Death At Breakfast by Beth Gutcheon (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Retired New York City private school head Maggie Detweiler and her old friend, society matron Hope Babbin, are off on a weeklong vacation to Maine, to visit Hope’s son and attend a master cooking class at the picturesque Oquossoc Mountain Inn. The worst tragedy they anticipate is a boring fellow guest or a fallen soufflé.

But their quiet idyll is disrupted by the arrival at the inn of a boorish couple, Alexander and Lisa Antippas, and Lisa’s sister, Glory. Imperious Hollywood one-percenters, Alex and Lisa are also the parents of the latest pop sensation, teen icon Artemis. Discord enters with the family, closely followed by disaster. When a suspicious late-night fire at the inn is brought under control, Alex’s charred body is found in the ashes.

Enter the local deputy sheriff, Buster Babbin, who is Hope’s long-estranged son and a former student of Maggie’s. Buster needs a success, and Hope and Maggie, informed by a lifetime of observing human nature, coupled with a certain cynicism about small town justice and a healthy dose of curiosity, decide there is role for them to play here."
 
My Thoughts:

I enjoyed my reading experience with this book so much! It was such a fun mystery and I found myself just caught within the pages the entire time. From the very beginning, the author brought this story to life and I couldn't help but just settle in to the pages. What I loved about this book so much is that there was just this feeling of humor present throughout the entire book- it felt a bit playful at times which isn't something that you always see in a mystery. It was just a fun book to read plain and simple! The characters were great as well which made the book even better. The two main characters were Hope and Maggie who are both retired and traveling together for the first time to see if they make good traveling companions. I absolutely adored the fact that the main characters in this book were older- too often it seems that all of the characters in every book I read are in their early twenties or younger. With older characters you get a different perspective then you would with someone that is younger. I really thought that these two ladies just made the book that much better. I am really looking forward to reading more books in this series based off of their characters alone.


The mystery portion of this book was done quite well. I guessed at one point early on who it might be but was never sure until the very end because the author did such a good job of keeping me guessing. I loved the fact that at certain points in the book I suspected almost every single character. When an author can do that, it is a sign of a great book in my opinion. I also really appreciated how easily this author was able to just pull me in. This was a book that I took my time with as I just didn't want to see it end. I enjoyed getting to know all of the different characters and I really enjoyed trying to figure the mystery out. But my absolute favorite thing about this book was the descriptions of the inn where they were all staying. I wanted to stay there myself! It just seemed so cozy and inviting- the author was able to bring it all to life for me. I found myself wishing that I could go and visit myself! The ending of this book was perfect. I honestly don't think that the author could have ended it any better. I was also left excited because it seemed pretty clear that there is going to be a second book. I can't wait!

Overall, I really enjoyed my entire reading experience with this book. I found it to be such a pleasant read and I was truly sad to see it end. With a great cast of characters that I couldn't help but love, I was left very excited about this series! I will definitely be reading the second book as soon as I can get my hands on it. I can easily recommend this book to other mystery lovers. I think fans of Louise Penny should check this author out as this book had a similar vibe with a strong focus on characters. Easily recommended!

Bottom Line: Such a great beginning to this new series- I can't wait for more!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.

The Body in the Wardrobe by Katherine Hall Page (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Minster’s wife, caterer, and part-time sleuth Faith Fairchild pairs up with Sophie Maxwell, last seen in Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Georgia, where Sophie crosses paths with murder. Another delightful entry in the beloved mystery series, complete with delectable recipes.

Attorney Sophie Maxwell has come to Savannah to be with her new husband, Will. But nothing throws cold water on a hot relationship faster than a dead body. Worse for Sophie, no one believes the body she knows she saw is real. Will is spending an awful lot of time in Atlanta on a case he claims is urgent, and she’s been tasked with house hunting for them with his former sweetheart, who Sophie can’t help but suspect wishes Sophie would return to her Yankee roots!

