A Death in Sweden by Kevin Wignall

Who said romance and death don't mix?
Dan Hendricks plays a role in the CIA most people don't realize exists.  His mercenary work leaves him little in life to call a solid background.  He likes it that way.
Given the task to find a man who doesn't exist, he doesn't question the motive.
Inger, Swedish Secret Service, conveniently meets up with Dan just in time to save him from the foreign thugs trying to take him out.  
Working with a partner is unusual for Dan, but Inger has knowledge and connections that may be useful.  He finds her attractive while he can't believe himself for thinking this way during such a critical case.
Inger announces her sexual preference of women in order to keep it all business.
The close calls, people chasing and dying, and their ultimate goal bring Inger and Dan as close as the clothes on their backs.  Even closer when the clothes comes off.
The reality of their work and lives is a mountain to cross if they want to admit the attraction and love building amid the danger.
An exhilarating read between the foreign lands, covert work, and dangerous love.  I enjoyed feeling as if I followed them, heart racing during attacks and sentimental moments.

Happy reading,
Dawn

Ruthless Knight -Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series- Book 2 by Elizabeth Rose

Bastard sons of King Edward in the fourteenth century have turned against the King for good reason.  Or so they thought.
When the triplets were wee babes, the King's decision was to kill them, yet they were saved by a distant relative.  The boys' vowed to never bow to the King, but rather raid and plunder the King's riches.
Rook, one of the triplets, lives in the catacombs of a haunted priory.  He still plans against the King, and prefers the solitary life of a thief.
Lady Calliope lives under the tight hand of her uncle and frequently sneeks food and supplies to the villagers.  On a rainy day, she chooses to return to the castle through the priory and avoid the rain.
Her heart nearly bursts with an unknown yearning for the handsome and powerful man she comes upon in the catacombs.
Rook fakes his ability to hold and destroy Calliope when he finds her spying on him.  He easily spares her when he wonders how he can possibly have these strange feelings of...of...lust, interest, or love(?!) towards a noble.
He can't possibly care for her, give her what she deserves, or break his own vow to destroy the King.  So how does she fit in his life?
Lady Calliope doesn't have the freedom or the right to let her heart go to a thief.
But is Rook that bad?  Is Lady Calliope so restrained by nobility that her heart can't go where it wants?  So many hurdles to conquer.
Lovely story of the triumph of love.  One thing the passing of centuries hasn't changed- the strength of the heart!

Happy reading,
Dawn 

The Spitfire by Christi Caldwell

What do you do when you find someone assaulted in the streets, and the assailants are present?
It might be different today, but in 1826 London, England, a woman certainly wouldn't stop to help.
Clara Winters wasn't just any woman, though.  She's beautiful, street smart, and happens to have medical experience.
A former Madam, Clara is working so hard to right her life and be treated like a human.  She's opening the Muses, a music hall.
When she sees a noble lying in a seedy part of London with two mean accosting him, she takes her pistol and scares of the bad guys.  Going against her better judgment, she hauls Henry March to her home and dresses his wounds.
He won't admit to himself that he's infatuated with the thirty-three year old.  He's forty and needs a family.  Clara finds him to be the most fair noble man she's dealt with.
Henry works for the Parliament and owes Clara his life.  Yet, months after she puts herself at risk to help him, he sends notice that her business will be shut down.
A confrontation by Clara starts sparks of all kinds.  Not to mention the intense kiss she leaves him with to think about.
History doesn't typically favor the nobility mixing with lower level people in family matters.  As we've learned through the ages, love can beat out so many norms and allow happiness to flourish, but it's a road chosen with many potholes to plow through.
Great story with a colorful path to happily ever after!  I really enjoyed Clara's character, and Henry better straighten up or I'll give him a shove for her!

Happy reading,
Dawn

Seeing Red by Sandra Brown

What a journalist won’t do for a story.
 

Kerra Bailey gets an exclusive interview with The Major, an American hero who’s gone silent for several years.

