Between The Pages - Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished 

Sophia Ryan 

September 2022 

By-the-book ER nurse Alicia Stone can spot trouble a mile away. The sex-in-combat-boots bleeding all over her porch radiates with it. Her plan to bandage him up and show him the door goes awry when a blizzard traps them in her cozy mountain cabin. 

Until FBI Agent Nick Navarro can confirm the identity of the siren who saved his life, his mission is to keep his identity secret and his hands to himself. With a soul crafted by angels, a body crafted by devils, and a brand of TLC that could tempt a corpse, she’s making it difficult for him to accomplish that mission. 

Alicia’s patient is secretive and cocky, sweet and sexy, and very likely a criminal. As the temperatures tumble, so do her defenses, even though she knows that falling for him will put more than her heart at risk when the bad guys who shot him show up to finish the job. 

Between The Pages 

This suspenseful romance is riveting from the very first chapter. The author’s writing of text and dialogue immediately pulls you into the well-developed plot. The flow is seamless from page to page and chapter to chapter. A snowy setting in New Mexico has the main characters, Alicia and Nick (aka Rey), isolated and stranded in a mountain cabin. She’s cautious and he’s dangerous, yet they still form a close bond. They have instant chemistry, which soon has steam sizzling on the pages, however, the author does a great job of building their relationship, making their attraction and heat more believable. Secrets, emotional ups and downs, action, and an adorable dog add to the enjoyment of this must read book.

Rating 

5 Stars

Between The Pages - Cause For Elimination

Cause For Elimination 

Marla A. White 

October 2022 

Reclaiming her life after a devastating riding accident, equestrian Emily Conners' world shatters again when she discovers her friend and boss lying in a stall with a smashed skull. Now jobless and with a handsome cop underfoot investigating the case, she's torn between wanting the killer found and keeping her own secrets safe. 

Detective Justin Butler always gets his killer, but this victim has a stampede of enemies and few leads to go on. Stonewalled by the tight-knit equestrian world, he looks to Emily for help, but she's strangely reluctant. Is she hiding something, or is she afraid of their growing attraction? 

As the search for the murderer heats up, their hearts become entangled and their lives at risk, forcing Emily and Justin to work together to find the killer before they strike again. 

Between The Pages 

This edge-of-your-seat mystery was an interesting read. The author has a great voice for spinning twists and turns into a suspenseful story. With so many possible suspects, the reader wonders who could be the killer and when they will strike again. The plot around the equestrian world was enjoyable, and the author is very knowledgeable in this ring. Justin was a great hero and the perfect person to step into Emily’s life. The banter between Justin, and his partner, Dennis was fun. Lottie was also a great and feisty secondary character. While the author did a good job on the sensitive subject of addiction, a mention should have been added of professional help to assist and maintain the character’s sobriety. But overall, this mystery was a page-turning read. 

Rating 

4.5 Stars

Between The Pages - Curse of Wolf Falls

Curse of Wolf Falls 

Brenda Whiteside 

September 2022 

Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy. 

Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can't return—the ability to absorb the joy, pain, and suffering of others. She's spent her life running from what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center. 

Jules never got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later, he's back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can stand the torture, he'll risk reviving their relationship. But saving Elidor from herself and the secret she won't give up may be the death of them both. 

With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But fate is coming after her, and there's nowhere the couple can hide. 

Between The Pages 

Book three in the Mackenzie Chronicles is all about the bond of family. Elidor’s reconnection with her father and siblings is touching, as is Julien’s connection with his uncle. Elidor and Julian have a chemistry that remained strong in their hearts. Their second chance to rekindle a friendship and romance is heartwarming. The secondary cast is equally enjoyable. A bit of suspense moves the plot of this story with a secret Elidor is hiding. The reader gets a good look into the villain with his point of view. Revisiting the quaint setting of Joshua was captivating, and one of my favourite parts was learning about the legend of Wolf Falls. 

Rating 

4.5 Stars

Between The Pages - Saving Euphoria

Saving Euphoria 

C. Becker 

May 2022 

Hailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well. 

Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them. 

Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love. 

Between The Pages 

This thriller romance is packed with suspense. The action starts with the opening chapter and never really stops. The author supplies a well-developed cast from the leading characters to secondary members which all have a crucial role in the plot. The story has a lot of characters and is told in a few different points of view, but they are easy to follow and doesn’t hinder the read. The suspense and action are intense and includes a few surprising twists…and a sad character loss. This book is the second in the Euphoria Series. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the first book, so I missed out on some background information, but it was still an enjoyable read. The ending chapters hint to another book in this series, which I will definitely pick up. 

Rating 

4.5 Stars

Between The Pages - Jagged Feathers

Jagged Feathers 

Jan Sikes 

January 2022 

Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master's scars. If only the white rune's magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann. 

On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann's cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed. 

A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks. Will these two not only survive but find unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both? 

Between The Pages 

The beautiful cover had me wanting to read this book, which is the second book in The White Rune Series, and while I prefer to start a series from the beginning, nothing significant is missed in the storyline with Vann and Nakina. The author adds snippets of information of what happened in the first book, Ghostly Interference, leaving Jagged Feathers to flow well on its own. The author grabs your attention in the first chapter and holds it throughout the story. The premise of a broken soldier finding his purpose isn’t new, but the author puts a unique spin to her storyline that is quite enjoyable. Vann and Nakina have a captivating romance that grows with the turn of every page. Vann’s dog, Champion, was a highlight in the story for me, as were the ‘signs’ and Nakina’s visions. The action and suspense are well-developed, and just when you think the dust has settled, the author gives the reader what they’ve been waiting for with a confrontation of action. The ending is sweet and has you smiling when Van gives the rune to a friend, which will have you anxious for book three. I highly recommend reading Jagged Feathers. 

Rating 

5 Stars