Fortunately, Sophie has a good friend in Faith Fairchild. With teenage Amy being bullied by mean girls and husband Tom contemplating a major life change that will affect all the Fairchilds, Faith is eager for distraction in the form of some sleuthing. In between discussions of newlywed agita, surprising Savannah customs and, of course, fabulous low country food, Faith and Sophie will pair up to unmask a killer!"

My Thoughts:

I am currently two books into this series and I've enjoyed both of them.  I read (and adored) the first book in this series titled The Body In the Belfry last year.  I've been meaning to continue on with this series since then but we all know by now how awful I can be when it comes to doing just that.  This is the twenty-third book in this long standing mystery series- you can probably already imagine how thrilled I was to realize how many more books I now have to look forward to!  I love when I find long standing mystery series with huge backlists to explore!  Even though I read this book completely out of order, I found that it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book in the slightest.  Partly this was because the main story line was about Sophie and her new life with her new husband. I'm sure that this really helped but the secondary story line was focused on Faith's family and I enjoyed that as well despite having missed so much of the back story.  It just made me more excited to continue on with this series and to get my hands on the second book!

One of the things that I liked about this book so much (and really the series in general) is the main characters.  In this book really the mystery felt secondary to the characters and what they were going through in life.  I loved every minute of it!  This was a quiet mystery but it still had just enough suspense to make me unable to stop reading.  I just loved the author's attention to detail and the way that she brings the characters to life on the pages.  The descriptions of Savannah which is Sophie's new home and all of the delicious food- it is no wonder that I was hungry half of the time while I was reading this book!  I just found myself completely immersed within the pages of this story and was almost sad to see it end.  These characters just felt like old friends and I enjoyed my time with them.  The mystery portion was tied up nicely and I loved that the author was able to bring Sophie and Faith's story lines both to a satisfying close.  I really don't plan on waiting as long to get back to this series and I've already checked my library system for the second book.  

Overall, this book was another great read in this mystery series.  I've come to really adore the characters and as I've only read two books in this series I feel like that is a really great accomplishment.  Don't feel like you can't read this book out or order- I did and it didn't bother me in the slightest.  I think what I loved about this book the most was that I just let the author take me on the ride that she intended.  I didn't rush, I just enjoyed my time reading this book.  Fans of cozy mysteries should really check this series out as it does have a cozy feel to it.  Plus, the way that the author describes and brings the story to life are very reminiscent of other cozy series that I love.  I can easily recommend both this book and this series in general.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A perfect way to spend a few days just immersed in this book!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a PICT tour.

The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Given the opportunity, would you assume someone else's identity and leave your old life behind? A serendipitous crossing of paths between Lisa Barnes, a down-on-her-luck job seeker, and Julie Forman, a personal trainer to an Olympic hopeful, forever changes the course of both women's lives. One winds up dead and the other finds herself a fugitive, hiding behind one lie after another as a cold-blooded killer methodically hunts her. Desperately trying to stay alive, the terrified woman enlists the help of Forensic Instincts, a rogue investigative team that clandestinely operates in the gray area between legal and illegal. Safeguarding their client's deception, Forensic Instincts digs into dangerous territory as they try to find out who's after their client and why. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in Chicago, New Jersey, and Vermont as a megalomaniacal genius will stop at nothing to eradicate anyone who threatens the success of his medical breakthrough. With an unhinged client and a monstrous criminal enterprise as its adversary, Forensic Instincts is forced into uncharted territory to protect their client and save one of their own from becoming the next corpse. Forensic Instincts is an unorthodox, criminal investigative team that carefully navigates the fine line between legal and illegal. The team consists of a behaviorist, a former Navy SEAL, a techo-wiz, an intuitive, a pickpocket, a retired FBI agent, and a human scent evidence dog."