She has a surprise for The Major, yet the surprise after the interview for both of them isn’t pleasant.  Bullets and blood.

Former ATF agent, John Trapper, who’s also The Major’s son, wants to keep Kerra silent and out of the picture.  For her safety and just because she makes Trapper pitch a tent, he convinces her to stay with him.

Business before pleasure when Trapper needs to find the people who shot his father and have a target on Kerra and himself.  Granted, he’d rather mix the two, but something always interrupts any thoughts or actions!

Not only that Kerra may have seen the shooters, but they’re connected to a decades old bombing that she was present for.  Talk about a mess of circumstantial evidence and a mess of bad guys fooling the cops.

It might be easier for Trapper to convince law enforcement who the assassins are than to get Kerra close enough to keep.  We all know how adept Sandra Brown is at layering the evidence and turning your thoughts on where the story will go, so read with caution because the ending will be a surprise!

Happy reading,

Dawn  

Centrifugal Force by Lisa J Lickel

Loved the complexity of this story.  The main plot is layered with multiple sub-plots leaving no room for idle pages.

Rachel Michels has a past she’d rather forget except for her daughter that came from it.

Yet, we all know the past catches up with us and isn’t always what it seems.

Rachel’s daughter left the house for college and her own life not far away.  Rachel dabbles in the idea of dating again and doesn’t truly trust her own intuition, but gives it a shot.      

Between a date with a colleague, Scott, and the arrival of her former lover and father to her daughter, Rachel finds herself in the middle of a global political battle. 

Gervas Friedemann has several reasons for traveling from his home in Germany to Wisconsin.  He wants his daughter from one of his wives to undergo experimental medicine, intends to see Rachel to get back an historic heirloom, and promised his brother who’s running for a high governmental position to help with an alleged blackmail scam. 

The story keeps us in suspense as to what’s really true, what’s most important, and who Scott and Gervas really are.

Rachel is thrown into the mix of political espionage along with a heart swelling and breaking along the way.  Rachel needs to play the game and find out what is truly right for her and her daughter, never leaving love behind because happily ever after is the most important component.

Happy reading,

Dawn 

The Oxford Inheritance by Ann A. McDonald

This was a fabulous, calm, dark, yet intense mystery romance. 

The atmosphere of Oxford England holds an ancient and prestigious aura.  The students are steeped in studies during the day, but when darkness falls a black magic and generations old system comes into play.

Cassie worked hard to be accepted to Oxford, particularly the Raleigh College.  She has more than an education on her mind.  Her mother died when Cassie was fourteen, and Cassie knew little about her “real” mother.  With a tremendous amount of effort,

Cassie discovered her mother’s “former” life at Oxford. 

Now Cassie wants to find out why her mother was a different person, had changed her name, and above all who had fathered Cassie.

She entrusts pieces of information to several male students and a police officer to help her discover her mother’s history.  Each man has interest in her for different reason she’s not aware of. 

The friendship, camaraderie, and quick-to-help attitude of the men involved leave her with doubts on her choices of confidants.

Through the rain, fog, chilled air, and dark magic floating through the seams of the college, Cassie finds the true nature of her friends and which man is honest and compassionate with her.  It’s a great train wreck, I mean train ride on the way!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Two Hears' Christmas Wish by Tamara Ferguson

Getting to know the hero of the story, Jason Matthews, is an intense and fiery flight.  Jason is an Air Force captain, in the midst of gunfire as he and others of his squadron fight for the USA and for their own lives.

An emotional and touching scene of Jason as he gives ardently and physically to save his men can do nothing but encourage the reader to adore him and feel pride for our service people.

As Jason heals from the airplane fire, he sleeps and dreams of a former crush he had on Kat while they were teens.       

I think the backstory was a nice informative piece, but lasted way too long explaining a teenage crush between Jason, who was too old legally for her, Kat, his junior. For a young adult book- fine, but this is intended for adults.

After the lengthy backstory, we get into the meat of the romance when Jason realizes his life is lonely and he can’t quit thinking about the girl from fourteen years prior, Kat. 

