Four new June releases

A June 2012 Berkley release is HOT BUTTON, A Button Box Mystery, by Kylie Logan (ISBN: 978-0-425-25135-5). Many of us have attended conferences either for fun or for work and button collector Josie Giancola is the chair for an international conference for button collectors. She has planned for everything but murder. When her key note speaker winds up dead in the hotel's linen room, all eyes are on Josie. This is when the real ride begins. Intertwining histories, old grudges, and surprise suspects will keep the reader entranced until the very end. An excellent summer time read that includes antique button collecting tips if this is an interest of yours. I give it a rating of 4.0.

Three Obsidian June releases are:

DEAD MAN WALTZING, A Ballroom Dance Mystery, by Ella Barrick (ISBN: 978-0-451-23734-7). This series is quick witted and clever. The main character, Stacy Graysin, is down to earth and gorgeous. When she finds out her ballroom instructor, Maurice, is a prime suspect in the death of Corinne Blakely, a grande dame of international ballroom dancing, and Maurice's ex wife, the whole dance world is in an uproar. In order to clear Maurice's name and protect her dance studio from further negative reviews, Stacy need to kick it up into overdrive. But with her tenacity and loyalty, no one will remain standing. Although I figured out who done it early on in the story line, it was still a charming story and the ending will leave you waiting for the next book to see what is going to ultimately unfold!
Rating: 3.0

QUILT OR INNOCENCE, A Southern Quilting Mystery, by Elizabeth Craig (ISBN: 978-0-451-23733-0). This is a first release of a new series. Retired folk art curator Beatrice Coleman knows everything there is about quilts except how to make them. She has moved to Dappled Hills, NC, to be closer to her daughter and has been asked to join a quilters club. But when she finds herself in the midst of a store closing and the landlord, Judith, dead, she may have bitten off more than she could chew. But her new townmates are depending on her expert eye for detail to help unweave the path of evil that has come over them all. But can she do it before her own life is on the line? This is a great debut for a new series about mystery and friendship. I look forward to the new release to see what this group of quilting women will get into next. The quilting tips are a huge bonus as well! Rating: 3.0

MONK: MR. MONK IS A MESS, An Original Mystery Novel, by Lee Goldberg (ISBN: 978-0-451-23687-6). Mr. Monk is a Mess is another great addition to the Monk series. When Monk and Natalie, his assistant, return to San Francisco, Natalie finds someone has been sleeping in her bed. And then got herself killed in her bathtub. And left stolen federal money under her mattress. Natalie needs Monk to help her out, but he is having trouble of his own. His brother's girlfriend is missing and wants Monk to help find her, since he cannot leave his house. As the body count continues to rise, it is clear that Yuki's disappearance is tied to the deaths, but they need to find out how, and fast. Thankfully, that is how Monk solves murders. Quickly. This is a typical Monk read with one surprising twist near the end. You won't want to miss it! Rating: 4.0

Stay tuned for some more great summertime mystery reads!
Kathy Fisher

I'm on a roll this Friday night and am posting one more review.  This book should not be missed!

ANGEL’S END

Cindy Holby

Berkley Sensation

ISBN:  978-0-425-24841-6

May 2012

Historical

After I read this book, I just shook my head and wondered where Cindy Holby has been hiding!  This is one of the best historicals I’ve read this year and is the first in a new series about the small Colorado town of Angel’s End.  A tiny place, with a statue of an angel in the middle of the street, this community is populated by shop owners, ranchers, and a widow named Leah Findley.  The mother of a young son, she works in the local restaurant and has been designated to provide a room for the new minister, when he comes to town. 

Cade Gentry is a man on the run from a ruthless killer.  Wounded and nearly dead, he stumbles upon Timothy Key, the young minister on his way to Angel’s End.  When Timothy is shot and killed, Cade decides his only chance for survival is to assume the identity of the minister.  Cade ends up in Angel’s End, in Leah’s spare room and this is where the story gets very interesting. 

This book is simply amazing!  I could not put it down.  Fast paced and well plotted, it gives us a realistic view of the rustic and violent life faced by these early citizens of the west.  Yet, what comes through is the strength and courage of those who lived this life.  This novel has lots of colorful animals, hints of childhood trauma, and the effects of loss.  It has the power to evoke strong emotions in readers.  It receives my highest praise and I cannot wait for the next installment of this powerful new series.  Highly recommended for those who love western romance.

Reviewed by:  Jeri Neal

Rating:  4 1/2

Here's a May review of a terrific book!

