Cover Reveal for Wanted by J. Kenner ~ Coming January 7, 2014

I really love this cover who wouldn't want a piece of this one? lol Why do I feel like the man is trying to flash us...tempt us...ensnare us...seduce us? How does the song go? 'I want you to want me...' So do you....Want him? If so, 

Wanted by J. Kenner is slated to come out January 7th, but you can pre-order your copy today!

About the book:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey , Bared to You , and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.

He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.

Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.

My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.

And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same.

Wanted is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

About the Author, J. Kenner:

J. Kenner, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. She spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge in her passion of writing. She lives in Texas with her husband and daughters.

Buy Julie’s books here http://www.randomhouse.com/book/234806/wanted-by-j-kenner#abouttheauthor

Win a copy of The Marriage Meger by Jennifer Probst

Win a copy of Jennifer Probst's wonderful new book, The Marriage Merger.

To see my five rose review, Click Here

Her sisters have found wedded bliss with their wealthy,wonderful dream men, but not Julietta Conte. She’s stayed on terra firma as top executive of the family’s corporation, La Dolce Famiglia bakery. Work is her passion, and her trendy Milan apartment her sanctuary . . . until Sawyer Wells, a masculine masterpiece in a suit, lures her out of hiding with an irresistible offer: an exclusive partnership with his international chain of boutique hotels.

Julietta’s been burned before—and trusting her brother-in-law’s friend, whose powerful gaze alone has her rethinking the best use of a conference room, is the riskiest proposition. But with a once-in-a-career chance to take the bakery global, will she mix stone-cold business with red-hot seduction?
(The above synopsis gotten from Goodreads)

~ GIVEAWAY ~

While I was at the annual RWA conference in Atlanta last month, copies of The Marriage Merger were included in everyone's goodie bags. A couple of the attendees had too many books and offered up their copies to me if I could use them. I told them I was pretty sure I could think of something to do with them and viola, this is the result. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home, to find another copy of the book, in ARC form in my mailbox a couple of days later. That brought the total amount of copies I can give away to three.

Rules of Eligibility:

- Only residents of the US who are 18 years of age or older are eligible.

- Please leave your email address so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. **No P.O. Boxes, please**.
- Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already. (Required)

Winners will be randomly chosen. Only one prize per person and per address. Giveaway ends on August 25th, midnight Eastern time. Winners will be posted on my blog and notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Marriage Merger (Marriage to a Billionaire, #4) by Jennifer Probst

• Title: The Marriage Merger (Marriage to a Billionaire)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (July 30, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1476744904
• ISBN-13: 978-1476744902
• Author's Website: http://jenniferprobst.com/
• Notes: I got a copy of the ARC from the publisher.

Julietta Conte would be defined by many as a success. She has just about everything a woman could want--a loving close knit family, a successful career, respect, but there was one thing missing from her life. She didn't have anyone to share her good fortune with. Relationships just never seemed to work. She'd never been able to bond with a man in that primal way that most would take for granted. No matter how much she wanted it, it just never happened. She'd even been coaxed into trying a love spell to find her perfect someone, but to no avail. She's resigned herself to the fact she'll be unlucky in love and not dwell on what she doesn't have.

Sawyer Wells is a force to be reckoned with. He's one of those men who knows what he wants and usually has the confidence  and self determination to get it. When he proposes that La Dolce Famiglia, Julietta's family bakery business, align with his latest business venture, a hotel chain called Purety, it seems to be a winning combination. When he suggests a merger of a more personal nature, Julietta while interested knows it's not wise to miss business with pleasure. Especially since she already knows the outcome, but Sawyer surprises her with his persistence as he makes a proposition she didn't expect...

     "One night, Julietta." His voice stroked and probed every dark corner like crushed velvet. "I want you. and I'll do anything to get you."(...)"If you spend the night with me and you're not satisfied, I'll give you final approval over anything to do with La Dolce Famiglia.(...)

     "What do you get out of it? You'd lose one of the most important aspects in this deal--the ability to veto any decision."

