Sunburst (Sky King Ranch, Book Two)

 

SUSAN MAY WARREN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, published 2022 by Revell.

How acquired: From Revell Reads Blogger Program.

First line: Ranger wasn’t here to get into trouble, but wow, she was pretty.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I loved the first book in this series, SUNRISE, so much. So so much. It was set in Alaska, and Alaska was very much one of the main characters of the book, which is a testament to the author’s descriptive powers. So I was very excited to get this book.

This one is initially set in Nigeria. Ranger and his brother, Dodge, are there running reconnaissance on a terrorist camp, where the third brother, Colt, is being held, along with several other prisoners, after having been kidnapped. One of the women prisoners makes a break for it, unknowingly giving Ranger and his team the opportunity to swoop in and effect a rescue. Ranger is shocked when he realizes that woman is Noemi, who he knew several years ago.

As with Alaska, the author provides a wonderfully evocative depiction of Nigeria, from the jungles, to the food, to a traditional Nigerian wedding. Though it’s a wonder Ranger could function day to day what with the multitude of injuries he sustains along the way. But I loved him as much as I had loved Dodge in the first book, as much as I know I will love Colt when his book comes out. And Noemi was a fiercely fascinating woman, strong and independent.

The narrative was a bit more...bouncy, for lack of a better word, than I remember from the first book, especially when the point of view was Noemi’s. Which was good, it was in keeping with Noemi’s character. There were also many, many, many instances of both Noemi and Ranger recalling past conversations or comments, with those lines interspersed in italics, which got tiring, especially the lines that were constantly repeated. For instance, in the first chapter, which describes Ranger and Noemi’s first meeting and swift relationship, they agree to meet somewhere, and Ranger says “I will find you”. That line was brought back time and time again, and yes, it has significance later, but it, along with all the other instances, got tiring.

Regardless, while I think I liked SUNRISE a little better, because I already had a thing for Alaska before I read it, I loved this book. I can’t wait for SUNDOWN, the third book, and I have got to hunt down more of this author’s work.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*

Synopsis from Goodreads: When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

Black Hat/White Hat: A Tale of Good Is Evil

 

GLENN DELLA-MONICA

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, published 2021 by Glenn Della-Monica.

How acquired: From the author via Cozy Mystery Review Crew.

First line: This was Day One of a new era.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: The premise of this book caught my attention, and I debated whether to request it. The promise that, as the back cover copy says, “Romance between Cody and Haley ensues…” is what convinced me. We follow Alex and Lara as they explore the world of hitmen in gaming, then insert themselves into a mobster’s life and become actual hitmen, but with morals. And we follow FBI Agent Cody and Haley as they investigate a string of crimes committed against phone and internet scammers, and fall in love.

Alex and Lara are amusing as they banter with each other while punishing their hapless victims. There is plenty of action, and a lot of violence, but without being too graphic for those with weak stomachs. The contrast is well written as we are privy to both sides, the criminals and the cops. Alex and Lara put a ton of thought and detailed planning into each of their exploits, and then Cody and his team run detailed analysis of each crime scene, trying to connect dots in an effort to track down the culprits. The romance is lacking, as even the scenes that were supposed to be romantic weren’t particularly. There is not much characterization, as the two couples and everyone else are rather one note. When talking about people other than the main characters I didn’t always remember who was who.

Despite that, the story moves at a fast pace and is never boring, and there was a nice twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. If you don’t have any expectations for romance and just come along for the adventure, you’re in for a rollicking ride.

*I received a free copy of this book from the author and have voluntarily reviewed it*

Synopsis from Goodreads: Tired of endless robocalls? Victimized by ransomware attacks? Triggered one too many virus-laden spam emails?

Revenge is at hand!

Follow mob hitmen Alex and Lara Cutter as they are dispatched by a nebulous organization to visit cybercriminals around the world. But not to kill them. Alex and Lara leave them with a cell phone shoved exactly where you thought of shoving one the last time your dinner was interrupted by a spam caller.

