The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Synopsis via Amazon:

Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.

Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.

It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong?

Fox and O'Hare are back! And boy, are they back! I get hooked over and over every time I read a Fox and O'Hare story. But, it isn't just Kate and Nick, it is also their secret little gang that helps them succeed in their endeavors. My favorite person outside of Kate and Nick? Well, that would have to be Kate's dad. He is a hoot! He is NOT letting age drag him down. He wants to be in the thick of the danger. He wants to dance to his own tune.  

And once again we are taken around the world as Nick and Kate combine their IQ's and experiences to bring the bad guys to justice. There is comedy, suspense, action, adventure, family, and a little butt chewing to keep you reading until you finish the book! I couldn't put this book down!

Ignited (The Ignited Series Book 1) by Desni Dantone

Synopsis via Amazon:

Seventeen year old Kris Young is on the run from a throng of superhuman golden-eyed freaks hell-bent on seeing her dead, and she doesn't know why. Good thing she has her guardian angel to protect her...sort of.

Kris is aided by Nathan, the mysterious man that ends up being anything but angelic when he rescues her for the fourth time in fourteen years. Even if the handsome hero illusion is shattered by his harsh treatment of her, he knows how to fight this strange enemy and is determined to keep her safe at all costs. 
As the body count rises in their wake, Nathan introduces Kris to a world in which not everyone is human and the battle lines between good and evil are clearly drawn. Kris's piece in the puzzle is something neither is aware of and, as they uncover the truth, neither is prepared for what they find. Overcoming twists and revelations that shatter both of their lives, they discover that nothing is as it seems and nothing, least of all their hearts, are safe. 

Miss Dantone is a new author to me. It was the synopsis of this book that really intrigued me. The basic good v. evil isn't what pulled me in. It was the mysterious man that rescues this teenager four times in fourteen years. So, it was the suspense and supernatural that really piqued my interest. And it held my interest.
Miss Dantone delves into teenage romance without including the sex and turmoil that seems so popular in the YA movies and television shows these days. She is realistic in the expectations of a teen age romance. The story line is kept alive with suspense. intrigue, strong characters, and  an interesting take on the supernatural world.
Miss Dantone does not follow the traditional supernatural world of vampires. werewolves, and other shape shifters. She brings a breath of fresh air to the world of the supernatural.
This is a book worthy of a cozy corner, a cup of tea, and a comfortable blanket.

Explosive Forces: A K-9 Rescue Novel by D.D. Ayres

Synopsis via Amazon:

Danger is heating up…

When Carly Reese’s beloved fashion boutique catches fire, she sees her dreams go up in smoke. The good news is that Carly was saved from the flames by a barking dog nearby. She soon discovers the heroic pooch is a trained K-9 who’s guarding his unconscious partner …a gorgeous firefighter who ends up in Carly’s arms.

Noah Glover and his K-9 are a fearless duo, and Noah has clearly met his match with the brave, beautiful Carly. Soon they team up to track down the arsonist behind the blast – a psychotic criminal who’s intent on framing Noah. Meanwhile, the sparks between Noah and and Carly could ignite a five-alarm fire. Should they smother their feelings in the name of justice…or fan the flames of passion? 

Miss Ayres brings us Book #5 in her K-9 Rescue Series.

Miss Ayres is a great romance author, but this is not only a romance, there is also a bit of suspense to it.
There is always a bit of education in Miss Ayres K-9 Rescue series and this is not an exception. Explosive Forces introduces the reader to the special bond between a service dog and a military veteran who is determined to overcome his acquired disability.
While most romance stories have  obstacles that the hero and heroine must overcome, Miss Ayres has created a kind of "whodunit". For me this added to the reading adventure and enjoyment.
I think as the reader tries to figure the puzzle out, they become more invested in the characters and story. Add to this a HOT cop, spunky heroine, and adorable furry friend, you get a book that is impossible to put down.
I know this is a short review compared to my other reviews, but there really isn't a better way for me to let everyone know that Miss Ayres has brought us another heart felt, heart touching story.

I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton

Synopsis via www.laurellkhamilton.com:

Anita Blake has the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. She’s a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since she and master vampire Jean-Claude went public with their engagement, all she is to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude’s fiancée.

It’s wreaking havoc with her reputation as a hard ass—to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, she’s still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue.

Someone is producing zombie porn. Anita has seen her share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn’t bother her. But the women being victimized aren’t just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signaling voodoo of the blackest kind.