My Thoughts:

This book reminded me once again what I love about this series!  Even though I've read this series completely out of order (I think I started with book three and then went back to book one before reading this one) I have enjoyed each book.  What I love about this series is the great cast of characters and of course the mysteries that suck me in each and every time.  I found the story line of this book to be so interesting because Forensic Instinct's client has basically taken over the life of a woman that she barely knew and then finds herself in deep danger because of it.  At first I wasn't sure how this was all going to work but the author did a really great job with making it feel believable and especially with the motivations of why Lisa does what she does.  It made the book that much more intense while reading it for me because I didn't want anything to happen to Lisa.  Her character wasn't even the focus of the book for the entire time but I really liked her and wanted everything to work out.  

Each of the books in this series has pulled me in while reading and this book was no different.  I love how each of the members of Forensic Instincts has an important role that they play in each investigation.  I don't think that it is easy for an author to include so many character's lives in one story but Kane does a really great job of it.  I feel like with each book I get to know more about the characters and I enjoy the series that much more because of it.  I especially like reading about Ryan's different gadgets and gizmos that he comes up with to use during their investigations.  The ending of this book was especially intense and I found myself reading as quickly as possible by that point.  I liked the way that this book ended and felt that it fit in realistically with everything that had happened.  I've got to say that this is really becoming a favorite series of mine and one that I will happily continue to read as it goes on (and yes, probably out of order still).

All in all, this book was just as good as I had hoped that it would be.  Obviously I don't have a problem reading the series out of order but I do recommend reading the earlier books as well.  The series has such a great cast of characters and the author does an amazing job of bringing each one of them to life.  I love how they aren't afraid to do things that are outside of the law in order to make sure that their clients lives are safe.  It makes the books just a bit more intense and suspenseful as we wait to make sure that everything works out.  The premise of this book is really what made this book stand out for me and I'm eager for more.  Looks like I need to get my hands on a copy of book two soon!  Easily recommended to mystery and suspense fans!

Bottom Line:  Another great addition to a series that I've come to love.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT book tour.

Here is a link to the author's website if you are interested:

http://www.andreakane.com/
https://twitter.com/Andrea_Kane

Mercury Striking by Rebecca Zanetti (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

With nothing but rumors to lead her, Lynn Harmony has trekked across a nightmare landscape to find one man—a mysterious, damaged legend who protects the weak and leads the strong. He’s more than muscle and firepower—and in post-plague L.A., he’s her only hope. As the one woman who could cure the disease, Lynn is the single most volatile—and vulnerable—creature in this new and ruthless world. But face to face with Jax Mercury…

Danger has never looked quite so delicious…

My Thoughts:

Post-apocalyptic romance.  That is all I needed to hear before I was adding this book on to my TBR wishlist.  It is so easy sometimes, isn't it?  This is a genre that I cannot resist and always want to read more of although really I've read very few books like this.  This book was just as good as I had hoped it would be, and I am delighted that it is the beginning to a series.  A post-apocalyptic romantic series...be still my heart!  After finishing this book I am already eagerly anticipating book two because this book was just that good.  It was unique, kick-ass, and intense which are all things that made this book a winner for me.  It would be most accurate to say that I devoured this book- I started reading it and just couldn't stop.  

I have a certain weakness for books and shows (evidenced by my obsession to The Walking Dead) that feature "the end of society as we know it".  It is a scary thing to read about at times because it can feel all too real.  The world that this author created was perfect because it felt so real.  The constant hunt and search for supplies.  The attempt at creating a life and some new version of normal.   And of course the need to fight to survive.  If society really was to end, I am sure that all three of these things would be necessary which is a terrifying thought.  I loved how easily this author pulled me into this dark world that she had created.  It was so different from other books that I have read like this and I couldn't help but appreciate that fact alone.  Add to that two really great main characters and you have a winning read!  Oh, but I just loved the characters in this book and especially Jax and Lynn.  The chemistry between these two was just as hot as I had hoped for.  There are some secondary characters that really had me intrigued as well and I'm hoping to see more of them in the next book.  The ending of this book was completely intense!  I was on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I possibly could.  The author had some super creepy moments in there that made it even more intense!  I finished this book all too soon and was left wishing for more.  At least I have another book to look forward to although I sure do wish that I had it in my hands now!