The rest of the story is heartfelt between the two adults along with charitable hearts towards others and animals.  Can’t not like that! 

So, I’d recommend reading Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish.  Drop the backstory, and the rest of the tale is spot on for a wounded warrior romance!

Happy reading,

Dawn

The White Russian by Vanora Bennett

In 1937, love was not so easily expressed.  Many women were frustratingly subordinate to the men in their lives.

Evie, a young twenties lady, didn’t want to end up like her mother in that respect while she grew up in a privileged family.  Rather, Evie relished the idea of meeting her grandmother, who lived in Paris and had randomly sent Evie suggestions on being her own woman through the arts. 

After college, Evie escaped her family and flew to Paris.  Finally, she’d meet her estranged grandmother, find out why her grandmother is excluded from the family, and maybe start her own career!

This isn’t giving away the story, but grandma’s dead when Evie arrives.  Grandma left a request for Evie, and that’s to find a man from grandma’s past. 

Evie researches and travels to unravel why a man named Zhenya is so important.  Grandma is connected with the White Russians and the story gets more complex as Evie accepts the help of a taxi driver to find Zhenya. 

Jean drives taxi to help with the family economy and is well versed in the connection between the White Russians and the office Grandma had set up for them. 

The close contact between Evie and Jean leads to their own growing relationship, and it couldn’t be any more romantic than the friends that become lovers.

The story of the grandmother’s illicit past and Evie’s beginning on her own are tied together in an intriguing plot of affairs, secrets, and pre- WW1 forgotten history.

Happy Reading,

Dawn

Lord of Chance (Rogues to Riches #1) by Erica Ridley

You can disguise anything but love.

Charlotte Devon leaves behind London and the misguided thoughts of the citizens that she’s just like mom.  She loves her mom terribly, but her mother’s profession puts Charlotte on a rough place.  Scotland knows nothing about her and Charlotte can reform her reputation.

Anthony Fairfax lives on either end of the wallet.  He’s a gamer and sometimes he’s successful and others not so much.  He has an unimaginable debt that’s being called in.             

Anthony and Charlotte, he mistakes her for a lady and she assumes he’s a Lord, play the cards.  Amazing what happens when the whole pot, and all of Anthony’s hope, are turned over to a beautiful female stranger. 

Intriguing and maddingly urgent for Anthony and Charlotte to work together to outrun the collectors right back to Charlotte’s least favorite place.  London.  She swore she’d not go back, yet an unfavorable legal “knot” snuck up on the them. 

For better or worse, they were in this mess together.  Fortunately, they began to like one another, even a bit more than anticipated. 

A fun read on the run and into love!

 

Happy Reading,

Dawn

Sting by Sandra Brown

Typically, I love novels by Sandra Brown.  Here comes the “but.” 

The format was typical for a romantic suspense, but I had no compassion for the heroine, Jordie Bennet.  She was too much of a bitch, and when it came to softening her up for the romantic feelings and “good person” feel, I didn’t fall for it.

Shaw Kinnard is a gun for hire and captures Jordie for a sum of two million.  Jordie has to figure out why he doesn’t kill her right away back in the Louisiana swamp and how she can get away before it does happen.

Shaw has his reason for holding off on the kill.  Jordie’s brother is working for Shaw’s boss and the brother might know where a grand sum of thirty million is stashed.  Shaw claims to be holding Jordie hostage for the jackpot. 

Well, I can see the “bad man,” Shaw, wanting to get it on with his beautiful and rich captive, but the fact that Jordie has unwanted feelings for the man she still believes will kill her and possibly go after her brother, too, is a touch too unbelievable.

I figured out the twist in the plot (I won’t give that up) easily in the first seventy pages or so.  That didn’t faze me, but …Jordie’s such a B.  I liked Shaw better than her and it’s too bad he got hurt!  I wanted him to find another woman (he does reveal redeeming qualities).  Oh, well, they’re both happy…

 

Happy reading,

Dawn

Royally Claimed (Triple Crown Club: Book 2) by Madison Faye

Score!