It’s the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And Anita’s own soul may not survive unscathed…

If you have not read any of the Anita Blake stories and you like Paranormal Erotic Romance, then you really need to read the first book in the series. Not only will this hook you on the Anita Blake books, it will hook you on Miss Hamilton's  writing.
In Dead Ice, Anita is once again called upon to save someone or something. We get to see her use her necromancy skills again. This time, she is up against an egomaniac that wants to prove his necromancy skills are better than hers. Along the way she must deal with the "pop up issues" on the "personal" side of her life. She, Jean-Claude, Micah, Nathaniel, and all her vampires and furry boyfriends and girlfriends must deal with all the political issues that go along with being the fiancee of the Vampire King.
This story, like most of the other Anita Blake stories, is not light reading. This story has so many plots within plots and twists and turns, that you must give the story your whole attention or you will have difficulty keeping everything straight. Miss Hamilton does a pretty good job of  tying in past stories in a way that doesn't make the reader feel like they are missing important facts. That being said, it will help you to read the series in order. There are still little nuances that you will not understand if you don't know all the stories.
In Dead Ice, Anita is starting to transform herself into a more girly person. While it seems like she is softening up, I see it more that she is evolving. She is learning how to put her selfishness aside and put her loved ones needs to the forefront. Now, for those that have read any of the Anita Blake series, don't fear! Anita is not losing herself, she is becoming a productive member of her relationships.
If you are not into graphic sex scenes, then not only is Dead Ice not for you, but neither is any of Miss Hamilton's books. BUT, if you are into the whole Paranormal Erotica, Miss Hamilton's writing will not leave you wanting more.
For me personally, the complexity of Anita's relationships can get too complex at times. The story really did require all of my attention. I found that if my mind wandered for even a second, I had to re-read to maneuver all of the twists and turns. But, all in all, I really enjoyed delving back into Anita's story. All of the characters are special. Each character has a personality so different from the others. It is like they come alive right before your eyes. Each character picks up in the new story where they left off in the previous story. Their personalities are the basis of bringing the story to life. Miss Hamilton delves so deeply into each character, that without them, the story would fall flat. And this story definitely does not fall flat!
I definitely recommend not only Dead Ice, but Miss Hamilton as well. Dive into a whole new world!

Illusion Town by Jayne Castle

Synopsis via Amazon:

With its opulent casinos and hotels, the desert city of Illusion Town is totally unique—and will take you on a thrill ride you’ll never forget.

Hannah West isn’t the first woman to wake up in Illusion Town married to a man she barely knows, but she has no memory of the ceremony at all. For that matter, neither does Elias Coppersmith, her new husband. All either can remember is that they were on the run…

With Hannah’s dubious background and shaky para-psych profile, she could have done much worse. The cooly competent mining heir arouses her curiosity—as well as other parts of her mind and body. And even her dust bunny likes him.

But a honeymoon spent retracing their footsteps leads Hannah and Elias into the twisting underground catacombs, where secrets from both their pasts will come to light—and where the energy of their clashing auras will grow hot enough to burn…

I have been waiting to return to Harmony FOREVER!! At least that is what it feels like to me.

Jayne Castle, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, aka Amanda Quick is one of my top 3 favorite authors and her world of Harmony is my favorite place to visit.

In  Illusion Town we are introduced to Harmony's Las Vegas. Glitter, sparkle, shine, and adrenaline rushes are the mainstay of Illusion Town. 

Let's take a look at Hannah. Hannah is a finder of missing, lost, and stolen objects in the underground world. And like all Harmony heroines, she has off the chart psychic abilities. Hers happens to be dreamlight.  She and her dust bunny companion, Virgil, hire out to locate items in the underground.

Hannah is not the first character in the Harmony series that is a strong dreamlight  worker, Marlowe Jones in Midnight Crystal was also a very strong dreamlight talent. But that is where the similarities end. Hannah  has a very special way of having a conversation with herself. But, alas, I can't spill the details or it could spoil an important part of the story. Like all females in Miss Castle's story, Hannah is a very strong woman with a less than average childhood, who has taken care of herself.

Elias Coppersmith is from the well known, wealthy Coppersmith family. He is a crystal engineer in the family business Coppersmith Mining Company. And of  course, he is an off the charts crystal worker. He can manipulate crystals.
One of the things I love about Miss Castle's Harmony series, is that it always feels like I'm coming home. She brings everything to life. Instead of feeling like you are a voyeur in someone else's story, you feel like you are walking beside them throughout their journey.
This is a hard review for me to write. I have started, stopped, and returned to it three times. Why? Well, Miss Castle/Krentz/Quick is a New York Times Best Selling author many times (no pun intended). And as I said before, reading the Harmony series is like coming home. It takes someone very special to create a world that the reader can't wait to visit over and over again. I can honestly say that there is nothing I don't like about this book.
Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick is an author the you have GOT to read!!
On a scale from 1-5, I give her a 10!!

Fear University by Meg Collett

Synopsis via Amazon:

I’ve always known I was a monster, and I don’t mean some teenage vampire shit either. 

