Review: Best Laid Plans (The Mercenaries, #1) by Stylo Fantome (Goodreads Author)

Best Laid Plans by Stylo Fantome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The most dangerous place in Africa. A ruthless mercenary smuggling “blood” diamonds and the transporter - both on a paid mission for the Russian Bratva aka Mob.

Unstable countries, war, hunted by armed and dangerous gangs, explosions,

suspense, cold-blooded killers, danger, diamond smuggling, rough and raw sex, treachery, revenge, violence, duplicity, hilarious moments, deceitfulness, big guns,

love, tenderness and the wildest and perilous journey through the most hostile place! Yes…….Best Laid Plans, the 1st book in Stylo Fantome’s The Mercenaries Series is ….

Whew....let me take a breath for a moment here…….This book left me feeling like I had just watched a Quentin Tarentino movie….oh, Mr T…..you could turn this story into a beyond amazing movie!!!

What made this novel such a great read for me?

THE CHARACTERS
Really? Mercenaries….killing and stealing for money, immoral, ruthless, dregs of the earth!!! I know, it’s crazy. But there was something about the main characters that drew me to them. Underneath all the cruelty and hardness, there was a gentleness and loneliness too.

LILIANA aka LILY BREWSTER

I fell in love with Lily from the start. A kick-ass heroine that drew me in with her smartness, toughness and her resourcefulness. She’s gutsy and self-reliant and takes care of herself and the baddies too. A take-charge woman.

“Just you wait, Marcelle De Sant. I’ll be the best anyone in this business has ever seen. Just you fucking wait.”

She’s sexy and adventurous and not afraid to make the first move……

This is also a woman with a lot of baggage….She has spent the last five years on a mission to revenge and kill the man responsible for her sister’s death, and nothing will stand in her way to accomplish that.

MARCELLE aka MARC DE SANT

"Marc was all rough sexiness, five o'clock shadow and gritted teeth, his presence filling a room like a bomb blast.

This is a man who kills and steals for money. A paid mercenary. His childhood was sad and terrible having being left alone to fend for himself after his parents had suddenly died. He learnt from an early age how to survive in the most appalling situations. His life is hard and brutal and all he looks forward to is the next paying job.

I ached for this man. How conflicted he felt about what he was doing and how lonely and sad his life actually was. What drew me to him was that he still retained his humanity. He had a gentle and caring side which he kept hidden from the world.

KINGSLEY LAW

“Kingsley was smoothness personified, with gel in his hair, and a suit under all his black gear. He was well groomed and had stormy blue eyes and fair skin, a sharp jaw and broad shoulders, complimented by perfect pearly teeth and a perfect pearly smile. His presence was sharp, like a knife."

Fellow mercenary and friend, he’s the only person that Marc trusts and who he sees as a friend. I loved this character. He’s undeniably unforgettable. He’s like a breath of fresh air amid the chaos. He lightens up tense and dangerous situations that relieve you from dark to light.
I would love to read his story someday.


THE ROMANCE

Lily does not need a man to get things done. But when she’s thrown together with a man just as tough and kick-ass as her, sharing a common goal to take out the bad guys…….temperatures will soar, conflict will arise and they will bring out the best and worst in each other.

"Why is everything a fucking battle with you? I feel like I need to constantly be kicking your ass just to get anything I want," – Marc

THE SETTING

Loved that the story takes place in Africa, which made it unique and out of the ordinary. Having travelled a lot in Africa, I had a vivid picture in my head of the places that were described.

By now, it’s very clear and obvious that I loved this crazy and insane trip. I am so looking forward to the next book……..and hey, get this one…because it’s…..GREAT FUN TO READ!!!

I loved this ………………..

”Yesterday, we were ready to kill each other. Tonight, we just had sex for two hours straight. What’s tomorrow? Pistols ad dawn?”

View all my reviews

Review: Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz (Goodreads Author)

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Secret Sisters, the latest book by Jayne Ann Krentz but there were a few things that missed the WOW factor for me.

The story started off really well. Intriguing and mysterious!!! Something that happened 18 years ago in the rather scary Cooper Island that has since remained a secret between the people involved.