     "I get you."

Will he be the man of her dreams or will he prove her ultimate downfall? After all, he did confess, "No, Julietta, I do not believe in love. Never have. I believe in passion and lust, honesty and loyalty. I believe in hard work and sacrifice. I believe in enjoying the gifts of this world. But I do not believe in love."

This is the fourth and final book in the Marriage to a Billionaire series. While you don't need to read the previous book to enjoy this one, I'd recommend you do because it will make the series as a whole that much more enjoyable to read. The previous characters pay a visit in this one, and you get a nice look at how the three previously matched couples are doing. I always love it when an author does this at the end of a series. It adds an extra bit more closure to it all.

I have to admit, this story made me a little nervous at the beginning. When Sawyer started having fantasies about tying Julietta up with her scarf, I wondered what type of romance this one would be? Dominent/submissive relationships in books always make me a little leary. While I firmly believe what goes on between individuals in the boudoir is up to those individuals who are willing participants, my main problem with books that delve into Dominant/Submissive types of relationships are that they usually only give the perspective of one of the characters. We don't get to see the intimate thoughts of both, and it's usually the male perspective that is not developed completely or at least to my satisfaction. Call me old fashioned, but for a book to be labeled a true romance by me it has to show a relationship that is healthy, shows a mutual respect between the individuals, and isn't destructive or hurtful in any way to either of the individuals involved. I want to leave the story believing the hero and heroine will have a happily ever, or at least a "happy for now" scenario. Luckily, Ms. Probst managed to do just that, and pull off one of the best Dominant /Submissive relationships I've ever read and I absolutely loved it.
 
Sawyer Wells is a character we've seen before, but not entirely in a positive light. He's been drawn as a womanizer who tends to love 'em and leave 'em. But there is more to Sawyer than meets the eye. The man is a very complicated individual who thinks love is the stuff of fairy tales--sought after, but not real. Yet, for all his claims of disbelief, he is drawn to it and has witnessed it, even if he's reluctant to admit it. Perhaps it would be more true to say he doesn't believe love is possible for him. It's something that's eluded him throughout his life and he's afraid to care. I enjoyed how Ms. Probst slowly unmasks the real Sawyer by having the story delve into his background in way that makes us understand why he is the way he is and realize why he'd be a good match for Julietta, after all is said and done.

Julietta is a fun character who has managed to make it in a man's world. She's strong self confident and challenges Sawyer on many different levels. Sawyer is not the type who would be happy with a woman with a weak personality. He needs someone who can match him wit for wit, who is strong and his equal in many things all of which Julietta is. The one area he needs to dominate and let his inner alpha rule is in the bedroom and that is exactly what Julietta needs. She needs someone who will help her lose control of her inhibitions.

Once again Mama Conte meddles in the affairs of her children in attempt to make sure those she cares about end up with the right person. She's one of my favorite characters in this series, and I love the way she manipulates people to do her bidding and nobody seems to be able to say no to the dear woman. I adore the love, loyalty and respect she inspires in those around her. She seems to haves a sixth sense for trouble where her children are concerned and tries to make sure they have to meet it head on. While Julietta and Sawyers issues may seem different, they both boil down to issues of trust. Trust that they don't have to guard themselves from the other. Trust that they can trust their own feelings. Trust that when push comes to shove, the other will stick by them and not go anywhere.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I loved how the author went in depth with Sawyer's past and character. I liked how she didn't shy away from what was truly going on. I enjoyed the mating dance Ms. Probst created and enjoyed the show. Jennifer Probst is definitely one of my top 5 favorite contemporary romance writers and look forward to reading more of her books. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the series:

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman

• Title: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal/End of the World/Comedy
• Format: Paperback; 400 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (August 7, 2007)
• ISBN-10: 0060853972
• ISBN-13: 978-0060853976
• Neil Gaiman's website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/
• Terry Pratchett's website: http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/
• Notes: I borrowed this one from the library.

