Catch Me Twice by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A STANDALONE, SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

“An amazingly written, heart-wrenching story of a man lost and the woman who helps him find himself—a second-chance romance unlike any other.” – Anna Zaires, New York Times bestselling author

If a man tells you he’s no good for you, best heed the warning. I learned the hard way. I had Jake Basson’s baby. He left to chase his dream. Now he’s back, demanding a second chance, but why should I give him anything after four years of nothing? No correspondence, no news. I finally have my life back on track. Jake has never been uncomplicated. He never follows the rules. I should’ve known he’d play dirty. He caught me once. I’m not going to let him catch me twice.

(Disclosure: This story contains cheating. HEA guaranteed.)

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REVIEW

Kristi and Jake marry young. Kristi spends the next four years apart from Jake, struggling to raise their child among prejudice, while he pursues his dreams of professional success.

I have decided that Charmaine Pauls is a guilty pleasure that I absolutely adore. Her novels typically have dark content that is often taboo and highly sensual. The characters suffer a challenging time before obtaining their hea, but in the end, they are considerably stronger for it. I feel connected to the characters through their distress, and that inevitable ending we all look for in a romance becomes more fulfilling. Despite acts that are less than optimal, the endurance and sincerity endear me to them. In Catch Me Twice Jake screws up badly, but I never felt he did not deserve a second chance. When Kristi wavers, I don't blame her, nor do I judge her for her ultimate decision.

Charmaine Pauls has done it again. Reading this early copy of Catch Me Twice honestly was as enjoyable as her prior works, which I have loved every one. I enthusiastically recommend Catch Me Twice for lovers of romance. Catch Me Twice fits is a good fit for those who prefer a little struggle before happily ever after.

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy

ABOUT THE BOOK

A PRISONER OF FATE

As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Euthalia will do anything to keep her people

free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Euthalia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

REVIEW

What I enjoyed: The Orchid Throne has an intriguing mythos. Their world's "pleasure island" is the last free territory amidst a realm taken over by a terrible tyrant. Calanthe's Queen Euthalia is clever. I enjoyed theorizing about Lia's powers and her intent throughout the novel. Conri is what you would expect based on his place in the story, which is neither good nor bad. He will complement Lia well in future novels. They both have great cunning necessary for the approaching conflict in their land.

Urban fantasy and paranormal romance are fairly synonymous for me. I have a hard time seeing where one story type turns into the other. A romance between Lia and Conri is not what drives the plot in Orchid Throne, but it does complement it. There is an appropriate amount of chemistry between the characters. I experienced no issues accepting their attraction to one another.

What I didn't like: I had some disconnect at the beginning of the novel and couldn't completely engage with the characters. I suspect part of it was the royal court at Calanthe. I am not fond of historical romance, and this had a similar feel, but that is personal preference. I found my groove at about 30% and was able to breeze right through it. Warning though, this story ends on a cliffhanger, and it sneaks up on you. 

Overall this early copy of The Orchid Throne was an enjoyable read, recommended for lovers of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance.  I will be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.

The Long Call (Two Rivers Series Book 1) by Ann Cleeves

ABOUT THE BOOK

From Ann Cleeves—bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—comes the first in a gripping new series.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his estranged father’s funeral takes place. On the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back to the people and places of his past, as deadly secrets hidden at their hearts are revealed, and his new life is forced into a collision course with the world he thought he’d left behind.

From Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of Vera and Shetland, beloved by readers and TV viewers alike, comes a spectacular new series, told with deep compassion and searing insight.

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REVIEW

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves is a murder mystery set in southwest England. Detective Matthew Venn is investigating a murder in a tight-knit community. The author did an excellent job of drawing me into the North Devon population.  I felt a connection to some of the inhabitants, and importantly, a lingering sorrow for the murder victim. Admittedly there were times I felt bogged down by some of the cast of characters, and the slow burn almost wasn't worth it. In the end, I enjoyed getting to know Matthew Venn, and I was glad for the justice he was able to deliver for Simon. I would consider continuing with this series. Sometimes I find a first book suffers from too much exposition when attempting to introduce all the people in their world, and Matthew is a strong lead. 

The Extinction Agenda by Michael Laurence

ABOUT THE BOOK

An FBI agent fights to stop a conspiracy to unleash a deadly virus on the world in this propulsive, exhilarating new thriller.

The discovery of a deadly virus being smuggled across the border pits FBI Special Agent James Mason and his strike force against an unknown adversary hell-bent on humanity’s destruction. In a desperate effort to contain the pathogen, they launch a predawn raid, only to find that their enemy knows they’re coming…and it’s not about to be taken alive. An explosion rips through the building, killing the majority of Mason’s team, including his partner and mentor.

Tormented by guilt, Mason returns to his home division, but he can’t seem to let go of the tragedy. He remembers seeing something inside the building before it went up in flames, something that convinces him that not only is the virus still out there, it’s merely the first stage of an even more nefarious plan. Obsessed with unraveling the plot, he launches his own investigation and uncovers a shadow organization on the brink of enacting its genocidal agenda, one carried out by a sinister mass murderer who’s been photographed at the epicenter of seemingly every historical pandemic…without appearing to age. An evil man who attempts to derail Mason’s investigation by murdering his wife.

With the help of his longtime friends—Gunnar Backstrom, a corporate espionage gun-for-hire, and Ramses Donovan, a sin merchant of questionable morality—Mason’s hunt for his wife’s killer leads him from a dark union at the dawn of the twentieth century to a network of Nazi collaborators and a conspiracy against mankind more than a hundred years in the making. Fueled by anger and driven by the promise of vengeance, he must overcome a monster preparing to unleash his virulent wrath upon an unsuspecting world if he’s to have any hope of exposing a deep-state entity that’s rooted in every facet of our society, an entity known only as…The Thirteen.

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REVIEW

I enjoy conspiracy theories, and the best is when the villain's crime incorporates reason behind it. Extinction Agenda's intrigue contains feasible logic, and the players involved are far-reaching. It surprised me a couple of times the size of the syndicate at work, a few of the twists I did not anticipate. James Mason's quest kept me emotionally involved while the events unfolded around him. The group surrounding him was adept at what they were doing. 

Regrettably, the story did suffer from a bit too much bulk. There are so many players involved, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but massive amounts of sidebars and background tales started to weigh the book down for me. I stopped paying attention at times. I prefer a less is more approach, more action, and fewer backstories. I will admit, it took me a great deal of time to get into this story. I contemplated at one point stopping. About midway through the novel, I was gratified by not doing so. 

The Extinction Agenda by Michael Lawrence is the first in a series. I enjoyed reading this early copy enough that I will be checking out the next one.