Overall, this book was an amazing read that left me wanting more.  If anyone has recommendations for other post-apocalyptic romance reads, do share!  I love books like this but just don't know of enough of them.  I sure would like to add more to my TBR wishlist!  The romance in this book fit in perfectly with the story line (and didn't feel like it was shoved in as a side note) and left me feeling completely satisfied.  The intensity of this book and the world that the author created made this a thrilling read that I just couldn't get enough of.  I would highly recommend this book to romance fans and especially those of romantic suspense.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A great beginning to this series- it was just as good as I wanted it to be!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. 

If you are interested, here is a link to another series that I have really loved similar to this one.  Nightfall by Ellen Conner was just as intense as this book was and also one that I loved to pieces!

It Takes One by Kate Kessler (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Criminal psychologist Audrey Harte is returning home after seven years. She'll have to face the whispers and the rumors that have haunted her family since she left. Because when Audrey was thirteen, she and her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's abusive father.

Her first night back in town ends in a fight with a drunken Maggie, with her old crush Jake to witness it all. Audrey can't believe it can get worse.

Then Maggie turns up dead.

Now, Audrey has to find out who the murderer is - before everyone decides that she is to blame. And before the murderer can set their sights on her."

My Thoughts:

 Wow, wow, wow!  Don't you love when you read a book by a new to you author and end up being just blown away by it?  Books like this are why I read, it is as simple as that.  I wanted to read this book instantly based off of the above summary alone.  I was sold as soon as I read the words criminal psychologist and realized that was the main character's profession.  Yes please!  Plus, it was the beginning to a new series and you all know by now how much I love starting a new series.  And it doesn't hurt if I am being honest that it has such a gorgeous cover.  Anyways, what made this book such a winner for me was how dark and twisted this book ended up being.  I'm basically a sucker for a mystery like this where no one and nothing is as it seems.  These are my absolute favorite types of thrillers to read which makes it very easy to see why I loved this one so much!  

One of the things that made this book stand out for me was the characters.  When Audrey was younger, she helped kill her best friend's father who was abusive.  This event has shaped Audrey's life and the author used Audrey's past and tied it into the present.  This added such a great layer of tension and suspense because it made me question everything that was happening.  Was it related to what happened between Maggie and Audrey as kids?  I'm trying not to spoil anything here but as you read further on into the book you come to realize that possibly the entire truth from that awful night has not come out.  This adds just one more layer of intensity so that I found myself reading frantically by the end.  From the way the author told this story, it felt like all of the characters in this book might have secrets or darker motivations behind the things that they did.  I didn't trust any of the characters fully which gave the book a bit of an unreliable feel to it.  This is something that I love so much in thrillers- it is my reader catnip.  I cannot resist a book where I am questioning everything and everyone!  The mystery portion of this book was both dark and intense which is just the way I like it.  I loved that the author was able to leave me guessing until the very end.  Oh that ending was a doozy!  I found myself utterly useless by the end of this book as I wasn't going to do anything else until I finished.  It was worth the lack of sleep completely and I won't tell you more than that!

All in all, this book has a very good chance of making my top reads list of 2016.  I loved how suspenseful it was and found myself unable to set my kindle down because of it.  If this is the author's first book, then I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!  She has jumped on to my must read list and I am seriously pining for the second book already.  I can't seem to say enough good things about this book so read it already!  Fans of twisty dark thrillers definitely need to give this book a go.  I will just sit here wishing that I had book two in my hands and recommend this one to you all in the meantime.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  One of the best thrillers I have read so far this year!  Wow!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher courtesy of NetGalley.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 9th)

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!"