The beginning of the end is upon us and two ancient beings are at the center of it. Enemies by nature, friends by choice, the fate of the world lies in their hands. One, a demon, whose job is to make sure the world literally goes to hell. The other an angel whose job is to ensure that good prevails. With an intricate plan set in place, the Antichrist is unleashed upon the world. As we all know, even the best laid plans can go awry, and in this case, they most definitely do. The question is what: will the outcome be? You see, the Antichrist has been misplaced for years and without any prominent outside forces to influence him, the two will have a devil of a time predicting what will happen as they desperately try to find the boy who is at the center of everything. With the Antichrist coming into his powers, things are about to change.

This book was written before Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett became well known for their writing. The two spent a summer together creating this story, and it's an excellent example of the brilliant intelligence and humor these two possess. As I was reading, I could just imagine these two sitting back, drinking a couple of beers and discussing what they'd do all the while laughing themselves silly as they tried to see who could make the other one laugh more. The book is laced throughout with enough inside jokes and creative puns that you could reread this book several times and still find something new you hadn't noticed the previous times you read it. I don't think I've ever read another book like this. It's truly one of a kind.

From the very first page the authors set the tone for the book. We are introduced to an angel and a demon. We find out Crawly is the demon who took the form of a serpent and tempted Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge. We learn he doesn't like his name because he feels, "Crawly was not him." The authors don't tell us he's changed his name, but in the next chapter they start referring to a demon named Crowley who is described as having serpentine qualities..."he was wearing snakeskin shoes, or at least presumably he was wearing shoes, and he could do really weird things with his tongue. And, whenever he forgot himself, he had a tendency to hiss." Immediately we see the humor in a barely visible name change.

Aziraphale is naturally the opposite of Crowley. He's an angel who owns a bookshop, but discourages customers from buying from his private stock.The funny thing about Crowley and Aziraphale is that they seem quite comfortable with their lives and have open dialogues throughout the book discussing good and evil and their day to day jobs. It seems the two have combined forces to make their jobs and, thereby, lives easier.

As I mentioned before, there is a subtle humor woven into the fabric of this book. Some examples would be the nunnery that is actually satanically backed that runs team building seminars. Hey, didn't you always know those things were evil by design? *smirk* Then there's the character named Newt which I thought was such an odd name for a character until it was later revealed that he falls for a witch and I just cracked up realizing she'd caught the eye of Newt. Get it? lol How appropriate. Additionally, Gaiman and Pratchett added footnotes, but these are not your average footnotes. Oh, no, not with these two. These are notes to the readers which make those of us reading them feel like the authors are sharing inside jokes with us. Like they're confiding in us. So don't skip them. They're hilarious.

Overall, I gave this 5 out of 5 roses. A very fun read that had me laughing and grinning. I read this book with my Goodreads bookclub and I think that made it even more fun because we were trying to find the jokes within it together. One of the members, Katie, mentioned that The Top of the Sixes was at one time a real restaurant. It went out of business back in 1996, but I managed to find some pictures from it on the internet. They're not my own. Yelp had the full building picture and someone was selling a copy of the post card (last picture) and another individual was selling the menu. I snagged the following photos from the listings. I'm not sure, however, where the first picture is from. I tried searching for it again, but couldn't figure out where I'd first come across it. :(

 

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

• Title: Wallbanger
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Format: Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (August 13, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1476741182
• ISBN-13: 978-1476741185
• Author's website: http://aliceclayton.com/
• Notes: I received a copy of the book from the publisher

Caroline Reynolds was looking forward to enjoying her new apartment. It was absolutely gorgeous, resided in a trendy San Francisco neighborhood and was unbelievably affordable being it was rent controlled. Feeling extremely lucky she fell asleep only to be rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her neighbor who is getting it on his bedroom with his girlfriend. With two more sleepless nights and two different woman banging the man's headboard against her adjoining wall causing pictures to be knocked off walls, one of which crashed down on her head, and her bed to be physically moved, she'd decided she'd had enough. The next time she's rudely awakened by the obvious man-whore she's nicknamed Wallbanger, she storms over to his apartment, not taking in account she's wearing her tiny pink nightie, and confronts him asking him to keep it down. Something she immediately notices will be hard for him to do as she can't ignore his obvious "happy" state. What she didn't expect was for the man to be devastatingly gorgeous or that she'd be having dreams about the man in the nights to come. She also never expected he'd be a family friend of one of her friends, or that they'd end up meeting at a party and things would get awkward...

