ARC Review: Blood Oath by Steve Urszenyi

Blood Oath
Author: Steve Urszenyi
Series: Special Agent Alexandra Martel (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books (November 18, 2025)

Description: In this action-packed thriller, Special Agent Alex Martel's fight becomes personal when her father is abducted by rebel forces.

In the heart of Africa, CIA Special Agent Alexandra Martel’s safari with her father spirals into a deadly game of betrayal when he is kidnapped by rebels. Suddenly, her peaceful Serengeti vacation transforms into a desperate race against time. As the general is held by local rebels, Russian mercenaries and Chinese MSS operatives descend on East Africa, all hunting the military secrets locked in her father’s mind.

Alex assembles an elite team to navigate the treacherous terrain, but complications arise when her CIA boss, Caleb, shows up unexpectedly, stirring feelings she’s tried to bury since her husband’s death. As competing forces close in, Alex uncovers betrayals stretching from the Serengeti to the highest levels of global intelligence. Trust becomes as scarce as water in the African savanna.

With enemies converging from all sides, Alex must embrace her darkest instincts to save her father. But in a world where allies become enemies, and nothing is as it seems, how much of herself is she willing to sacrifice to honor the bonds of blood?

My Thoughts: CIA Special Agent Alexandra Martel is on safari with her father in Africa when he is kidnapped. David Martel is a retired four-star general who has been working a on secret project for the United States. Alex will do anything to get him back. 

General Martel is being held by a group of local rebels. He was kidnapped at the request of the Russians who want him out of the way of their attempts to claim more and more of Africa. He should have been killed, but the rebels see an opportunity to sell him to the Chinese who want information about the project he is working on. 

A variety of US intelligence forces are mobilized to get General Martel back, but Alex resents every moment they are collecting data and making plans. She wants to take a small group to get her father back. She doesn't know that US intelligence is willing to, and planning to, kill General Martel rather than let the information in his head get to the country's enemies. 

This series is a combination of Ian Fleming's James Bond for its action hero and Tom Clancy's technothrillers with its gadgets. It is alternate history but set in the current day. I enjoy Alex who is a real action hero with a clear knowledge of herself and her abilities. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Cold Burn by A. J. Landau

Cold Burn
Author: A. J. Landau
Series: A National Parks Thriller (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur Books (April 29, 2025)

Description: Agent Michael Walker returns when multiple deaths at Glacier Bay National Park are just the first steps in a potential global disaster.

National Park Service investigator Michael Walker is battling smugglers stealing priceless artifacts when he’s dispatched to Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, where, in the first stage of a potential global disaster, a team of scientists has gone missing.

Meanwhile, in Florida’s Everglades National Park, FBI special investigator Gina Delgado traces the murder of an environmental science intern back to another U.S. Geological Survey team’s ongoing experiments that are decimating the fragile ecosystem. That is before she’s dispatched to the scene of a sunken U.S. nuclear submarine, the entire crew of which has inexplicably been killed.

The connection between these disparate investigations lies in a deadly prehistoric organism, frozen for thousands of years in the ice until global warming brings it back to life in what could mean the death of all life on Earth. An organism that a rogue billionaire sees as the ultimate fuel source and a Russian strongman views as the ultimate weapon that can shift the global balance of power forever. Against that backdrop, Walker and Delgado find themselves desperately doing battle across multiple fronts against an ancient, unstoppable enemy.

My Thoughts: This was another excellent thriller starring National Park Investigator Michael Walker and FBI Agent Gina Delgado. When the story begins, Michael is in Alaska trying to track down smugglers of Native artifacts and Gina is in Florida looking into the death of young man associated with the US Geological Survey. 

Michael learns, after the people he was shadowing were murdered, that there was a mysterious substance in many of the artifacts he was tracking. Gina learns that the USGS in the Florida Everglades were experimenting with the water temperature to ease global warming. They were also using a mysterious substance. 

Another viewpoint character in the story is multi-billionaire Alex Cole who will do anything to fulfill his dream of going to Mars and who sees the mysterious substance as the key to his successful journey. And still another viewpoint character is a Russian general who wants to take over Russia and return it to what he sees as its glorious past. 

