Month: August 2023

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Payback in Death (In Death, #57)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #57
Publication Date: 9/5/23
Period: Future New York City – 2061 or so
Number of Pages: 368

WOW! This long-running series is one of the best I have ever read, and I hope it continues for a long time to come. This fifty-seventh book is just as fresh and engrossing as the first one was. I’m not one to re-read books, but I have re-read the first three books in this series many times – just because those are the books that establish Roarke and Eve as a couple and set up the characters and background for the rest of the series. Also, don’t let the fact that it takes place in the future keep you from giving the books a try. Yes, the setting is in the future, but that is just an auxiliary fact – window dressing – to a superbly written mystery with wonderful characters and a tad of wit and humor sprinkled throughout to add to your enjoyment. Then, there is the romance – goodness – romance writers take note – if you want to write a toe-curling, heart-singing, sizzling romance read these books for the ultimate example.

Eve and Roarke are in for a crashing end to the vacation they took to celebrate their third anniversary. After long, romantic, sunny days on an island and then the beautiful, lush greens of Ireland, they return to the heat of crowded New York. Eve enjoyed her vacation, but she loves New York and her job as a Homicide Lieutenant in the New York Police and Security Division. She’s darn good at that job – probably the best there is – and that is how she came to be specially requested to handle the case of an apparent suicide. Lieutenant Donald Webster, Internal Affairs Bureau, is sure his old friend and mentor, retired Captain Martin Greenleaf, did not kill himself and he wants to assure justice for his friend.

Within minutes of arriving on the scene, Eve is also convinced that Martin Greenleaf did not kill himself. Martin had a warm, loving family – so – could the murder have something to do with work? He’s been retired for years, so that isn’t likely – or is it? As head of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Martin had a reputation as a by-the-book, no-gray-areas cop that many didn’t like, but most respected. Those who didn’t respect him were those who had broken their oaths to protect and serve.

We all know Eve never gives up, but this case frustrated her. Every thread she pulled led nowhere. She just knows the answer is buried somewhere in his past, but can’t find any connections. Until she does. Then she and her team are off and running to bring the villains down. With a villain who is so supremely self-confident that there is no way the NYPSD can ever link them to the victim, the interview room at cop central gets pretty heated.

I can definitely recommend this book! This author! This series! Each book is an exciting, perplexing case that can be read as a standalone. However, to truly understand the dynamics among the characters, the location, etc. (and to get some of the humor), you’ll definitely want to read at least the first three (maybe four) books first. If you are looking for excitement, suspense, mystery, and romance this is the book for you!

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

View all my reviews

The Warrior’s Reluctant Wife by Lissa Morgan

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Warrior's Reluctant Wife (The Warriors of Wales, #1)The Warrior’s Reluctant Wife by Lissa Morgan

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Warriors of Wales, #1

Release Date: August 22, 2023

When recently widowed Rhianon is ordered to marry Peredur ab Eilyr, she has no choice but to comply, however, she refuses to be a biddable bride, especially to another warrior. She will marry him, but after enduring a brutal childhood and an equally brutal, yet thankfully short marriage, she doesn’t trust men, especially not one like Peredur, a warrior lord with a fierce reputation and who is whispered to have no heart. No, she can’t trust him, despite his kindness to her or her uncle’s admonishment not to believe the things said about him. She is sure that he will eventually show his true colors and it will be a cold day in hell before she yields to him. However, it becomes clear that she is wrong about Peredur, can she overcome her fears and open her heart to him? And more importantly, will he let her?

Known as Peredur Galon Gudd – Peredur of the Hidden Heart, for good reason, just not the one most assume. Peredur was taken in by Eilyr as a young boy and raised as a beloved son, he strives to make his adoptive father proud, and even though he never wanted to marry, he agreed to wed Rhianon when Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of Deneubrath and their overlord ordered the marriage between the warring families. He married her to save her from his brutal younger brother, but he plans to keep theirs a marriage in name only. They travel to Castell Abereinion to man the fortress, but when they arrive it is clear that trouble is brewing, starting with the fact that no one is there to greet them. Peredur must find out what is afoot a task made all the harder when his unwanted wife tempts him as no woman ever has!

This was a great start to a new series! The book is well-written, nicely paced, and filled with intrigue. Rhianon and Peredur are both wounded souls who have been ill-used by those who should have loved them, it has made them both wary of trusting others, but they both have good hearts and slowly they begin to open their hearts to the other – but that doesn’t mean that their demons won’t still rear their heads and cause a bit of heartache. Throw in a bit of intrigue, treason, murder, suppressed desire, sassy servants, and evil relatives and you have an excellent story! I loved this book and can’t wait for the next installment!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*