Day: May 28, 2019

Posted in Book Review, Romance

Untamed Billionaire’s Innocent Bride – Caitlin Crews @MillsandBoon @megancrane #Romance #Insiders #Modern 4*#Review #CombeFamilyScandals2

Posted on by jolliffe01

A long-lost billionaire…

…A virgin to tame him!

Dedicated personal assistant Lauren Clarke always does as she’s asked. Her latest task? To prevent a media scandal, she needs to find reclusive Dominik James—her boss’s estranged brother—and convince him to marry her! But in Hungary’s darkest forests she discovers more than just an untamed billionaire… Dominik’s brooding masculinity awakens Lauren’s long-dormant desire. Once they’ve exchanged their convenient ‘I do’s’, will innocent Lauren accept that their hunger can’t be denied…?

Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My Thoughts…

A fairytale inspired billionaire romance with great chemistry between the couple, a refreshing role reversal in the ‘Cinderella’ fairytale storyline, and a sexy yet fun take on ‘Red Riding Hood.

Initially, Lauren is portrayed as someone with little sense of self-worth, who is willing to cede to all her billionaire boss’ demands because she believes herself in love with him. Meeting Dominik in an enchanted Hungarian forest reveals the true woman, intelligent, independent and ingenious. This strength contrast with her innocence in matters of the heart.

Dominik is not what he seems, but everything he has achieved stems from his tragic childhood. He doesn’t want what Lauren has been tasked with achieving, but he does want her and is prepared to barter as only a man with a wolf nature can.

What results is a humorous, sensual adventure for Lauren and Dominik, which reveals why they are so emotionally damaged, and provides the possibility of a happy-ever-after, for them if fairytale magic really exists?

Lighthearted, and fanciful, this a modern fairytale marriage of convenience story, with strong characters and a quirky plot, perfect Summer escapist reading.

Posted in Book Review, Crime Fiction

Their Final Moments- Jane Adams 5* #Review @JoffeBooks @janeadamsauthor #Crime #Thriller #DIMikeCroft3

Posted on by jolliffe01

HE WANTS TO CAPTURE THEIR FINAL MOMENTS ON FILM SO HE CAN WATCH THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN

DECEMBER: Detective Mike Croft is in pursuit of a serial attacker whose victims are all young blonde women. But forensics on the victims reveals an even more horrific scenario. Many miles away, in Wiltshire, a young woman dies in a burning car. In Norwich, an actress is found dead in her own home and a teenage boy runs away from a past he doesn’t know how to face. Can DI Mike Croft work out what links these events? Then a greater threat emerges. JAKE BOWEN: filmmaker and serial murderer. There is no pattern to his victims. He doesn’t care who dies, so long as their final moments make a good film, and Jake is very imaginative in deciding how his victims will die.

MIKE CROFT FACES A RACE AGAINST TIME TO STOP A KILLER. BUT THEN THE KILLER COMES FOR HIM.

Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book from Joffe Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My Thoughts…

This story was originally published as two books, but as the second story follows on after a few months time break, it reads well as a single book. The plot is relentless, lots of suspects, incidents, clues and false leads, that it is hard to keep track. However, this complexity adds to the story’s authenticity and makes you feel part of it.

Detective Inspector Mike Croft is a dedicated professional, with a tragic past that makes him empathise with the victims of the crimes he solves. He is gradually rebuilding his life with the help of Maria and retired detective John Tynan.

The crimes although terrible, are not overly graphic, just enough to give the story its menacing undercurrent, especially when the crimes impinge on Mike’s personal life. The police procedural element of this story is well written, and the slowness and amount of work involved in solving the crimes are portrayed in a believable way. This is an emotional story, you empathise with the victims and the detectives and abhor the antagonists.

The realistic ending is full of action and adrenaline, with a satisfying outcome. Hopefully, there is a more promising future for Mike Croft’s personal life too.