Whew!  When I said that life was going to get VERY busy I sure wasn't exaggerating.  Baseball and softball season are off and running, soccer is still going strong, and we have one kid with football conditioning twice a week.  This all would be busy enough by itself but I'm also currently on mandatory overtime at work (thank goodness that I work from home).  Yup, chaos reigns lately and also explains why my blogging presence has been so spotty as well.  There are days where my house looks like a tornado has blown through it and I can't even summon up the energy to care.  Here is where I tell you my little secret truth:  I am loving every minute of it!  I love watching my kids play ball and it is such a joy to watch them grow.  The years go by too fast so even though life is currently very crazy, I try to appreciate every moment of it.

Reading has fallen to the wayside a bit as there just is not enough time in the day.  I am reading but just at a much slower pace which meant that I finished April with the lowest number of books finished so far this year.  It might end up being like that in May as well but I'm okay with that.  This upcoming weekend I am planning on planting my garden (weather permitting) and I am so very excited to finally get it set up for the year.  Fresh veggies are my favorite!  Other than that, I don't have much other exciting news.  I did manage to finish one book last week, it was the following:

I just shared my thoughts on it and you can find them here.  A very solid read and one that left me excited about both this series and the author.  I am now reading the following:

I am reading this book for an upcoming PICT tour and will be sharing my thoughts on it very soon.  This is book twenty-three in this series so I am reading it completely out of order (I am notorious for this- I've actually read the first book though and loved it to pieces).  So far, so good and I am hoping to get it finished up very soon.

Up next is probably going to be one of the following:

Both are print copies and I've been itching to start them.  I about lost my shit when I opened up some bookish mail and found A Game For All the Family as it was such an unexpected surprise.  One I was very thrilled about obviously!  Death At Breakfast is for an upcoming TLC tour and sounds like my type of read.  I can't wait to get started on both of these!

Today will be another crazy day as ALL three of the kids have a baseball/softball game.  My husband and I will be rotating diamonds so that we can watch all of them.  It should be fun!  At some point in the very near future, I will try to stop by and visit with all of you.  Thank you for understanding as I have not been the best bloggy friend as of late.

Happy Monday and Happy Reading!

The Wages of Sin by Nancy Allen (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"In rural McCown County, Missouri, a young pregnant woman is found beaten to death in a trailer park. The only witness to the murder is Ivy, her six-year-old daughter, who points to her mom’s boyfriend—father of the unborn child. County prosecutor Madeleine Thompson promises the community justice, and in the Ozarks, that can only mean one thing: a death sentence.

When Madeleine’s first choice for co-counsel declines to try a death penalty case, she is forced to turn to assistant prosecutor Elsie Arnold. Elsie is reluctant to join forces with her frosty boss, but the road to conviction seems smooth—until unexpected facts about the victim arise, and the testimony of the lone eyewitness Ivy becomes increasingly crucial. Against Elsie’s advice, Madeleine brings in the state attorney general’s office to assist them, while cutthroat trial attorney Claire O’Hara joins the defense.

Elsie will not let the power of prosecution—of seeking justice—be wrested from her without a fight. She wants to win the case, and to avenge the death of the mother and her unborn child. But as the trial nears, Elsie begins to harbor doubts about the death penalty itself. Meanwhile, the child Ivy is in greater danger than anyone knows."

My Thoughts:

I am having a really great year in regards to finding new to me authors to follow and Nancy Allen can easily be added to that list!  This is going to sound weird to say but at first I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this one.  I am always hesitant to read mysteries where children are involved as I don't want/like to read about violence towards children.  Saying that though, I couldn't resist wanting to read this one based off of the above summary.  I believe this book could be considered a legal thriller which is a genre that I haven't read in years.  I was intrigued especially because this book was going to focus on the death penalty which is one of those controversial subjects that you don't see that often in books (or at least the books that I read).  I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try as I have now found a great new series and author to follow!  Success!  One of the things that instantly drew me into this book was the main character, Elsie Arnold.  She was great and so utterly realistic that I can't even describe it.  The author really brought her to life for me as the reader in so many ways.  She wasn't perfect and she made mistakes but she felt all the more real because of it.  This was just one of those books that takes your expectations and utterly exceeds them.

