Contingent on Approval by Jenna Bennett

Contingent on Approval by Jenna Bennett is book #5.5 in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, December 2012

It’s the morning after the events of A DONE DEAL, and Savannah is looking at Rafe Collier, a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, a economy sized box of condoms (one of which plays Christmas carols), and the rest of her life… but first, there’s Christmas dinner with the Martins to get through.

Between Margaret Anne at her most poisonous, the ugliest Christmas sweater the world has ever seen, and yet another engagement ring under the tree, Savannah has plenty to worry about, not the least of which is whether Rafe will still want to stick around after dessert.

This is an enjoyable short story with Savannah and Rafe as they spend Christmas in Sweetwater with the Martin family with presents awaiting them that put a smile on my face. I love this series and I’m so happy that their relationship is moving forward and I can’t wait to see what they get into next.

Fatal Deception by Marie Force

Fatal Deception by Marie Force is book #5 in the “Fatal” romantic suspense series. Publisher: Carina Press, November 2012

The wife of the White House deputy chief of staff has been beaten to death, and their one-year-old daughter is missing. D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland is in charge of the murder investigation, but she’s forced to collaborate with Special Victims Unit detectives as well as thorn-in-her-side FBI Special Agent Avery Hill. Then, a cold case of her father’s resurrects old hurts—a distraction Sam cannot afford.

As Sam’s investigation heats up, so does Nick’s political career—and the heat carries over to their bedroom. Will Sam put the pieces together in time to catch a killer and find the baby, or will ambition, greed and lies prove fatal?

Marie has done it again, she’s written another great exciting chapters in the lives of Sam and Nick that had me forgoing breakfast until the end of this fantastic read. I love watching the steps Sam takes to unravel and bring justice for the victim and at the same time handle the command of her squad and her overlapping personal life. A great read that is well done and very enjoyable. I love this series and I can’t wait to read Fatal Mistake.

Dangerous Relations by Marilyn Levinson

Dangerous Relations by Marilyn Levinson Publisher: Uncial Press, October 2012

After Ardin Wesley’s cousin Suziette is murdered, her widower, Brett, asks Ardin to help him adopt Suziette’s little girl, whom he’s grown to love. Trouble is, no one knows the identity of the child’s natural father. Ardin decides she wants to adopt Leonie, and take her to home to Manhattan.

Although she is drawn to Brett, an abusive husband turned Ardin against love and marriage. Brett feels betrayed when he learns of her plans to adopt the child. When someone sets fire to Ardin’s aunt’s house, she barely escapes with her life. Despite their differences, Brett offers her shelter and together they work to create a secure home for the bereft little girl and to discover the identity of her father before someone else dies to protect his terrible secret.

I love the pace and tone of this drama as Ardin falls in love while on a hunt for the person responsible for the death of her cousin. As she gets closer to the truth, her life is threatened and a love that is waiting makes her stronger to survive her ordeal. What a fabulously written story that resonated with me as this quickly became a page turner that kept me in suspense and had me luxuriated in the blossoming romance throughout this engaging story.

Act of Redemption by Jenna Bennett

Act of Redemption by Jenna Bennett is an “Art Crime Team” mystery novel. October 2012

A shy librarian and a dashing FBI agent must work together to catch a killer and recover a priceless silver treasure in this light and sweetly romantic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Do It Yourself Home Renovation mysteries and the Cutthroat Business mysteries. On the island of roses and ruins, love awaits and danger lurks. When Annika Holst’s father dies, it’s up to the young librarian to carry out his last will: to take his ashes back to his hometown, medieval Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

But no sooner does the plane touch down in Stockholm, than the bag with the cremains go missing. A young American named Nick Costa comes to Annika’s aid… but can she trust the handsome stranger? And what of Curt Gardiner, another young man from “back home,” also visiting his mother’s native Sweden? To catch a murderer, recover her father’s ashes, and find a missing Viking treasure, Annika has to put her trust in one of them. But the wrong choice could mean not only the loss of her heart… but of her life as well.

Annika’s mission to bring her father’s remains back to his homeland goes terribly wrong when her carry-on luggage with his remains is stolen. She soon learns of her father’s past transgression and his sins begin to haunt Annika’s stay in Sweden and Annika will have to trust a stranger to come out of this alive.

This was a good read that had me quickly turning the pages. The frenzy paced story took me on a ride filled with intrigue and romance that I did not want to get off. I loved the way the story flowed from one scene to the next, keeping me in suspense as to what will happen next. With a great narrative, this was very enjoyable romantic suspense drama.

Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez is the first book in the Deadly Legends romantic suspense series. Publisher: Entangled Publishing, June 2012

A tall, dark, single-dad Texas rancher finds himself facing more than his stubbornly silent son when the chupacabra, a supposedly mythical blood-sucking beast, starts killing his livestock—and stalking the town’s newly returned veterinary assistant, the sensual woman who ran from the altar and broke his heart twelve years earlier. Determined to purge his sizzling memories of her from his all-too-vivid imagination, he seeks her help to get to the bottom of the disturbing animal mutilations, only to have her break through to his sullen son…and rekindle the love he’d thought was lost forever. But her refusal to share a terrible secret sends her running straight into the lair of the chupacabra, plunging her back into her worst nightmare, and forcing them both to confront the wrongs of the past—in order to stay alive for the future they desperately want.

This was a great read that had me quickly turning the pages in this captivating suspenseful and romantic story that I could not put down. Melissa Bourbon Ramirez writes great mysteries from cozy to romance to suspense and I can’t wait for her next book for my reading pleasure.

A Done Deal by Jenna Bennett

A Done Deal by Jenna Bennett is the fifth book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, December 2011

Silver bells, silver bells…

It’s Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe. Unfortunately, things don’t look so good. He’s back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type.

When Alexandra Puckett asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex’s father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It’ll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn’t like Maybelle much herself.

Between investigating Maybelle’s past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, she soon has her hands full. And that’s before someone starts gunning for her. Suddenly it’s not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it’s a question of whether she’ll even survive to see another Christmas.

If there ever was a love story that needed to be told, this was it. I devoured every sentence, every paragraph, every page and every chapter of this heart-warming mystery. The mystery kept me turning the pages and the author did a great job in delivering the story I’ve been waiting for—the accumulation of a romance that started in book one and has captivated me since. If this series has to end, then it ended on a high note, as this is the best book in this charmingly appealing series.

Fatal Flaw by Marie Force

Fatal Flaw by Marie Force is book #4 in the “Fatal” romantic suspense series. Publisher: Carina Press, February 2012

Back from their honeymoon, Senator Nick Cappuano and D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland are ready for some normalcy after the whirlwind of their wedding, but someone has other plans for them. When Sam discovers wedding cards containing thinly veiled death threats, she’s not sure if she or Nick is the target.

Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she’s chasing her tail.

With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer’s clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily ever after.

Just back from their honeymoon Sam is pulled into a puzzling case while dealing with a threat of her own. When the deaths multiply and the threat escalates, a connection so misguided astonishes Sam and her team and they’ll have to hurry and catch this serial killer before another death occurs. Oh man, what a great story that I did not want to see end. This fast-paced, non-stop action and thrill a minute ride kept my adrenaline pumping as Sam hurried towards an explosive conclusion. With an awesome cast and amusing banter, this fantastically romantic and entertaining series continues to warm my heart and I look forward to every adventure with Nick and Sam.