But halfway through the book I kept thinking……are these people for real!!! Look, don’t get me wrong………I actually kept turning the pages and read it in one go…….but …yes, another but…..the characters didn’t feel real to me. All their problems and baggage….Hell, I just wanted to tell Madeleine & Jack to get their shit together and just do it!!!! Instead, they pussyfooted around each other most of the time.

A huge amount of red herrings… we get to know the evil and rich local family with their eyes set on political power and their sociopath son………just when I had the villain in sight…….no….wrong!!! In fact, I was wrong a lot of the time….because when the true villain is exposed……WOW!!!! Never expected that.

One of the things that I liked was Abe, Jack’s brother and partner and Daphne, Madeleine’s “secret sister”. They were such a cute and adorable couple.

This was a solid and…yes….despite all my “gripes”, a rather enjoyable romantic story filled with suspense, secrets and loads of baddies!!!!!

View all my reviews

Review: Misconduct by Penelope Douglas (Goodreads Author)

Misconduct by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Misconduct by Penelope Douglas is an absolute reading treat!!

Be prepared to fall in love with Easton Bradbury & Tyler Mareck!!!

Easton Bradbury, former professional tennis and now a teacher at a top private school in New Orleans. She’s independent, sexy, and smart with a few quirks thrown in.

Tyler Mareck, successful and rich businessman has reached the top of his game. Now aiming for something more ….politics and power.

When these two meet at a gala event, sparks fly!!!

Fast forward ……next meeting they have is when Easton discovers that Tyler’s son will be one of her students. Problem? More than just one!! Getting involved would be total madness…….fight the attraction!!!!! That’s the plan!!

”What the hell are we doing? I couldn't get involved with a parent, and even if I did, it couldn't be him...I enjoyed him too much...”

I loved the interaction between them. The banter……Easton has just told Tyler that she has a bit of OCD…just something that makes her cope with things in her life……

The fun. The passion….and the steamiest sex ever.
They just brought something good out of each other.

I adored Easton. She’s survived some really bad things that happened in her life. She’s strong and nothing keeps her down for long. Her class scenes with her students and the teaching methods she applied were fascinating and so interesting. I loved the way social media was used as a teaching medium. So unique.

And speaking about her sassiness….loved how she can take on all the stereotype politicians…..absolutely brilliant!!!

Loved the way their relationship developed and how they were able to help each other.

“Pearls of Wisdom” that really grabbed me…..

It’s impossible not to want this lovable and endearing couple to find their HEA.

A delightful, sweet, angsty, sexy and romantic love story.

I loved this quote

” Life was scarier - and harder - when you had things you were afraid to lose.

View all my reviews

Review: The Muse (Irresistible, #5) by Anne Calhoun (Goodreads Author)

The Muse by Anne Calhoun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A not quickly forgotten, inspirational, sensual and haunting love story.

Anne Calhoun has brilliantly created an uplifting, enthralling, complex and breathlessly fascinating story of two people who meet under difficult situations and their journey together to finding hope, healing and love.

Arden McCarren’s world comes crashing down, when her father and brother are arrested and charged with using a Ponzi scheme to defraud clients of millions. She now faces the challenge to caring for her mother and dealing with the fall-out that they have left her to deal with. Beset by panic attacks and the pressure that the relentless media facing her, ostracized by her friends and colleagues, FBI scrutiny, half-way to a breakdown….she’s tries as best she can to face each new day in her life.

Seth Miller, former marine, who has suffered the loss of his three best friends on their last mission in Afghanistan, is now a bike messenger and part-time nude model for art students in New York. He’s haunted by the tragic and terrible death of his colleagues and the only way he can deal with his loss and pain is by helping and being there for his dead friend’s families.

When these two damaged souls meet at an art class, they feel a connection each other.
They recognize something that comforts and eases their pain.

I loved watching Arden and Seth together. Their relationship felt real and the progression from sex to friends to lovers was done in a very believable and natural way. Understanding each other’s pain, fears and insecurities…..