     "So I was thinking, since we're neighbors and all..." he began.
     I turned to look at him. He was giving me a sexy little grin, and I knew that's what he used to make the panties drop. Ha--little did he know I wasn't wearing any.
    "You were thinking what? That I'd want to join you some night? See what all the fuss is about? Hop on the welcome wagon? I have no interest in becoming one of your girls." I answered, glaring at him.
     He said nothing.
    "Well?" I asked, tapping my foot angrily. The nerve of this guy... 
     "Actually, I was going to say. since we're neighbors and all, maybe we could call a truce?" he said quietly, looking at me in a very irritated way.
     "Oh," I said. It was all I could say.

This is one of those books that needs to come with a warning. ***CAUTION--Do not eat or drink while reading this book. You may find yourself laughing hysterically causing you to choke on any food or beverage you may be trying to ingest.*** This was extremely funny and had me rolling on the floor laughing my butt off. It was reminiscent of one of my favorite old time movies, Pillow Talk, which debuted in 1959 and starred the adorable Doris Day and the incredibly hansom Rock Hudson. Granted, the language is a little more coarse and the humor a touch less innocent than Pillow Talk, but it was incredibly charming all the same.
   
Caroline is a spitfire of a girl with a quick wit and a wicked sense of humor. She's a bit of a tomboy yet still manages to be extremely feminine. She's an interior designer and it's her boss, Jillian, whom she's good friends with, who knows Simon (aka Wallbanger). Simon's a good friend of Jillian fiance, Benjamin. Against her better judgement, Caroline finds herself drawn to the overly confident, sexy neighbor and keeps having to remind herself he has a harem which she does not wish to be part of.

Simon is devilishly handsome, and he knows it. He's a photojournalist who spends most of his time traveling making a relationship difficult. He's traveled the world and hasn't had a serious relationship in years. When he meets Caroline, she throws him for a loop. She's so different from any of the woman he's ever met. She keeps him on his toes and amuses and distracts him.

At the beginning it seems there is no way these two could ever possibly get together. As they start to get to know each other, however, the two find they share a lot of the same interests and sense of humor. As they become friends their initial attraction for each other grows, and its fun to see how things played out.

Overall, this one gets 5 out of 5 roses. An incredibly funny, witty, and delightful read that will have you laughing like a lunatic. I adored the banter that went on between the two characters. I loved all the hilarious situations the two main characters found themselves in. If you're looking for a book to put you in a good mood and lift your spirits, you may want to give this one a try. I HIGHLY recommend this one. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a  SHOWER rating--a cold shower may be necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning; make sure your significant other is handy and/or your shower is in good working order. lol I look forward to reading more books from Ms. Clayton. In two words, this one was well played. ;)

Early Review of The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) (Raven Cycle)

Classification: Young Adult (13 - 17)

Genre: Paranormal

Format: Hardcover; 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc (September 17, 2013)

ISBN-13: 9780545424943

Notes: I received an Advanced Reader Copy at BEA (Book Expo America)

Secrets

Everyone one has a secret of one kind or another, but Ronan Lynch has many. Some are common, some are personal, and some could get him killed. There are things even his best friend, Richard Gansey III, doesn't know about Ronan, but all his secrets are about to be revealed as a killer makes Henrietta his hunting ground, and the Lynch brothers become his prey.

Power

Power is something most men desire. When the ley lines were awakened in Henrietta, people took note and a quest for unimaginable power is about to ensue. Things are about to be shaken up and the once safe little town will be safe no more.