Since the mysterious substance has the potential to wipe out vast quantities and species of life, Michael and Gina need to find a way to stop the Russians from weaponizing it, the billionaire from misusing it, and elements from within the government from using it for political gain. Michael is aided by a Tlinglit microbiologist who got wealthy for her discoveries and has come home to her village in Alaska. 

I liked this story very much. It was packed with action. One quibble is that a number of chapters ended with the viewpoint character making a discovery but not saying what it was until their viewpoint chapter came around again. It did add to the suspense, but I still found it annoying. 

Fans of ecothrillers will enjoy this one. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell

Blue Smoke and Murder
Author: Elizabeth Lowell

Narrator: Carol Monda
Series: St. Kilda (Book 4)
Publication: Avon; Reprint edition (July 8, 2008); Harper Audio (May 27, 2008)

Length: 11 hours and 16 minutes

Description: Jill Breck was just doing her job as a river guide when she saved the life of the son of two of St. Kilda Consulting’s premier operators. But when a string of ominous events -- including a mysterious fire that kills her great-aunt and a furor in the Western art world raised by a dozen Breck family paintings -- culminates in a threat to her life, Jill finally calls in a favor.

Zach Balfour works part-time as a consultant for St. Kilda. Though he’s got the skills to be a highly effective bodyguard, being a bullet catcher isn't his preferred way to spend time. But Jill is in deeper waters than she’s ever known, and she’ll need his protection; as she soon discovers, the perils of running wild rivers are tame compared with the hidden dangers in the high-stakes game of art collecting. Together, Zach and Jill must race against time to unmask a ruthless killer hidden in the blue smoke of money, threats, lies, and death. . . .

My Thoughts: This romantic suspense title is the fourth in the St Kilda series. Jill Breck is a river guide who meets Lane and Joe Faroe when they go whitewater rafting under her direction. When Lane falls out of the raft and gets a strap from his life vest caught, Jill jumps in and saves him. Joe gives her a card with a phone number for St Kilda and tells her to call if she ever finds herself in danger. 

Jill saves the card but can't imagine ever needing the help. Then her great aunt dies under suspicious circumstances leaving Jill the family legacy of twelve paintings believed to be the work of Thomas Dunstan who was a famous artist known for his paintings of the desert Southwest. Unfortunately, the paintings aren't signed. Her aunt had sent one of the paintings for appraisal to a noted art dealer who wrote back that the painting was a worthless forgery. But then someone calls to offer her money for the "worthless" painting, then breaks in to find the other paintings, and kills her burning down her house and barn to hide the evidence. 

Jill comes back to the isolated ranch to find the paintings in a secret room of the cabin she grew up in. She decides to take photos and send them to some dealers to find out if their opinions are the same as the dealer her aunt had used. When Jill's inquiries stir up trouble including vandalizing her car and leaving threatening notes, she decides that it is time to call St Kilda.

Zach Balfour is the nearest St Kilda employee. He's just off a case where he was guarding the air-headed daughter of a Texas millionaire and hopes Jill isn't another of the same sort. Jill couldn't be more different and the threats to her life are real. 

As they investigate the provenance of the paintings and determine who wants to deny their existence, they find themselves deep in the world of art collecting and all the maneuvering that is part of it from shady dealers to shady collectors. 

This was another excellent romantic suspense title. I liked the relationship between Jill and Zach. I also liked all the tension and suspense in the story. 

I bought the Kindle copy July 16, 2024, and added on the audiobook November 19, 2024. You can buy your copy here.

 

Friday Memes: Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

The Friday 56 was hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place. 

Beginning:

Something was wrong.

Heart beating wildly, Modesty Breck sat up in bed.

Friday 56:

When it was full dark, Score finally stirred from his observation post in the back of his minivan.

This week I am spotlighting Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell. It is the fourth book in the St. Kilda series. Here's the description from Amazon:

Jill Breck was just doing her job as a river guide when she saved the life of the son of two of St. Kilda Consulting’s premier operators. But when a string of ominous events -- including a mysterious fire that kills her great-aunt and a furor in the Western art world raised by a dozen Breck family paintings -- culminates in a threat to her life, Jill finally calls in a favor.

Zach Balfour works part-time as a consultant for St. Kilda. Though he’s got the skills to be a highly effective bodyguard, being a bullet catcher isn't his preferred way to spend time. But Jill is in deeper waters than she’s ever known, and she’ll need his protection; as she soon discovers, the perils of running wild rivers are tame compared with the hidden dangers in the high-stakes game of art collecting. Together, Zach and Jill must race against time to unmask a ruthless killer hidden in the blue smoke of money, threats, lies, and death. . . .

