Month: September 2019

Earl of Kent by Lauren Smith

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Earl of Kent (The League of Rogues, #11)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Christmas #2 / The League of Rogues #11
Publication Date: 10/1/19
Number of Pages: Novella

I have really been looking forward to the book featuring Phillip Wilkes, Earl of Kent, since we met him in Charles’ book, The Last Wicked Rogue. Parts of this book occur at the same time as Charles’ book, but it also includes segments from before and after that period. Of course, our intrepid heroine is Ella Lonsdale, Charles’ sister. You’ll love Ella! Ella is spunky, loyal and chafing at being under the thumb of two older, overly protective brothers.

Ella first laid eyes on Phillip when she was just fifteen years old and it was love at first sight. She was constant in her love for him through the following years, but he avoided her like the plague. At her come-out ball, he gave her a scorching kiss and that just renewed her love – but again – he avoided her afterward. Her love hasn’t changed and when she finds he’s been beaten almost to death she rushes to her brother Charles’ house to attend to both Phillip and her brother Graham.

While he didn’t realize it, Phillip had been targeted by Hugo, the man who has been targeting the League of Rogues for years. It is just one more way Hugo can cause pain to the Rogues, but it can bring death to Phillip – and it almost does. Phillip does a stupid thing, he bets more on a game of faro and when he loses, there is absolutely no way he can pay the debt. When the winner, Daniel Sheffield, offers to completely forgive his debt if he fights in the Lewis Street Tunnels. Phillip agrees, but Graham tries to talk him out of it. We saw all of this in Charles’ book. Both Graham and Phillip are beaten, but Graham manages to escape and bring help. Graham believes Phillip is dead – and he almost is – but he sends Charles and Ashton Lennox (Wicked Rivals) to recover the body.

After all of her nursing, Phillip still rejects Ella and heads home to his country estate. What will it take to shake some sense into the man? Does he hate her so much? With some unexpected and unwelcome help from a friend, Ella finds out what is going on with Phillip. Can she save him? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to see.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, MysteryLeave a comment

Labyrinth (FBI Thriller #23)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: FBI Thriller #23
Publication Date: 7/30/19
Number of Pages: 512

Another exciting, non-stop, action-packed adventure! As always, there are two different cases to solve – and I can’t decide which one I thought was better, because they were both great. Yes, we have another winner to add to this impressive series.

One case involves treason – Oh! My! As Sherlock is driving toward the gym to meet Savich, her car is t-boned by a black SUV. Her car is sent into a spin where she strikes several other cars – and a man – before it finally comes to rest against a fire hydrant. Sherlock is rushed to the hospital where her most serious injury is head trauma – and – she has amnesia. Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to awaken and have no idea who you were and not remember any of the people around you – even your own husband and son?

As Savich and his team review all of the video taken of the accident, they pick up on something strange. The man Sherlock hit is missing, it appears that he was running from someone and the woman who hit Sherlock was watching the man who was hit. Coincidence after coincidence just pique Savich’s interest and before long they are on the trail of a traitor and espionage at the highest levels of the CIA.

The other case involves the vacationing Agent Griffin Hammersmith. His last case was a long and tough one and Savich had insisted he take a few days off. Griffin decided to visit a good friend in Gaffer’s Ridge, Virginia and had a quiet peaceful couple of days. As he was walking one afternoon, there was a call for help – and then again. When he finally locates the origins, he bursts through the door and sees a man pointing a gun at a woman. Griffin kicks the gun out of the man’s hand while the woman hits the man on the head with a piece of pipe. The woman, Dr. Carson DeSilva, and Griffin soon find that they have a lot in common, but before they can explore that, they have to deal with a Sheriff who is also the uncle of the man with the gun. The whole town is owned by the man and his family, so justice won’t be coming easily. Was that man responsible for the kidnapping and perhaps murder of three teenage girls? The investigation will be very difficult with the sheriff and his family impeding them at every turn.

This author always spins a very suspenseful tale that is intriguing, unique and keeps you wondering where it is going next. I love all of the characters in the series and look forward to visiting with them again in each new book. I think we might have a new addition to the mix with Dr. DeSilva as the love interest of Griffin.

All-in-all this is a great read and I highly recommend it – and the other books in the series as well.