   

     "Everything you've told him could apply to anybody. Anybody with a pulse has doubts. Anybody alive has argued with their brother or their father. Tell me something no one else can tell me. Don't toss a playing card at me and spoon feed me some Jungian bullshit. Tell me something specific."

  

     Blue's eyes narrowed. Persephone stuck out her tongue slightly, a habit born of uncertainty, not impudence. Maura shifted with annoyance. "We don't do specif--"

     Calla interrupted. "A secret killed your father and you know what it was." 

(Excerpt from The Raven Boys; Page 146)

This book picks up a month after where 'The Raven Boys' left off. We still don't know what Adam's sacrifice will cost him, but in 'The Dream Theives', we learn there will definitely be consequences for his actions. Originally when I read The Raven Boys,  I thought this series would focus primarily on Gansey, but after reading 'The Dream Thieves', I'm thinking it has more to do with Ronan. The first two covers both seem to be related in one way or another to Ronan and with this, the second book, being mainly about Ronan, I can't help but feel he will end up surprising us even more in the future. I'm not sure what the final books will entail, but I for one am glad there are at least two more books to the series. I just wish they were already done and released so I could read them. :)

In 'The Raven Boys', we learned some interesting facts about Ronan. One, he said the little raven he adopted named Chainsaw supposedly came from his dreams. We'll find out more about that aspect of Ronan in this book. Secondly, we knew there was something odd about Ronan's father's, Niall Lynch's, death and that will finally be revealed. We'll also find out why his father included such strange conditions in the will which forbid Ronan and his siblings access to their childhood home or coming into contact with their mother. Thirdly, we found out Ronan's tattoo does not appear to be a normal one. According to Gansey, it has significantly changed from when he first got it--a sickle exchanged for a raven's beak--that it has to hold some significance. Unfortunately, the issue of the tattoo isn't addressed, but from other things we learn, we do gain some idea of how this could happen.

Since the first book, I've worried that the friendship between the Raven Boys might be in jeopardy and after reading 'The Dream Theives', I still feel that way. Ronan, Adam, and Gansey all seem to have their lives going in three distinct directions but not in the same. I'll be curious to see how their friendship will fair in the next couple of books and if the quest to find Glendower will bring them together or rip them apart. In the end of 'The Raven Boys',  Adam was told by Maura, "You're avoiding a hard choice. Acting by not acting." It was obvious his home situation was not working, and he didn't want to take Gansey up on his offer to live with him. He didn't want to feel he owed Gansey anything and wanted to make his own way. I thought the decision Adam made to live on his own was the third option that Maura was suggesting that Adam hadn't yet considered. Now, I'm wondering if perhaps her suggestion of a third option is what inspired him to sacrifice himself at the end of 'The Raven Boys'? That decision seems to have put a wedge between him and Gansey. I'm hoping the next book will focus a little more on how that decision will affect Adam. We got a taste in this book, but I think that was only the beginning of what we'll learn.

Why is the book called 'The Dream Theives'? Well, I believe it comes from a method of stealing things from within a person's dreams. A method of going in, getting what you want, and getting right back out as quickly as possible. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for you.

Overall, I'm loving the world and story that Ms. Stiefvater is carefully creating. I look forward to seeing how she'll interlock all the books together, because I have no doubt we'll see how she set everything in place at the end. This one gets a 5 out of 5 roses from me.

Notes to keep you in the know:

I looked up greywaren and found out that it may be Maggie Stiefvater's real last name, but I'm not sure. She has a website from 2009 with the name greywaren in it: http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/ Maybe it's her maiden or married name? Drats! I wish I knew for certain. 

Order of series:

Revenge (Faces of Evil #5) by Debra Webb

• Title: Revenge: The Faces of Evil Series: Book 5
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller
• Format: Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever (July 30, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1455527580
• ISBN-13: 978-1455527588
• Author's Website: http://www.debrawebb.com/

"I need your help, Jess. I think I'm about to be charged with murder."