And Anya did. 

Anya is the BFF of the local princess, Adele, so she has access to the royal life. Adele is a quiet and sweet princess, whereas Anya is a bit more boisterous. 

Adele was in the midst of royal activities.  Anya took this opportunity to go out on the town on her own.  Three men, unknown to her, approached her and requested her companionship for the evening at a club.

Anya warily took the bait.  It wasn’t until they entered the club that Anya realized what kind of club they’d arrived at. 

I’m not going to tell you what the club was for fear that I’ll wreck the surprise when you read the story.  Let’s just say that Four is the magic number and the games played are very satisfying.

An exciting mix-up between men leads Anya to a savory, tantalizing, and love-filled experience.  Keep in mind that Royally Claimed is a mfmm and is definitely a happily, happily, happily, happily-ever-after!

It was a sweet and naughty (yes, that can exist in the same story) read.  One more round of editing would have perfected it, but the story was “yum” and I overlooked the errors.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Red Havoc Bad Cat (Red Havoc Panthers Book 3) by T.S. Joyce

T.S. Joyce has shown us another shifter in the form of a black panther, rude, daring, and sexy as hell named Barret Turgard.  He belongs to the Red Havoc Crew and takes killing seriously.  He doesn’t think he has the capacity to love and take care of a partner.

Little did he know that the broken panther, Lynn, that he vowed to help, has another helper on the way.

In the form of a beautiful female hiding her shifter background, Eden Brown appears at Lynn’s door closely following Barret’s departure.  Eden grew up with Lynn and vows to cure Lynn of her broken heart.

Lynn is no help in the love category.  She repeatedly tells Barret and Lynn to never fall in love.  Love will only destroy.

Barret has this fixed in his mind when he runs into Eden.  Eden is in this part of the forest to help her friend and swears she won’t get distracted by the muscle-rippling Barret who confronts her.

Barret loves every part of Eden, but tells her to stay away and go home.

Even if Barret and Eden find a sexual connection, and it’s steamy, Eden doesn’t think Barret cold ever accept her if he finds out what kind of shifter she represents.  She may be right.

It’s a heart tugging and fierce battle between “love and leave” as secrets are exposed, but don’t give up on the heart and flip the pages late into the evening!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson

Vampires, suspense, and romance make a chilling mix.

Kristi Bentz returns to college signing up for English classes, which includes a popular study of vampires.

How vampires are included in English is a ruse to interest students versus all dull (granted, I don’t find English dull) curriculum. 

Kristi’s purpose is to become a true crime writer.  Her chosen campus is the perfect place to study and to research the disappearance of four young women from this same college.

All the missing women have taken English along with belong to a vampire cult led by the professor of the class.

A fill-in professor of one of Kristi’s classes is surprisingly a boyfriend from ten years ago, who also works for the county forensics and police department.  Jay McKnight might have to be Kristi’s knight in shining armor for her to survive the multiple suspects surrounding the campus.

The obvious suspects are watched, but there’s many more that need a critical eye, be it a group of students, professors, and various on persons on the grounds.

Jackson did an outstanding performance on whipping the story into a frenzy and keeping the reader guessing on who committed the crimes, who will survive, and who just might find a permanent love through all the horror.

Best read at night under your blankets!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Indelible by Karin Slaughter

As we expect, Karin Slaughter has nailed another romantic suspense with a complex plot and love seeping in-between the sheets.

Here we have the police chief, Jeffrey Tolliver, divorced from the medical examiner, Sara Linton.  If they had a romance, married, then ended the romance, what could possibly renew the fire?

Another catastrophe!

Jeffrey’s police force is held hostage at the police station.  Unfortunately, Sara had come to the station for work on a case.  They’re part of the group of the hostages, and the police are being killed off one by one.

