Deadlock (FBI: Houston) by DiAnn Mills

 

 

Book Description:  Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?

That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.

When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.

My Thoughts:  I've been waiting for this book!  I've read all of the FBI: Houston books.  Each book is about a different crime and different agents that work on the cases.  But  all the crimes take place in Houston, Texas.

Special Agent Bethany Sanchez and Special Agent Thatcher Graves couldn't be more different in their approaches to solving crimes.  She goes by the law and he goes by what he believes/feels.  They are placed as a team to solve two murders that have rocked Houston.

As their leads fizzle out it seems that this case becomes a deadlock...nothing is happening.

But then a third victim and an attempt on the agents lives turns up the heat on this case.

As the agents begin to rely on each other and trust each other.  They realize that their opposite ways of solving crimes can actually help them solve the crimes. 

Once again Houston FBI has some of the best agents in literary fiction!

Again, DiAnn Mills has written fantabulous story!  

• ISBN-10: 1414389957
• ISBN-13: 978-1414389950

All Is Calm, All Is Bright: A Colleen Coble Christmas Collection by Colleen Coble

 

Book Description: Return to two of Colleen Coble’s most beloved settings—Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach—for holiday romance and mystery!

All Is Calm

It’s going to be an unexpectedly romantic Christmas at Bluebird Ranch.

Brendan Waddell has always considered Bluebird Ranch a little piece of heaven: an idyllic ranch that pairs abused children with abused horses, run by one of his Marine buddies. Now, it seems just the place to spend Christmas recovering from an on-the-job injury.

Lauren Everman first came to the ranch as a foster kid, but now knows it’s the perfect hideout. As the witness to a murder, Lauren needs somewhere to lie low. Her beauty immediately catches Brendan’s attention—but so does her secretive behavior. This Special Ops Intel man knows a woman on the run when he sees one. Can he trust her, or is she putting the ranch at risk? One thing is certain: he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe so he can see what magic Christmas brings.

All Is Bright

A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah’s unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?

As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friend, Elin Summerall. But when Delilah’s car is forced off the road and into the ocean, she finally has to admit that the strange phone calls she’s been receiving lately may be more than just pranks.

Sheriff Tom Bourne has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. He hopes to win her heart by giving her the surprise gift of a lifetime . . . but first he has to make sure nothing happens to her before Christmas Day.

My Thoughts:  The Christmas reads are coming in...yay!  

Coleen Coble has two great novellas in one sweet book. 

The first novella, All Is Calm, is full of suspense.  Ironically, all is not calm at Bluebird Ranch.  Lauren Everman comes to the ranch to hide out.  She remembers the ranch from her days as a foster child. And Brendan Waddell comes to the ranch to visit friends. 

Brendan feels "love at first sight for Lauren.  But as he gets to know her he knows she is hiding something.  

A great short story full of suspense and mystery!

Then All Is Bright is the story about Delilah.  Delilah wants her friend to have the dream wedding she always wanted.  Sheriff Tom Bourne has admired Delilah and wants to protect her...he also wants to win her heart.  He plans a great surprise for her.  

Another great suspense short story with wonderful characters that come to life in the pages of a great read!

This book would make a nice Christmas card for someone who needs a lift during the holidays.

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718037820
• ISBN-13: 978-0718037826

Fun Friday!

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

Not Exactly Mr. Darcy: The Silver Teapot Series - Book 1 by Carolyn Miller

 Book Description:  When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

My Thoughts:  A new to me author...Carolyn Miller writes about Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances.

I've always loved Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.  Carolyn Miller makes a humorous and sweet story with  "not exactly Mr. Darcy."  And sometimes one just needs to take a break from all the murder and suspense and read about love in the most fun way.

Olivia (aka Liv) Bennett, name play from Pride and Prejudice, is a teacher without a contract.  Not sure what to do with herself she takes her family's advice and goes to a tiny English village to take care of her ailing mother.

Enter Liam Browne the head gardener at the movie site for Pride and Prejudice where Olivia finds extra work.

She and Liam do not hit it off.  Liam is a gruff mostly sour man.  Olivia does not understand his gruffness until one day when she happens upon his family "secret."

Can Liv help or will she make things worse for her and Liam?

This was such a great read!  I loved the characters and humor.  I know if you love Pride and Prejudice, you'll love this fantastic story.

*This book was provided by Barbour*

8

Don't Close Your Eyes (The first book in the Hallowed Halls series) by Mary Alford

 

Book Description: Seven years ago, FBI Profiler Megan Iluak tapped into the mind of a serial killer—and nearly became his last victim. Her FBI colleague and then husband, Jack, put everything he had into finding the killer, but the case took its toll on Megan and Jack and destroyed their marriage. With her heart in shambles, Megan fled to the small Inuit village where she was from in remote Alaska, but vivid nightmares of the killer won’t let her go so easily. And soon, her dreams take a fresh and frightening twist from nightmare to reality.

Jack thought he’d made the right decision by letting Megan go and not fighting for their marriage. He believed she was better off without him after he’d almost gotten her killed. Now, with a new set of murders matching their closed case, there’s only one person who understands this killer enough to bring him in, and that’s Megan.

Jack wasn’t expecting all the old feelings he thought he’d buried down deep to resurface when he sees Megan again. Nor is he prepared to come face-to-face with Megan’s secret. The one that raises the stakes impossibly high.

My Thoughts: THIS book! If you love suspense this is the book for you!

Do you believe in second chances?  We serve a God of second chances.  Sometimes second chances are what makes us more clear in our love and our purpose for living.

Megan Iluak is an FBI profiler.  She tapped into the mind of a serial killer and it nearly cost her her life.  It seems that everything began to fall around Megan as this nightmare thrust her into a flee from the nightmare mode.  

She feels her marriage is over and runs to the village in remote Alaska where she used to live. But the nightmares get worse and it seems that her nightmares are becoming her reality!

Jack, her husband/ex-husband, thought he should let Megan go.   He realizes it was a mistake.

Lots of suspense!  A fantastic read!  Don't miss this story!

The Catch (US Marshals, Book 3) by Lisa Harris

 Book Description:  After a harrowing attempt on a judge's life at the courthouse, Deputy US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with finding a missing woman and an endangered child in connection to the murder of the judge's wife. What seems like a fairly straightforward case becomes hopelessly tangled when the marshals discover that the woman they are searching for is not who they think she is.

Madison and Jonas are forced into a race to find the woman and the child before the men who want her dead discover her location. And in a final showdown that could cost her everything, Madison will come face-to-face with the person who murdered her husband.

My Thoughts:  I enjoy/love stories penned by Lisa Harris.  

This is the third book in the US Marshals trilogy.  I loved them all but this story really brings it all together and answers all this questions the reader has from books 1 & 2.

It would be best to read the first two books.  So much information and all the history of what is going on will make the story in book three so much easier to understand.

This is probably my favorite read of all the three.  The story line is intriguing and quite mysterious. I had a difficult time deciding and guessing the whodunit part.  Actually the story is so well written that I didn't guess.

Oh!  And the action and adventure was incredible but, yet, so believable.  I felt like I was on the run with Madison and Jonas.  Who by the way, are the most absolute best couple.  

The romance is well played and not over done.  Just good to the core people who like each other without all the gooey junk.

What a read for suspense lovers!