What I found really unique about this book was the fact that from the beginning the reader knows who the bad guys are.  The mystery wasn't so much about who the bad guys were but how the main characters were going to be able to figure everything out which isn't like your typical mystery.  I loved this book for that alone!  When you read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, it always fun for an author to take you by surprise by the plot line of the book.  I also really appreciated the fact that this author's knowledge of the justice system came through so easily and in a way that was very understandable for me as the reader.  I wasn't thrown off by too much detail or unnecessary explanations of legal processes which can often happen with a book like this.  Instead, the author brought our justice system to light in a way that really hit home for me as the reader.  There is a very gray area when it comes to certain things and the way our justice system handles them (especially the death penalty).  I loved that Elsie struggled with trying the case because it meant that she was ultimately helping to sentence someone to death.  I've said it before but it bears stating again:  this book felt so realistic to me because of things just like this!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to read more by this author!  There are two other books in this series to look forward to which is really great.  I sure do love when that happens!  I found this book to be thought provoking at times and for that alone I would recommend it.  Don't let the subject matter put you off- the author portrays everything that happens in a sensitive manner that didn't put me off at all.  I found the ending of this book to be intense and absolutely perfect.  It left me very excited about this series and ready to read more.  I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and mysteries alike.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A mystery that made me think- a sure sign of a good read!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss as part of a PICT tour.

Notorious by Carey Baldwin (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"The woman everyone loves to hate is dead.

Dallas socialite Cynthia Langhorne is infamous for her beauty, her philanthropy, and her home wrecking--until she's found shot through the heart and posed nude at a fundraising ball. The case is high profile, and there's a bigger problem: Cindy is the wife of a decorated FBI special agent--the prime suspect in her murder.

When the Bureau sends FBI profiler Atticus Spenser and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Caitlin Cassidy to Texas on behalf of Dutch Langhorne, the special agent-turned-suspect, they're suspicious of the very man whose interests they're supposed to protect. But with a psycho hitman on their heels and a trail of evidence leading up the food chain, it quickly becomes clear this is no ordinary case. The truth points to someone--or something--larger than Spenser and Cassidy ever thought possible. Solving this case is no longer a matter of clearing Dutch's name--it's a matter of national security."

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book so much which has me completely excited about this author.  I also consider it to a big plus that I started in the middle of this series so now have the first two books to go back to.  Yay for not having to wait on the next book to release....well I guess I kind of do still but at least I have two other books to make that wait seem shorter.  Anyways, I knew after reading the above summary that this was a book that I wanted to pick up.  I love a good mystery series and one featuring a FBI profiler and forensic psychiatrist- well that is like my mystery reading catnip.  I can't resist!  What makes it even better is that this book was easily one of the best books that I read in April.  It was just that good!

In this book, Spenser and Cassidy get unofficially involved in the investigation of the murder of a prominent FBI agent's wife.  Unfortunately that FBI agent is also the prime suspect in the ongoing investigation.  Before long Spenser and Cassidy are pulled into a very dangerous search for one of the most unique killers that I've ever read about.  Also one of the creepiest killers would be another perfect way to describe this character.  This book was everything that I love in a mystery.  It had great main characters that I wanted to learn more about (hence why I need to go back to book one and two).  This book also was both twisty and unexpected when it came to the story line.....I was constantly guessing with this book.  I spent the majority of the time while reading trying to figure out who the killer was and it turns out that I wasn't even close to figuring it out by the end.  Yes!  I love when that happens and the author has me so completely sucked into the story at the same time.  I flew through the pages of this one because I just needed to see how it would all end.  Oh my goodness and that ending was even better than I had expected.  I can't say more as I don't want to overshare but this book was a nail biter.  It was a really good thing that I was reading this one on my Kindle or I might have peeked at the end.  I finished this book instantly ready to get my hands on book one which is a sure sign of a winner in my opinion.