AN INTIMATE BARGAIN

Colorado Cattle Barons

Barbara Dunlop

Harlequin Desire #2158

ISBN:  978-0-373-73171-8

May 2012

Category Romance

This latest in a terrific series, this book tells the story of Zach Rainer, a self-made man who is CEO of a beer brewery and eager to get the water rights that will allow one of his beers to continue production.  Abigail Jacobs meets him one night in a local bar and they engage in the quintessential one night stand.  They have no idea of each other’s identity and are shocked when they encounter each other around the water rights issues. 

Abigail, who loves the business world, has reluctantly gone back to her family’s successful ranch to help her brother.  Not knowing who he is, she tells Zach much more than intended.  When he uses this information to get her help she is furious.  Yet, she cannot help the growing passion between them and soon the one night stand is much more intense.

This is a really well done category romance, filled with excellent character development, a well thought out plot, and hot romance between two likable characters.  I was very pleased at the high quality of this book.  You will get your monies worth on this one—kudos to Ms. Dunlop for a great novel. 

Reviewed by:  Jeri Neal

Rating:  4 ½ 

Review: RELENTLESS by P.J. O'Dwyer

RELENTLESS
Fallon Sisters trilogy
P.J. O'Dwyer
Black Siren Publishers
ISBN:978-0-9848997-0-8
April 2012
Romantic Suspense

Still reeling from the “accidental” death of her husband, Bren Ryan is more than determined to prove he was murdered. Doing any and everything to convince the sheriff that Wes Connelly is a cold-blooded killer, Bren begins a treacherous game of cat and mouse. After her husband’s death, Bren’s finances nosedived and with two sons to care for, her father, and the mortgage on her horse farm, Grace Equine Sanctuary, Bren must sell a portion of her property for survival –she refuses to allow Wes to have a piece of Grace.

New to Washington County, Rafe Langston, is looking for answers. What he finds is a woman hell bent on bringing a killer to justice, which is likely to lead to her demise. He also quickly finds that Bren, her boys, and Grace maybe all the answers he needs, however Rafe is keeping a secret that could destroy them all.

Aptly titled, RELENTLESS will take readers on a rollercoaster ride and keep you guessing on several fronts. The main storyline is quite engaging, but the sub-plots are ones that will totally hook you. It is almost as if we (readers) are magnifying carrying sleuths, there is always more underneath the surface. Highly recommended and a fantastic read!

Reviewed by Monica Solomon
Rating 4 ½

Blogging with P.J. O'Dwyer

Hello everyone,

Today, TRRC is happy to have P.J. O'Dwyer as our guest blogger. P.J.'s latest title, RELENTLESS was released yesterday, April 15 and is the first book in the Fallon Sisters trilogy.

Below is a synopsis of RELENTLESS followed by an excerpt. Everyone that leaves a comment will be entered for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Relentless.

Bren Ryan has a tendency to ignore convention and good sense when fueled by passion to see justice served. Only some opponents are more formidable than others. It’s not until she finds her husband caught up in the pulley system, the rope wrapped around his neck, his body dangling outside the hayloft, that she realizes her actions of retribution may have cost her everything.

Headstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring, Maryland. She’s grown up needling local “kill buyer” Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband’s sudden death an accident, Bren’s been investigating things herself. She’s certain Tom was murdered, and she’s hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she’s the bait.

Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn’t generous with details, but Bren couldn’t care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband’s murder.

Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.


Excerpt from Relentless
(Scene set up: Chapter 7 – Bren has only loved one man, and she married him—until death do us part. But her feelings for Rafe come at her too fast to define. The one she can pinpoint with accuracy is friendship, and for that to happen she has to like the man. And she does—too much.)


Bren peeked into the family room, and her heart warmed. Rafe was on his side on the floor, his long, muscled legs clad in faded jeans. But it was the boyish grin lining his face that drew her to him as he contemplated his next move. Finn sat poised with his counter. Aiden sat in the recliner, his face aglow with his laptop—Facebook, another creation she could live without.

Finn slapped his cheeks with both hands and then squeezed them, his lips resembling a goldfish as Rafe jumped several of his checkers.

“King me,” Rafe said.

“You beat me,” Finn whined.

“Remind me next time to teach you my secret.” He tousled Finn’s fair head, stood up, and stretched. He smiled at her, and she went all gooey inside.

“Hi, Mom.” Finn beamed up at her.

“Hi, sweetie.” Then to Rafe, “Hey.”