One of the things that makes Deputy Chief Jess Harris good at her job is being able to read people and realizing what they're capable of doing. Realizing that if a person is pushed to their limits, even the most docile of us can be broken and retaliate in a way most would never believe. Knowing Frances as she did, Jess had no doubts as to her innocence. The seventy year old former school teacher, while still healthy and smart as a whip, is not the type to kill a man less than half her age. 

Scott Baker, a savvy business man with ties to Birmingham's oldest families, has been found murdered in his office by the office cleaning crew. He had no appointments scheduled and had for some reason turned off the security cameras. Prior to the cleaning crew finding him, however, Frances Wallace had come upon his body and immediately bee-lined it to Jess' house. You see, not that long ago, Frances had made a comment about Scott saying, "I hope to live long enough to see him eat those words and die." and most interpreted that to mean she wanted him dead.  

Now Jess needs to do what she does best when it comes to solving a case and attempt to, in her words, "Find the motive, find the answer" as to who killed him. 

When I was a little kid I used to love the game clue. 'Revenge' reminded me of that game, but it was ten times better. In a mystery, I enjoy trying to figure out things before they are revealed at the end. I loved that Jess has to figure out the who-what-and-where of it all. Plus, there are other ongoing story lines from the previous books that interweave all the books in this series together. To me, a good mystery series is a little like a 3-D puzzle. You start focusing on one the puzzle and just when you you've got it solved, you notice there are other sides and dimensions that the puzzle box never indicated. It's more complex then first suggested which makes it all the more difficult and satisfying when completed. For that reason, I would recommend you read the previous 4 books to the series, or you may feel you're missing out, and you will be. Parts of this story builds upon things found in the previous books--working up to what I can only imagine will be a dramatic and eventful end to the series, but hopefully not for a while.

Jess is very likeable because she's smart and hasn't lost herself in the darkness of her career and hasn't grown jaded even though she has every reason to. She's in the precarious position of still being the new kid on the block in the SPU (Special Problems Unit). A former FBI special agent, she's trying to make a go of her new career with the Birmingham police department. The fact she was once engaged to her boss, Police Chief Dan Burnette,  is not winning her any brownie points especially since the two seem to be having trouble keeping their hands off each other. Some of the old feelings are still there, and while they've tried to keep their relationship under the radar, people are starting to notice there's something going on between the two. Factor in that she played a part in screwing up a big case for Captain Ted Allen (at least in his eyes), who is now missing, and the loyalties toward her and confidence in her throughout the department are beginning to wane. Dan is determined not to make the mistake Jess' former husband did, by not backing her. He's got a second shot with her, and he's making sure he doesn't mess things up.

While all that is going on within her department, there are some loose ends from her former job with the FBI. Eric Spears, a serial killer dubbed The Player, had set his sights on Jess but had slipped the Bureau's grasp. It appears Spears hasn't given up hope of finally including Jess among his victim count. While reportedly still out of the country, texts from the man suggest that may not be the case. He single handedly put her career in jeopardy causing her colleagues, including her then husband, to doubt her. From the texts Jess is getting from the deranged killer, it appears he knows what she's doing and must either be watching her or having watched by someone else. So while attempting to keep her sanity and wits about her, as well as solve her present case, she needs to be aware of the potential danger that might be lurking in the shadows around her.

While I was a little worried at the beginning that this would be a little like the movie 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' it truly wasn't. It became clear very quickly that something that happened twelve years ago was directly related to Scott Baker and 4 others, dubbed the Five, who were all part of a close knit group of friends. All were wealthy, with dreams of their future, and a little too full of themselves. While one individual becomes the main suspect, his involvement may not be as clear cut as it first appeared. While I had my suspicions, it wasn't until the last piece was put in place that I got a clear picture of what went on 12 years ago, how it related to the killings currently happening in Birmingham, and how each of those involved had been affected. 

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. A great blend of action, suspense, and mystery that kept me on my toes as I tried to solve the case before Jess did. The story kept me engaged and there was never a dull moment, there was too much going on. As there wasn't much romance in this one (Jess was too busy trying to solve the case and stay alive), I'm forgoing the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale for this one. 

Order of Series: