Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch

ABOUT THE BOOK

The second in the seductive new Scottish historical romance Wild Wicked Highlanders series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch!

In Scot Under the Covers, a resourceful English lady and a hot-blooded Highlander join forces to trick a scoundrel, and every rule will be broken!

Miranda Harris is known for her charm, wit, and ability to solve any problem she encounters. But when her brother lands neck-deep in gambling debt to a crafty villain and Miranda is subsequently blackmailed into marrying him, she must enlist the help of the devil himself to save the family honor—and herself.

“It’s time to fall in love with Suzanne Enoch.” — Lisa Kleypas

Devilishly handsome Highlander Aden MacTaggert knows next to nothing about the ways of the ton, but he most certainly knows his way around gaming halls and womens’ hearts. Still, Aden is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance. When his almost sister-in-law Miranda comes to him for assistance, he proposes a partnership: She will help him navigate London society and he’ll teach her everything about wagering…and winning back her freedom. The beautiful, clever lass intrigues Aden—but is she playing her own game, or are the sparks between them real? He is accustomed to risking his pocket. But betting on Miranda’s love is a game he can’t afford to lose. . .

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REVIEW

Miranda Harris finds herself in a dire situation.  Her brother Michael, a recently reformed gambler, has a past debt that leads to blackmail. The terms state Miranda is to marry Captain Robert Vale or risk the reputation of her entire family. Against her better judgment, Miranda seeks help from Aden MacTaggert, who happens to be a gambler himself, looking for insight into the devious mind of her blackmailer.  

Miranda is an intelligent female lead.  She has excellent instincts and does not simply step back and hope for the man to save her.  I worried her opinion on Aden's gambling pastime would cloud her judgment.  She handles the situation well, using his actions to deduce his nature.  I admire her for that.

Aden is a savvy, sexy, and confident Scot. He is casual when faced with Miranda's ire. Aden does not waste time attempting to sway her mind. He merely uses his knowledge to force Miranda's tormentor into making a mistake.  I respected his stance on the subject.  He is what he is, and one can take it or leave it.

During their mystery to solve, Miranda warms to Aden. Aden works well as Miranda's counterpart. Their ensuing courtship is delightful. I quite enjoyed the journey in Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch.

Blood and Ash: The Jezebel Files, Book One by Deborah Wilde

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cold-blooded kidnappers. Long-lost magic. When things get serious, she goes full Sherlock.

Ashira Cohen takes pride in being the only female private investigator in Vancouver. With her skills, her missing persons case should be a piece of cake.

She wasn't counting on getting bashed in the skull, revealing a hidden tattoo and supernatural powers she shouldn't possess.

Or the bitter icing on top: a spree of abductions and terrifying ghostly creatures on a deadly bender.

And don't even get her started on the golems.

Reluctantly partnered with her long-time nemesis Levi, the infuriating leader of the magic community, Ash resolves to keep her focus on the clue trail and off their sexual tension because WTF is up with that?

But with a mastermind organization pulling strings from the shadows and Levi's arrogance driving her to pick out his body bag, can Ash rescue the captives and uncover the truth or will the next blood spilled be her own?

Blood & Ash is the epic first novel in The Jezebel Files. If you like headstrong heroines, complex mysteries, and a dash of red-hot romance, you'll love Deborah Wilde's laugh out loud tale.

Get it now!

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REVIEW

Ashira Cohen lives in a world where part of the populace is magically adept. Trying to make it as a mundane detective, where the jobs make less money and are less exciting, Ash attempts to make the best of it.  During a case, a head injury puts her on a path she never thought possible.

I was ecstatic when I discovered NetGalley is now giving out audiobook arcs, which is my preferred method of reading.  A narrator can make or break the audiobook journey, and this was a good one. Hollie Jackson does a good job narrating Blood and Ash: The Jezebel Files, Book One. I never felt her interpretation was disingenuous to the characters.  I was able to simply kick back, listen, and lose myself in Ash's world.

Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde is my kind of book. I'll be honest you will find elements in this story that exist in a lot of other urban fantasy/ paranormal romances.  But that did not make it any less enjoyable for me.  The supernatural had enough of a uniqueness that I was not comparing constantly to stories from my past. I was engaged and interested in the magical world Ash lives in.

Ash is sassy, amusing, and tough.  Her complicated relationship with her mother drew me in as does the one with her childhood "nemesis" Levi.  Love stories derived from a couple who think they despise each other are most interesting to me.  The conflict in the chase always amps up the passion, and Ash and Levi have it in abundance. 

In short, Blood and Ash is excellent and well worth listening to the audiobook.  After finishing, I immediately started book two, Death and Desire, and now wait impatiently for the audio of book three, Shadows and Surrender. 

Into the Fire: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz

ABOUT THE BOOK

The New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns - just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back Into The Fire...

Evan Smoak lives by his own code.

Once he was known as Orphan X. Trained as an off-the-books government assassin and spoken about only in whispers, Evan Smoak was one of the most talented – and most feared – men in the Program. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate.

If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather.

Max is at the end of his rope. His cousin has been brutally murdered, leaving Max an envelope that contains nothing but a mysterious key. However, someone really wants that key, badly enough that Max – and anyone he turns to – is in deadly danger. What seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before as he heads once more Into The Fire.

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REVIEW

After five books, thrillers in the same vein of the Bourne series, I am fully involved in Evan Smoak's journey. His moral compass guides him to take up the mantel of the Nowhere Man, aiding those in danger with no recourse but to look beyond the law for justice. Evan desires to redeem his perceived wrongs. He endeavors to convince himself, after one more job, and he can embark on regular life. 

As the series moves forward, consequences escalate for Evan. Into the Fire is the most intense book yet. The level of conspiracy Evan encounters goes deep, and the mounting threats kept me on the edge of my seat. When this book concluded, I immediately wished for the next one. If crime thrillers are your thing, I enthusiastically recommend Into the Fire by Gregg Herwitz.

The God Game by Danny Tobey

ABOUT THE BOOK

You are invited!

COme inside and play with G.O.D.

Bring your friends!

It;’s fun!

But remember the rules. Win and ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.™ Lose, you die!

With those words, Charlie and his friends enter the G.O.D. Game, a video game run by underground hackers and controlled by a mysterious AI that believes it’s God. Through their phone-screens and high-tech glasses, the teens’ realities blur with a virtual world of creeping vines, smoldering torches, runes, glyphs, gods, and mythical creatures. When they accomplish a mission, the game rewards them with expensive tech, revenge on high-school tormentors, and cash flowing from ATMs. Slaying a hydra and drawing a bloody pentagram as payment to a Greek god seem harmless at first. Fun even.

But then the threatening messages start. Worship me. Obey me. Complete a mission, however cruel, or the game reveals their secrets and crushes their dreams. Tasks that seemed harmless at first take on deadly consequences. Mysterious packages show up at their homes. Shadowy figures start following them, appearing around corners, attacking them in parking garages. Who else is playing this game, and how far will they go to win?

And what of the game’s first promise: win, win big, lose, you die? Dying in a virtual world doesn’t really mean death in real life—does it?

As Charlie and his friends try to find a way out of the game, they realize they’ve been manipulated into a bigger web they can’t escape: an AI that learned its cruelty from watching us.

God is always watching, and He says when the game is done.

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REVIEW

What I liked: The God Game by Danny Tobey is an intense ride. I was completely enthralled and on the edge of my seat for the duration of the story. The God Game could serve as an effective cautionary tale. With anonymity so easy to achieve in today's digital age, it is too easy to distance ourselves from one another. Insults, small bits of trickery, why should we care if we don't have to confront our victims? The God Game grasps that and blows it up, presenting the players a huge lesson in morality. The pit in my stomach grew as the participants are drawn further into the game, and it is more clear what is at stake for the players. 

What I didn't like: Not much. I did become a bit aggravated with some of the player's choices. Most of it was trivial things, and in the end, many did get resolved. And I am still unsure of the ending, but it does leave room for more stories later. With more questions answered, I may feel better about it.

The plot feels similar to Ready Player One, meets War Games with a bit of Ex Machina thrown in for good measure. Quite the combo in today's society. The God Game could be good for anyone looking for a digital age thriller.

Dark Alpha's Temptation: A Reaper Novel by Donna Grant

ABOUT THE BOOK

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Carrying Death's orders is my sole duty. I've never had reason to question her, even if I disagreed. But Kyra's fierceness and willpower sheds light on my mission. She drives the darkness of my world away. The answers to the Others' goals lie in her past. For Kyra, I will risk going against Death's wishes. For her...I will battle the past and the future itself.

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REVIEW

In this latest installment of the Reaper series by Donna Grant, we follow Kyra and Dubhan's burgeoning romance. The backdrop is Ireland, amidst the backlash of the events that took place in the Dark Kings book Fever. Dark Alpha's Temptation is not a stand-alone novel. Many books lead to this point, and I fear a new reader would be lost if this is their first in Donna Grant's Dark World series. Prior publications are worth the experience, and one could go back a long way. I love a richly developed setting, and this series is one of my favorites in the urban fantasy/paranormal romance style. 

Dubhan is what you would expect out of a Reaper. Who can resist a sexy, immortal, justice dealing Irishman? Kyra is a courageous heroine to match. Together they are an attractive, charming couple. Overall I enjoyed their story. 

Random spoilery thoughts: This book gave us more information on the threat to Reaper allies, and the Reapers themselves, which I enjoyed getting. After the events in Fever, I was hoping for a theory I had to be confirmed here, which it was not. I could be wrong, but time will tell. Until then I will have to deal with the lingering sorrow and frustration.