Overall, I really loved this book and am so eager for more!  I have very high hopes that the other books in this series will be just as good as this one (fingers crossed).  As I'm pretty sure that I gushed throughout this entire review, I'm sure that you can tell already how much I enjoyed it.  It was one of those books that leaves you reading at a breakneck pace for the entire book.  I didn't want to set it down and am left eager for more.  What else could I ask for???  I would easily recommend this book to mystery and thriller fans alike.  Obviously I don't think that you need to read this series in order- I didn't and still really loved it!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  An author that I am truly excited to read more of!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this books thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss as part of a PICT tour.

Out Rider by Lindsay McKenna (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"A fresh start—that's all Devorah McGuire wants. As a former Marine and current Ranger with the US Forest Service, she's grown accustomed to keeping others safe. But when the unthinkable happens, she can only hope that a transfer to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will allow her to put the past behind her for good.

Dev's mentor at Grand Tetons National Park is fellow canine handler and horseman Sloan Rankin. He shows Dev the spectacular trails, never knowing the terror that stalks her every move. Despite her lingering fear, Dev feels an attraction for Sloan as wild as their surroundings.

With Sloan, Dev can envision a new life—a real home. Unless a vengeful man fresh out of prison succeeds in finishing what he started…"

My Thoughts:

With all of the mysteries and thrillers that I've been reading lately, a romance was the perfect change of pace for me.  I eagerly picked up my copy of this book as I've read one other book by this author that I enjoyed awhile back.  Now I've only read two books so far by this author but both featured romance and the military which is something that I always seem to enjoy in my books.  This book was set in Montana and both main characters had served time in the military which I found very intriguing.  Especially because both Dev and Sloan were dealing with the after effects of having PTSD from their time in service.  It was just one of those small connections that combined to really make their relationship believable for me as the reader.  Speaking of their relationship, this was one of those books that I love when it comes to the building of a relationship.  They didn't just fall in love with each other despite the fact that they had an instant connection or attraction.  This was more of a friends to lovers story in a way even though they had just met at the very beginning of the book.  There were tons of factors and obstacles that led to them holding off on their feelings for one another but I really just appreciated that it came across more naturally than many other books.  In fact, I was almost impatient at points because I was so ready for them to take that next step.  LOL!  The wait was worth it though and I feel like I enjoyed this book more because of it.

The story line featured the fact that Dev had a stalker where she previously lived (not really a spoiler since it is mentioned in the summary).  The author goes into detail in what Dev previously went through which wasn't always easy to read at times so I thought I better throw that out there.  It might just be me but reading about stalkers always gives me the heeby jeeby's. It sure did add a layer of suspense to this book and especially to the ending!  I got to a certain point near the end and just wasn't able to set this book down.  It was really intense but I loved the way that the author wrapped everything up!  I also really, really loved the way that the author described Wyoming.  I've never been but from the descriptions I could just picture everything in my head.  I love when I am able to visualize a place that I've never been to while reading.  It just adds to the reading experience for me!  My one and only complaint with this book was that it felt repetitive at times.  I felt like there were certain things that were brought up over and over again.  It might just have been me though as sometimes I prefer more showing rather than telling.  All in all though, this was an enjoyable reading experience that made me glad to have read this author again.

Overall, I found this book to be a solid romance that was the perfect change of pace to everything else that I have been reading.  I'm curious to check out this author's other books because I believe that some of them might be loosely connected to this one (I'm guessing here on this).  Like maybe some of the other characters that were in this book have their own books?  A girl can hope!  This was a quiet romance with an explosive finish- that is the best way that I can describe it.  I would recommend it to other romance readers easily.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  Another enjoyable read by this author!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.