FBI Special Agent Cody Smutters, aided by the beautiful psychologist Dr. Haley Briggs, is trying to identify the mystery pair in black. Romance between Cody and Haley ensues, but it leads to a nexus of massive proportions. Cody is read into a conspiracy between government leaders, corporate titans, mobsters, and even Black Hats temporarily turned White Hats. Is he powerless to do anything but accept it?

Right Before Your Eyes

ELLEN SHANMAN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Delta, 2007.

How acquired: Bought.

First line: Had I not joined Parrot for dinner that night, everything would have been different.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I thought this was going to be a book along the lines of what’s often referred to as “women’s fiction”. I mean the title sounds like that’s what it will be. To my surprise, it was much more along the lines of “chick lit”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that - I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of chick lit in my day, though not recently, and it’s not something I seek out these days. But I gotta tell you, I loved this.

First off, Liza’s best friend is named Parrot. I mean, how perfect is that? No explanation of how she came to be named Parrot, or even if that is indeed her given name and not a nickname, though I believe it’s the former.

Liza is your typical chick lit heroine, and yet she’s not. She’s a playwright, though she has no career yet to speak of and supports herself temping. She’s funny, self-deprecating, everything a chick lit heroine is, and yet she’s a little deeper than many. Her aunt is a famous actress, and as much as she loves and admires her aunt she’s also a little put out that her aunt has not offered to use any of her connections to help Liza’s career move along. See, she may be a playwright, but she hasn’t actually written anything that anyone has seen.

Anyway, Liza and Parrot are at a restaurant one night where their conversation catches the attention of the preppy Wall Street Ivy League guys at the next table who snicker, then invite them to a bar. Parrot latches onto one of the guys, leaving Liza standing at the curb with another, George, and anxious to get away, she slips and wrenches her ankle. George insists on taking her to the hospital, and while sitting in the waiting room they bicker and bicker, until finally Liza is called back and George leaves. And now she meets Dr. Tim. And wow, he’s just awesome, and they have some cute banter.

Since Parrot is now dating George’s friend Kirk, George and Liza occasionally cross paths, and he’s an ass and Liza hates him. He always seems to be laughing at her, and she always seems to look like an idiot in front of him. I liked Dr. Tim, I did, but the more Liza saw of George the more I looked forward to seeing him again. I’m a big fan of bickering banter, and Liza and George were both pros at that.

“Parrot told me.” “I was afraid you were inside my head.” “Not yet. I’m not going in there unarmed.”

But it’s not all about Dr. Tim and George. There’s Liza’s career, as someone finally wants to put on one of her plays, and then a reality TV show about the theater wants to focus an episode on the director and follow him through the casting process, rewrites, etc., to the opening, but things don’t go quite as Liza expects. I guess she doesn’t watch reality TV, because who in the world would thing that’s going to end well.

I’ll stop now. I realize this book isn’t for everyone, but it was definitely for me, and I’m really sad the author apparently only wrote one other book.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Outspoken playwright Liza Weiler left Yale with everything she thought she needed to make her mark on the New York stage. So why, nearly a decade later, is she answering phones in a convent, sharing an apartment with a sanctimonious museum curator, and waiting for her “real” life to finally begin? The truth is, Liza is a little too close to the specter of failure, standing in the shadows of her legendary actress aunt and firebrand best friend, Parrot, and constantly comparing herself to any number of people who just seem braver, happier, and more sure-footed than she is.

But like any great drama, Liza’s life only needs one good twist. Which is exactly what happens when she turns her ankle on the way out of a downtown nightspot and falls into the arms, nearly simultaneously, of a suspiciously gallant Wall Street prince and a practically perfect ER doc. Suddenly Liza not only has a couple of men in her life, but her play has fallen into the hands of an uber-hip theater director. All this is pointing toward a spectacular ending, but perfection isn’t Liza’s thing. So now she’s going to discover how much of a mess she can make of a seemingly good thing...and how terrifying, slightly tragic, and utterly hilarious a little success can be.