Month: January 2020

Golden In Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, MysteryLeave a comment

Golden In Death Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #50
Publication Date: 2/4/20
Number of Pages: 400

What a wonderful milestone – fifty books – and we’re just getting started – I hope. I loved the story, but I had expected a bit more of a blockbuster. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great story and a wonderful addition to the series – it just didn’t hit me as a milestone story. I had thought we’d surely see Mavis, Crack, Nadine and more of the ongoing recurring cast – maybe even some nostalgia where they recount things that happened in earlier books, etc. Somehow, this case seemed a bit slower and less intense than most of the cases.

It is a bright and beautiful almost spring morning in 2061 when the much-beloved pediatrician, Kent Abner, receives an unexpected package in the mail. He has just gotten his husband off to work and intends to head out for a jog since it is his day off, but he has a couple of minutes to open the package. His body was discovered hours later when his husband, Martin Rufty, returns home from work.

When the medics arrive, they discover that the agent that killed Dr. Abner is a newly developed, nerve agent. The agent can be used to target one specific person. It acts quickly and dissipates almost as quickly. It would be worth billions if sold to terrorists, assassins, or even governments.

As the investigation continues, Eve discovers what a truly wonderful and remarkable man the victim was. Everybody loves him – and the one or two who didn’t, was because he had called them out on some bad act they’d committed. Why would anyone target such a wonderful man, doctor, husband, father, friend – and with such an awful weapon? Leads are thin to non-existent when there is another murder – same toxin – another well-loved, wonderful person.

There has to be a connection – but what could it be? Eve and Peabody rush from clue to clue, suspect to suspect, location to location to track down what connects the two victims. When they figure out the connection, how in the world does that fit and what could have possibly triggered the murders?

Definitely a recommended read. As always, the book is excellently written, well-plotted and the characters are exceptional. If you haven’t read any of the books, you should definitely consider reading at least the first couple so that you see Eve and Roarke’s love story. I love Eve – she takes some things so literally and is constantly questioning those old sayings – like – Fit as a Fiddle. Some of her reasoning and the conversations around them are priceless. Then, there is the romantic, handsome, gazillionaire Roarke who is absolutely, totally and completely besotted with Eve. Their love story is one for the ages – and the investigations they are involved in are epic. You can’t help but love the characters and the stories.

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

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Hunting for a Highlander (Highland Brides, #8)Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Brides, #8

Release Date; January 28, 2020

Dwyn Innes was invited to Buchanan Castle to meet the remaining unwed Buchanan brothers and possibly make a match. She meets Geordie Buchanan by accident when she climbs a tree to escape the taunts of the other “Brides”. Dwyn is no beauty, but she knows she is not ugly and her bosom certainly entices men, however, she knows she can’t compare to the other lovely ladies at the castle, so she is surprised when the handsome man joins her in the tree and even more surprised when he steals a kiss.

Geordie was not aware of Jetta’s plan to find brides for himself, Alick & Rory and he tells his eldest brother Aulay that he is not ready to marry. But the more time he spends with Dwyn, the more he likes her and begins to think that marriage to the buxom beauty might be exactly what he needs.
As they spend more time together and grow closer, a series of “accidents” befall Dwyn, first her feet are cut, which results in Geordie carrying her around, he decides that he must marry her, but while he is meeting with her father she is poisoned, thankfully the poison was not meant to kill her, but she is violently ill, but that doesn’t keep Geordie from her side and makes him more determined than ever to wed her. They handfast and share an amazing night together, they both know they have deeper feelings and it seems like HEA is a given, but when a trip to Geordie’s favorite spot turns deadly, “until death do us part” seems a lot closer than it did just a day ago!!

This was a well written, fast paced, fun story with a lot of steamy love scenes, laugh out loud moments, quite a bit of tongue in cheek humor and a lot of focus on the heroine’s ample bosom  – it was just an amusing, easy read that didn’t devolve into outright silliness, but at the same time was not weighted down by too much drama. I loved Geordie and Dwyn as a couple, they are so well suited for each other, Dwyn is no wilting flower, she is smart, brave and adventurous – exactly the type of woman Geordie never knew he always wanted! I felt that their relationship progressed at a believable pace and they are complemented by a wonderful cast of secondary characters. Additionally, the story features a very well-executed “who dunnit” as well as a pretty nasty villain whose punishment certainly fits the crime. On the downside, there is a lot of modern verbiage as well as a ton of title/address errors, but it for the sake of the story, I was willing to ignore these things and just enjoy the story for what it was: a fun, steamy, entertaining read. This is the eighth (yes, the 8th) book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone title and I am very happy to recommend this title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher.*