Book Review: Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

Innocent as Sin
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
Series: St Kilda (Book 3)
Publication: Avon; Reprint edition (October 13, 2009)

Description: The New York Times bestelling queen of of romantic suspense—an author hailed as “a cut above”* returns with an exceptional thriller packed with her trademark combination of passion, danger, and intrigue

Throwing himself into his painting, Rand McCee wishes the swirls of light and color can erase the memory of his beloved brother’s murder. On a scouting assignment for St. Kilda Consulting, a Manhattan-based, global business that concentrates on the shadow world where governments can’t go, Rand’s twin was shot in cold blood before Rand’s eyes.

Finally coming to terms with the fact that he will never be able to find the man responsible—a mysterious figure known as “The Siberian”—Rand just wants to forget. But as he soon learns, the past won’t let him. . . .

Helping a rich socialite finance an art exhibition, Arizona banker Kayla Shawn has unwittingly become entangled in a deadly web of lies and deceit involving money laundering. When her employer tries to buy her silence, Kayla knows she’s in way over her head, with only one way out: Rand.

Though their attraction is instant and intense, it’s not enough to overcome their mutual suspicion. Somehow Kayla and Rand must learn to work together to unmask a terrifying enemy before they land in jail—or the grave.

My Thoughts: This was another excellent romantic suspense title in the St. Kilda series by Elizabeth Lowell. It begins in Africa when two twin brothers are spying on an arms sale in order to find evidence against a man they know as the Siberian. When discovered, one of the twins is killed and the surviving twin vows revenge.

Five years later and in Arizona, personal banker Kayla Shaw finds herself involved with a very rich man and his wife. She soon discovers that he might be laundering money and that, since her boss gave her the account, she is probably liable for assisting in the money laundering. 

Unknown to her, but not to St Kilda, is that the man she works for is the Siberian now with a cleaned up image and an international passport. He is also planning another attempt to overthrow an African country so that he can capture their oil reserves. St Kilda is determined to stop him. They recruit Rand McCree who has become an artist but has never stopped wanting to find the Siberian and exact his revenge. 

Kayla and Rand meet at an art contest arranged by the Siberian's wife. He is immediately attracted to her and determined to protect her. She shares his attraction and definitely needs her help if she is going to stay out of prison for money laundering. 

The story was packed with danger for both main characters since the Siberian has lots of evil henchmen in his employ. But St Kilda isn't without its own resources. 

I really enjoyed this story which was originally published in 2007. It didn't feel at all dated though some references to Watergate and the 9/11 attack were woven into the plot. 

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

The Friday 56 was hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place. 

Beginning:

Lane Franklin told himself that he shouldn't freak out.

Friday 56:

"What does a politically prominent federal judge need with a bunch of private, and therefore unsavory, consultants?"

This week I am spotlighting The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell. It is a new arrival on my TBR mountain despite being written in 2009. Here's the Description from Amazon:

The latest masterwork from one of the leading writers of suspense . . . New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell returns with a chilling tale of the law gone wrong and a kidnapping that threatens more than one life.

The Wrong Hostage

Orphaned at thirteen, Grace Silva clawed her way out of poverty and violence to become one of the most respected judges on the federal bench. Grace believes in the rule of law -- lives it, breathes it. She has always been buttoned up and buttoned down

Except once.

Joe Faroe has learned that laws are made by politicians, and politicians are all too human. He believes in the innocents, the ones getting ground up by governments that are too polarized or too corrupt to protect their own citizens. He's been through the political meat grinder himself. It cost him his career, his freedom, and the woman who still haunts him. Since then Faroe has worked outside the rules and politics of government as a kidnap specialist for St. Kilda Consulting, a Manhattan-based global business that concentrates on the shadow world where governments can't go. He is good at his work -- intelligent, confident, ruthless.

Until a friend dies trying to kill him.

Now Faroe is out of the business. Retired. He's through trying to save a world that doesn't want to be saved.

Then Grace comes to him, past and present collide, and Faroe finds himself sucked back into the shadows, tracking a violent killer who holds the life of Grace's son in his bloody hands.