I so wanted these two people to be together and find happiness in their lives…I was so invested in their relationship. Sadness, giving, understanding, caring and an incredibly unselfish love for each other.

I love this author’s writing style and voice. She has a unique and distinctive way with words that enthralled me from the very first page.

Wrapped securely in his arms, she let the silence settle over her. She breathed in, breathed out, and knew she was alive. She breathed in, breathed out, and knew peace.

Engaging secondary characters and a beautiful setting.

I am so looking forward to reading more of this author’s books.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads in 2015.

Go on, get this book….why? Because it’s more than just brilliant and unforgettable.

And not forgetting…. a big and huge THANK YOU to my GR friend, Baba, whose brilliant review made me want to read this book. You rock BB!!!

View all my reviews

Review: Blood Sins (Bishop/Special Crimes Unit #11) by Kay Hooper

Blood Sins by Kay Hooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4,5 stars

Blood Sins, the 11th book in Kay Hooper’s brilliant Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Series, kicks off just after the ending in the previous book, Blood Dreams, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... , where the serial killer had been caught but discovered that he had just been used by a very powerful and dangerous puppet master.

The mastermind behind the horrific killings is thought to be a man named Rev Samuel, leader of the Church of the Everlasting Sin, situated in the mountains near the small town of Grace, North Carolina.

The SCU and Haven, work together to find out more about the church compound and its leader and members.

Tessa Gray, member of Haven, has the unique gift of being able to identify and connect with other psychics and their abilities is asked to go undercover as a wealthy widow living in Grace and use that status to infiltrate the church and find out more about its leader and members.

This was a really scary read.

An evil psychic whose powers are increased by draining other psychic’s powers that make him even more powerful.

What Tessa discovers in the church compound is so malevolent and evil and seeing how people are manipulated and used in the name of religion is so terrifying. The fear and the abuse that the children there go through is frightening and more than fearful.

I liked Tessa and Grace’s chief of police, Sawyer Cavenaugh, who helps her with her mission. I would have liked more romance between these two characters, but I have a feeling that the connection they have with each other will progress in the series.

And Noah Bishop finally discovering who the person behind the conspiracy to bring harm to the SCU was more than unexpected. I never had a clue!!!

Loved the appearances made in this book – Gallen, Quentin and Hollis, who I am still eagerly waiting for her book!!!

Filled with tension, mystery, suspense and ambiguity that keep you turning the pages, wanting to know – what next!!!!

A great addition to a great series.

View all my reviews

Review: Blood Dreams (Bishop/Special Crimes Unit, #10) by Kay Hooper

Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Blood Dreams is the 10th book in Kay Hooper’s Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Series about a group of psychics that solve serial killer crimes.

This is the book that introduces Haven, a private organization that was set up by millionaire John Garrett and his psychic wife, Maggie Barnes to help psychics with dealing with their powers and whilst they work along with the Special Crimes Unit, they are in no way affiliated to the FBI.

Dani Justice, whose psychic ability is that she can often predict the future in her dreams, has returned home after being away for years to be with her twin sister, Paris, who has just gone through a very ugly divorce. Soon she’s thrown into helping the local enforcement agents to finding a serial killer that had been on a murder rampage in other cities and has now traveled from his last place to her home town.

Once again the author gives us no clue who the killer is. All he knows is that he/she possesses strong psychic abilities and is able to enter Dani’s dreams.

I enjoyed this story but it’s not the best one in the series.

I would have liked Dani and Marc, the local sheriff’s relationship to be a bit more developed. I just never got to know the two that well. I would have also liked seeing a bit more romance and more about their relationship.

I liked seeing characters that I have come to know from the previous books, Noah and Miranda Bishop (not enough of these two!!), Hollis Templeton….who is a really interesting character and hopefully we will have her own book soon,

A hint that there’s something more going on with the serial killer, who is chillingly and scarily evil. The mention of a Prophecy and a feeling that there is some kind of conspiracy that wants to harm people with psychic powers.

A twist at the end??? Of course!!!! Again, the most unexpected one.

This is such a good and really unique series.

View all my reviews