My mother abandoned me when I was ten years old because I have a freakish mutant disease that makes me incapable of feeling pain. I bounced from one foster family to another because too many people like to test my medical condition in a game of “Try To Make Ollie Scream.” At sixteen, I killed a man for taking that game too far. 

Two years later, I’m still on the run in Kodiak, Alaska. Here, I’m the most dangerous person around, until I come face to face with a creature that should only exist in folklore. The monster is an aswang, and I, with my medical anomaly, am uniquely qualified to hunt the beast that haunts the night. At least, that’s what the two scarred, mostly crazy ’swang hunters tell me when they kidnap me and take me to Fear University, a school where young students learn to hunt and kill aswangs. 

I arrive at the university a prisoner, but I stay because I finally find my freedom. 

For once in my life, I belong. I’m needed. I make a home for myself inside the university masquerading as an old Alaskan prison. Something close to happiness warms my icy heart when I’m with my scarred, still mostly crazy tutor, Luke Aultstriver. For a murdering runaway like me, Fear University is a haven where I can put my skills to good use hunting monsters in the night. 

But when certain truths come to light and even more lies are exposed, I fear that I, Ollie Andrews, am the worst kind of monster of all. And, maybe, they should be hunting me.

So, I tried a new author and she is "fudging" AWESOME!!!
Meg Collett is a fellow Tennessean who is the author of four separate series. The Fear University is a contemporary fantasy series. And after just reading the first book, I happily inform you that it is one impressively mind blowing read!
Miss Collett has taken an old Phillipino myth and given it new life. She has taken a story of things that "go bump in the night" and made them "go bump in the present". But one of the things I like about Fear University is that she has introduced part of the Phillipino culture to the world.  Why is that important? Well, a lot of the older superstitions  from all cultures, are handed down the generations verbally. Because Miss Collett has taken an oral superstition and given it life in the written world. It will now survive for as long as her books are around.
Let's get to the detailed review. As most who visit my blog know, I do not like to "spoil" the book for other readers.
First, what I liked about the book:
The story is contemporary fantasy. It brings the supernatural into the present. It combines your imagination with the world around you making you ask "Is this something that could be real?".
With every character, there is more than meets the eye. Each character has a depth to them that will surprise you when they are  peeled like an onion. Will they make you cry? No, but they do make you reassess how you are expecting the storyline to progress.
I especially like the main characters and how they seem to evolve when you think you have them figured out. Their "evolution" (my term) helps the story maintain it's intensifying plot without feeling tired or monotonous. All of these together helped me read this 333 pages (e-book) in two days. I HAD to know what came next. I was totally engrossed.
What I didn't like about the book:
It only took me two days to read. I was up until 1:30 in the morning finishing the book because it was so engrossing. Thank goodness the next day was not a work day!! When I finally reached the last page, I was so engrossed with the story, I didn't realize I was on the last page and when I turned the page to find the book was over, I literally groaned and exclaimed "NO!!".
Okay, so the things I didn't like aren't bad things. They are reasons why you SHOULD read this story.

I will definitely be reading the next two books. And I found another author to place on my MUST READ list.
So this is on my list of "you have GOT to read this book!".
May you be blessed with the love of reading.

Made for Sin by Stacia Kane

Synopsis via Amazon:

A lot of bad hands get dealt in Vegas, but E. L. Speare may be holding one of the worst: He’s cursed with the need to commit sins, and if he misses his daily quota, there’s hell to pay—literally. Fortunately, his hometown affords him plenty of chances to behave badly.

But Speare’s newest case really has him going out on a limb. The right-hand man of a notorious crime boss has been found dead in a Dumpster—minus his right hand, not to mention the rest of his arm. What catches Speare’s attention, however, is that the missing appendage was severed clean by a demon-sword, a frighteningly powerful tool of the underworld.

Speare’s out of his element, so he turns to a specialist: Ardeth Coyle, master thief, dealer in occult artifacts, and bona fide temptress. Ardeth’s hotter than a Las Vegas sidewalk on the Fourth of July, but she’s one sin Speare has to resist. 

The dismembered corpses are piling up, unimaginable evil lurks in the shadows, and if this odd couple hopes to beat the odds, Speare needs to keep his hands off Ardeth, and his head in the game.

Made for Sin is a whole new take on demon stories.
First, we are introduced to Speare, a man living with a demon. literally. Speare shares his head with a demon. This demon requires Speare to voluntarily commit a sin or the demon takes over and Speare is forced to sit back and watch.
This story was a little slow in my opinion. I was intrigued by Speare's need to commit sins. Having a morbid curiosity, I wanted to find out which sins he committed, But I was really hoping I would get to find out what kind of sins the demon would reap.
I have to say that this was not one of my favorite stories. But it was definitely not the worst story I have read.
This will interest you if you like a mystery that does not require much thought.