Review: A Talent For Trouble by Jen Turano

About the book:

A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano

Ladies of Distinction: Book 3

Bethany House

For years, Miss Felicia Murdock's every thought and action have been in pursuit of becoming a minister's wife. When the minister she'd set her sights on has other ideas, she decides something in her life needs to change--and soon--before she wastes any more time pretending to be someone she's not. If that means spreading her wings and embracing a more lively way of life, who's to say nay?

Grayson Sumner, Lord Sefton, has had more than enough of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by some friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter an adventurous young lady with an unfortunate knack for stumbling into troublesome situations.

Just as Grayson decides he's had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in Felicia's life endangers her. As they work together to extricate themselves from this latest complication, will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping one another out of trouble?

My review:

For the past several years, Felicia Murdocch has been queen of the fashion faux pas after receiving a misguided compliment from a certain minister she had set her sights on. When the previously mentioned minister marries another lady Felicia decides she has had enough ribbons and feathers to last her a life time. With a new wardrobe and attitude in tow she is ready for a fresh start.

             

Lord Grayson Sumner has already put his wild days behind him and is looking to settle down. So when he is recruited to left Felicia’s spirits by his sister he isn’t entirely too pleased by her new found ability to create trouble, but he is unable to deny his growing attraction to her just the same.

           

 I was hooked on this author’s work once I started A Most Peculiar Circumstance this summer and have been looking forward to Felicia’s story. I instantly fell in love with her sass and fashion woes, although I was happy to see she actually did have a good sense of fashion. Mrs. Murdoch was also a favorite character as I always enjoy a good, matchmaking mother. Grayson was a cool and collected hero who was perfect to offset Felicia.

           

 The books in this series have been fun, light hearted reads that I have thoroughly enjoyed! I absolutely recommend them. While these books can be read as standalones, reading them in order really gives the full effect of the story.

***I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*** 

Review: Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn

About the book:

Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn

Marc Royce: Book 3

Bethany House

An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department puts Marc Royce once again on assignment--ferreting out rumors of a clandestine operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran's threat to blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point.

Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.

His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows...

A small team gathers around Royce--
a single objective against multiple enemies.

My review:

 

I had never read anything by this Davis Bunn before but this sort of book is right up my alley and I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis. I have to say that after finishing Strait of Hormuz I cannot wait to pick up some more of Bunn’s stories. Let me also say that this is the third book in the Marc Royce series but I had no problems reading the story on its own. I always suggest reading a series in order though for the best reading experience.

            Bunn was never stingy with the action and intrigue which is just how I like my thrillers! There were more than enough twists and turns to keep me up reading long into the night. The romance between Marc and Kitra was just right, not too much to distract from the story and enough so it didn’t feel ignored.

            This is a definite must read for action/thriller fans and a wonderful introduction to the author me.

***I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own***

Review: Fired Up by Mary Connealy

About the book:

Fired Up by Mary Connealy

Trouble in Texas: Book 2

Bethany House

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner—never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

My review:

Between house fires, a very angry young boy and one truly crazy cook with a penchant for sharp knives, Dare Riker is wondering how he will make it out of this alive. Glynna Greer is newly freed from a disastrous marriage and plans on providing for herself and her children by taking ownership of the local diner. The only problem is she can’t cook worth a lick. When the sparks start to fly will these two be able to stand the heat?

Fired Up is the second book in Mary Connealy’s Trouble in Texas series and my favorite so far. The story picks up pretty much where the first one left off and my favorite characters are back for round two. Including Vince, the no nonsense lawyer, and Jonas, the priest who’s not always as heavenly as one might expect. A wonderful new character makes her debut as well and she promises to bring plenty of laughs and one raging headache for Vince. That character is Tina Cahill, Jonas ‘fat, bald, sister he hasn’t seen in years.

Dare and Glynna were my favorite characters in Swept Away and they did not disappoint this time around. Glynna has been through two terrible marriages and the effects are starting to show in her children through her son’s uncontrollable anger towards anything male and her daughter’s too timid silence. Glynna is a fantastic mother who is always trying to put her children first while struggling to still maintain the newfound control of her life. She quickly climbed her way to the spot of my favorite character with her humor and her fear of undercooking anything.

Although this book can be read as a standalone I would suggest reading the series in order to get the full effect of the story.

 ***I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own***