In the midst of the tense situation, Jeffrey’s and Sara’s past is played out. I’m not too much in favor of stories going back-and-forth, but Slaughter pulled it off.  She kept the reader in-tune with what’s happened, what’s happening, and how Sara and Jeffrey manage to re-ignite the passion they once felt and never completely lost.

 

Happy reading,

Dawn

Bride of the Dragons by Selina Coffey

Coffey’s menage shifter romance hits the spot for conflict between the dragon clan, humans, and other serpentine groups that want control.  Not to mention a taste of hot sex between lovely Adelina, the human without a dowry, and the steeled bodies of the alpha dragon, Elokon, and his partner dragon, Siron.  They go together, mate and all.

The two male dragons know how to share, the leadership of their clan and their female mate.  Adelina loves it all. 

Of course, there’s the brewing war set up by leaks from…that’s the problem.  Who’s revealing their location, who’s jealous of Adelina, and who wants the power of the clan?

I thoroughly relished Coffey’s quick-moving, high intensity, and steamy account of the magical dragon clan.  If only the story were longer…well, don’t worry, the author treats her readers to an extended selection of her writing!  She gives a handful of stories along with Bride of the Dragons all in the same purchase.  Definitely an author to put on your list of favoritesJ

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith

 I highly recommend this novel due to the historical virtue and the fictional emotions, conversations, and thoughts interpreted by Anne Easter Smith. 

The novel includes Edward IV in the 1470’s and his last mistress, Jane Shore.  Love is not a typical reason for marriages, especially in the noble circle, at this time.  But it does exist.

Jane has what we would see as a tumultuous life in today’s standards.  It was, yet it was also normal survival in the reign of Edward the IV.

Jane, a daughter of a top mercer (clothier) was married to her father’s pick, although she had found the man of her dreams with little knowledge of who this man really was.

A lot of men find Jane amazingly attractive and with a quit wit. And the man with his eye on her is none other than the king. 

Is the king the one she wants, though? There are many top nobles noticing her, and it’s customary for them to have mistresses- yes, it was expected back then.

The story is priceless in its path through Jane’s adult life, the men who love her, a need for true love, and the consequences of living in England in the fifteenth century.

Happy reading,

Dawn

PRESIDENTIAL PURCHASE- A PRESIDENT'S CONFESSION New Release!

The love of America. 

Because I love my country, have visited and enjoyed many others, I still feel blessed to live in the United States of America.

We, as citizens, have unlimited freedoms and choices.  Many other countries have liberties, but my experience tells me that the US has more.

Here’s where it gets a little sticky.  As I know, you have experienced the longest and most controversial presidential campaign probably in your lifetime.  I had to use my ability to make a statement.  We’re allowed to do that in the US. 

I’ve wanted to write this novel for several years.  I’ve always wondered why authors say that instead of just writing it.  My reason is I needed to educate myself, I needed to experience more, I needed to grow in my thinking.  As I have a BS in Political Science and have attended law school, my mind is buzzing with all the governmental action, which it may be a curse that I found the campaigning of all involved so fascinating.

My freedom to write such a story has focused on the questionable tactics to get to Washington. 

I found this my most difficult book to write.  I thought my fingers wouldn’t be able to keep up with my thoughts because there was so much fodder to work with.  The hard part was focusing on a main topic versus covering everything.

Once I focused, it came!

Here’s a short description:

What will it cost? 

A novice journalist learns the scathing details of the former President of the United States’ deadly campaign for office.

Dale Sorenson got the surprise call of his life. Former President Robert Manfield insists on detailing his path to the presidency with the caveat that it’s revealed to the citizens of the United States of America.  The corruption and deadly consequences of becoming president of the greatest democracy on earth will astound the country, if they live to tell the story.

I hope you find it thrilling, I hope it creates suspense, and I hope it gives you a little something to think about.

It’s available at amazon.com/presidential-purchase-a-president’s-confession/dawn-kunda

Leave me a question and you’ll be in the running for a free ebook of Presidential Purchase- A President’s Confession!

Your opinion matters,

Dawn