up the possible love of his life. Now, I'll admit that I saw the secret coming from a long way off. But I still enjoyed and believed Trevor's reactions to it and to sharing it with anyone.

Fans of sports romances and lovers of hot athletes won't want to miss this latest entry into the Play by Play series. It was good seeing some of the characters from the earlier books in the series making their appearances in this one too.

Favorite Quote:

"Why me? You could have gotten one of the more seasoned sportscasters to do this feature story on your career. You had to know I was just getting started with the network."

"Because you know me. And because I trust you not to f**k this up."

She laughed. "Are you sure about that? You heard the part about me saying this was new, right?"

I won the right to read this ARC from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.