The Overnight Guest

  In  this blog post, I reviewed Heather Gudenkauf’s The Overnight Guest, this spine-tingling thriller will give you chills and goosebumps on every turned page. Twenty years ago, twelve-year-old Josie Doyle’s world was chattered when her parents and brother were brutally slaughtered on one summer night. Her best friend Becky Allen was presumed missing. She remained the sole survivor, emotionally scarred, and lived a new life. Now, under the name of Wylie Lark, a true crime writer, she returned to where it all happened to discover new clues to the mystery of that cold case on one winter night. Estranged from her teenage son and husband, she revisits the crime scene to help her remember. On that winter night, she receives a surprise overnight from a little girl and her mother, who told their own story about how they escaped being held prisoner for over two decades. Would this connect the dots to her past to solve this case and give it a happy ending?
 
This twisted psychological thriller is well-written and had the same appeal as ripped through the headlines news stories we’ve heard for the past two decades.  I cared for Wylie/Josie on how she suffered a brutal loss at such a young age and how persevered to come out strong as a young woman. I also rooted for Becky and her young daughter on how they endured a wrath of a mad man for over two decades and lived to tell about it.  The location of Burden Iowa was picture perfect for a small-town triple homicide during the summer. The winter storm scenes painted the scenic settings to tell the story in less than one day. The dual themes of the story are to have forgiveness by letting go of the past and shaping your own future by facing your fears.

This heart-thumping thriller will have you at the edge of your seat. I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love psychological thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and lots of deep twisted turns, the Overnight Guest will do that to you. This book is recommended for those who love Sandra Brown’s Chill Factor, true crime novels, TV shows ad podcasts, and noir thrillers.

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Eva Leigh’s The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes, the first installment in the Last Chance Scoundrels historical romance series. This debut historical romance is daring, smoking red hot, and spectacular to keep you in suspense. When Kieran Ransome helped plan his best friend’s narrow escape from marrying his sister Willa with his brother Finn, it placed his family in jeopardy and a pricy ultimatum. As a scandalous rake, he had a year to find a respectable bride as his wife and to reform his reckless ways. If he, Finn, and his best friend Dom don’t make it by the deadline, they would be cut off from their families. So Kieran needed someone to help him respectable in society’s circles for young women. And he found the perfect partner, Dom’s sister, Celeste Kilburn. Due to this scandal, her father wanted her in high-esteem and to find the perfect man as her husband like in Lord Montford. When Kieran sought her out, they made a pact to help each other out: he would help her find her freedom by taking her to the darkest alleys, and she would reform him to Society. An offer they couldn’t dare to refuse, in spite of dire consequences. Together, they knew each other better, in good times and bad, without falling too hard in love with each other, since Montford provided a daring obstacle to them and stood in their way. It was up to Kieran to help Celeste out by setting her free, no matter if it costed his heart, and claim her for his own.
 
This intriguing historical romance keeps you in suspense. I cared for Celeste on how everyone treated her with little to no respect on her wants and dreams. I loved how Kieran challenged her to become a better person while he is what he is, reformed or not. The scenic settings in and around London made it perfect for the location to dangerous dark alleys to safe mansions. The theme of the story is you are who you are, and no one could change it other than you.

This passionate historical romance is heartfelt and moving and pulls at your heart strings. I have one nitpick on this book: astonishment was overused and could’ve been replaced by a better emotion, or shown better. I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was damn good.  If you love daring  historical romances with steamy romantic drama, sizzling non-stop action, and lots of smoldering suspense, pick up a copy of The Good Girl’s Guide to Rake today. This book is recommended for those who love Bridgerton, historical romances, and classic period novels.

Beefcake and Snowflakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Judi Fennell’s Beefcake and Snowflakes, the 4th installment in the Beefcake Inc. contemporary romance series. This hot and steamy romance sizzled with a scorching burn. Fifteen years ago, Gina Taormina have been humiliated in front of her class by her crush,  Darien “Froggy” Foster. She haven’t forgiven him about it. When she’s been forced to see a strip show, she couldn’t believe her eyes when Daren Foster danced before her. Gina works at a spa and needs a new message therapist to help out with her clients. That’s when Dare Foster arrived to work his magical hands on her clients and also on her. Things changed between them during a brisk winter season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. For Dare, he wanted to make up for her and needed to figure out how. As an exotic dancer, he made ends meet and took classes on the side to make a better living. Things had changed between them during a brisk Christmas season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. But when her spa was in danger of being closed for good, could she trust Darien and his intentions to make things right for them?
 
This steamy Christmas contemporary romance will burns the pages right off the book. I cared for Gina and how she dealt with facing Darien Foster for the first time in twenty years. Forgive and forget, right? But when she worked with him at her salon, it made things more complicated than she at least expected it at first. And Darien as an exotic-dancer-turned-massage-therapist had turned up the heat. He had a way to melt more than hearts in this romance. I loved the winter scenic settings during the Christmas season in Pennsylvania for the location. The  dual themes of the story are that we’ll all mistakes and to follow your heart.

This steamy contemporary romance melts more than ice and snow.  This contemporary romance is sexy, sizzling, and cranks up the heat a notch. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since this was spot on and fantastic. I rated this book, five out of five stars for no specific reason.  If you love twisted  sexy holiday contemporary romances with a sparkle of humor, tons of romantic drama, and plenty of non-stop sizzling action, Beefcake and Snowflakes is right up your alley. This book is recommended for those who love Hallmark novels, holiday romances, and all types of romantic comedies alike.