He grinned and started toward her. “Okay if I stay for dinner?” He glanced back at Aiden, who watched them over his computer screen, before giving her his full attention. “We need to talk.”

He brushed her arm with his long fingers and slid his hand down to hers and held it.

Bren blushed. “What are you—”

“Outside.” He pulled her toward the front door.

She tried to pull her hand away. Aiden and Finn were watching them intently. Bren peered over her shoulder at her boys before Rafe tugged her around the corner wall. “You two need to wash up,” she called back to them. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

Rafe opened the door and then held the screen door for her, her hand tightly clamped in his.

“Let—” She snapped her mouth shut when the boys came charging by to use the bathroom. She stepped out onto the porch, yanked her hand away, and wrapped her arms around herself. “What the hell’s wrong with you? You’re going to give them the wrong impression.”

“Too late.” Rafe leaned along the railing.

Bren moved toward him and narrowed in. “What are you talking about?”

“Aiden saw me bring you home last night.”

“So?”

“You were wearing my shirt.”

“Oh.” Bren dropped into the rocking chair in front of him. “That’s bad.”

“Yep.”

She leaned over and peered up at him. “What’d you tell him?”

“I sure as hell couldn’t tell him the truth.” Those green eyes twinkled, and he gave her a wicked smile.

Bren stood up and moved toward him, outrage quickly tempting her tongue. “You didn’t?”

Rafe shrugged and grabbed her hand.

She wanted to do as she’d done before, but the warmth of his hand and that damn thumb of his brushing her knuckles made it hard to concentrate.

“Don’t be mad, doll face.”

Bren ripped her hand from his grasp. “Stop calling me that.”

“Makes you mad,” he said.

Rafe enjoyed setting her off. In some twisted way, he liked looking for reasons to spar with her.

“Tell me what I need to know.”

“I’m officially your boyfriend.”

Bren’s hand flew to her mouth, and she began to laugh. “Seriously. Rafe Langston couldn’t come up with a better lie?”

“He caught me off guard.”

“How do you propose we go about dating?”

“Look, just be nice to me. Sit down next to me at dinner.”

She could do that. But she wasn’t holding his hand. Or . . . She tingled inside again when she thought back to last night when he was getting ready to kiss her. “We’re not—”

“Hell no. I like blondes. Remember?”

Bren raised her hand to punch him.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “Be nice, darlin’. This is a good thing. You want to stake out Connelly’s place. You’re not going without me. Now we have an excuse why we’re spending time together.”

He had her within inches of him. His arm slipping around her waist, he leaned in against her ear and whispered, “They’re watching.”

Bren stiffened.

“You need to do a better job fooling your boys, otherwise Aiden’s going to question what’s really going on with his mother.”

Bren cautiously threaded her arms around Rafe’s neck and whispered back in his ear, “Get cute, and I’ll nail you where it counts.”

The roughened stubble along his jaw rubbed up against her cheek. “I’m countin’ on it, darlin’.”

That Texas drawl had her legs wanting to fold like an unsteady card table. She only hoped their little charade wouldn’t topple like a house of cards, because the longer she allowed herself to be tangled up with this cattle rancher who had decided Bren Ryan was his charity case, the more she was beginning to like having him around.

And that couldn’t happen.

***

Relentless centers round a very controversial topic—horse slaughter. As a writer, I believe we are entrusted to educate as well as entertain. Relentless gave me the opportunity to do both due to the gracious nature of horse rescuers who took a call from a stranger, listened and agreed with enthusiasm to read Bren’s story, and offer their insight and knowledge.

As a way to thank them for their kindness, and because their fight has become my own, I am donating 5% to horse rescue for every book sold in the trilogy and any other future works.

The only catch—you must purchase the books through my website at www.pjodwyer.com. There is a list of rescues to choose from, including most states in the U.S., a fair amount of provinces in Canada, and a few in the UK to include Ireland, as well as, Australia and New Zealand.

Thank you The Romance Readers Connection for inviting me! It was a pleasure visiting.

BUY THE BOOK

AUTHOR BIO

P. J. O’Dwyer is an award-winning author of romantic suspense. When asked where she gets her ideas for her stories, she laughs ruefully and says, “It helps being married to a cop.” Actually, she admits, “Every day I find a wealth of possible stories and plots in the most unsuspecting places—my daily life.” She lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit her at:

Website: www.pjodwyer.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/pj_odwyer
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorPJODwyer
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/p-j-o-dwyer.3a/633/825