"Angel of Death' by Jennifer Hinsman

In "Angel of Death' by Jennifer Hinsman, there are plenty of multi-dimensional relationships to be explored. A friendship formed between Tancy and Audrey, even though their backgrounds differed severely. Audrey wound up bound to an alternative lifestyle in an attempt to gain independence from her parents and maintain her usual comforts. Tancy found true love in her first real boyfriend. My favorite part of the story was the way their lives intersected, their families connected to the unsolved deaths, and how Angel always looked out for Tancy until it was solved. The truth about Angel surprised me in a good way, but then, I had some questions about how she managed to keep Tancy from starving to death. A lot of sexual scenes in this book. I would have preferred more about the bones of the story and the path to uncovering the mystery and revealing the bad guy; I enjoyed that aspect. Overall, I liked where the author went with it.

"Hearts in the Storm" by Elmer Seward

Trista is on a mission and looking for someone to help her accomplish her goal. The details of that goal are withheld long enough for you to get a little background information about the characters' lives. Trista meets a local man affectionately referred to as "Duck" with a past of his own that he can't escape. He agrees to take her out on his boat in the eye of a storm because he knows more about her secrets than he is letting on and honestly wants to help her. In doing so, he feels he may be able to find redemption for himself and finally be free of his own demons. His sister thinks he may be crazy but she doesn't argue with him because she can see glimpses of the brother she used to have and wants him to be emotionally whole again. She can see a bond forming between Trista and Duck and hopes a relationship will mean a new beginning for them.

This is a touching story about loss, tragedy, and overcoming it. The way the author pulls you along spilling bits of the past only hints at the losses felt by Trista and Duck, but when the entire truth was revealed, it gave me goosebumps. The conclusion had some surprises as well. I thought it was going to end one way, but Mr. Seward managed to surprise me. Job well done.

I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend it.

"The Second-Best Ranger in Texas" by Kathleen Rice Adams

Kathleen Rice Adams paints a descriptive picture of the setting and characters in her historical novella, "The Second-Best Ranger in Texas." Even Barclay's horse Bulls-Eye has a personality. Dulce and Barclay form a connection within the limited pages that can be difficult to attain, but this author makes you care about them both and believe they are falling in love. She weaves a story of circumstances that show the depth of their strengths and weaknesses and show they are human. There are also confrontations and action scenes that are highly exciting. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it as a quick, exciting read that leaves you wanting more.

"Hexed: A Purr-fect Catastrophe" by Wendy Jayne

I absolutely loved this short story. Another hit from Wendy Jayne. Cassidy's journey to uncover the person who heart-hexed her provided sensual tension, humor, and a bit of mystery. 100% enjoyable. Recommended! Get your copy today!

'Lost Time: Family Ties' by Maretha Botha

Twin sisters' relationships with each other and romantic entanglements with the same man could weave a captivating web. The description enticed me to read the book. Finding how one sister truly views the other proved interesting. The dialogue confused at times, and the reader is put inside different characters' heads within the same scene. Nelle didn't appear to have any redeeming qualities.

"The Marathon Man" by Liz Cowan

In "The Marathon Man" by Liz Cowan, the two main characters have unlimited potential. Each one with select attributes that make them attractive. Patricia is a beautiful detective with paranormal abilities. Thorn is a gorgeous, affluent businessman. The two meet and immediately know they are meant to be a couple. They face Thorn's past reputation and the reasons his previous paramours dubbed him 'the marathon man' which render him incapable of complete intimacy. Patricia's devotion and boundless patience are admirable. Thorn is vulnerable behind his macho facade; his interactions with Patricia's niece prove sweet and endearing. Several compelling scenes read well. The book contained very few errors.
In my experience, what I didn't like evenly balanced what I did like. The dialogue didn't flow in this story; I had difficulty with Thorn and Patricia's hot to cold and passion into argument transitions. Patricia is a detective, but after just finishing the story, I don't remember much in the book that involved her job, and I found it difficult to believe her role as a police officer. It felt like her paranormal ability was restricted to explain her immediate, unbreakable connection with Thorn and to figure out his suppressed problem, so much time spent inside her head, and repetition of her feelings about the situation. Patricia takes sexual actions at the end of the story to save her husband after a life-threatening injury that I couldn't accept.

"Slimmer" by Wendy Jayne

Laugh out loud funny. I became a fan only paragraphs into the first shorty story I read by Wendy Jayne, and I thoroughly enjoyed SLIMMER as well. The humor tickles, and the romantic satire never disappoints; believable characters in an interesting and relatable scene laced with hilarious moments. I highly recommend this book.

"Somewhere Between" by Patty Wiseman

I enjoyed "Somewhere Between" by Patty Wiseman. Phebe's intelligence, curiosity, and bravery while investigating the family mystery and ghost in the attic kept me reading. Filled with multi-dimensional, strong characters, this story flowed well, and the ending surprised. The love match at the end, however, felt rushed, but it provided a happy note for the finale.

"The Hunted" by Karen Black

In "The Hunted" by Karen Black, Yvonne abruptly moves between two worlds; one calm and happy and the other a nightmare. The beginning felt awkward, but the story soon gained traction, and my favorite parts fell during her terrifying dreams with the author's portrayal of action and emotion. Within fourteen pages, the tale holds a couple of surprises. What is real?

'Just Stay' by Michelle Abbott

In "Just Stay" by Michelle Abbott, Pia's family guilted her into joining them for a final family vacation before she headed to uni; she anticipated a boring trip but agreed to go. A local boy named Trey entered the scene. Pia finds him creepy. Pia's mother unwittingly helps Trey in his pursuit of Pia in a comical misunderstanding. Spending time with persistent Trey, Pia falls under his spell; but, she doubts his fidelity and sincerity due to his admissions and his friend's warnings. Trey's relationship with his mother overflowed with heartache. The poor guy seemed like a whipping boy for anyone that ever hurt her, but Trey never showed anger towards her. Their relationship also caused stress on Pia and Trey's budding romance. Not a flowery love story; it has some dark moments but is a worth-while read, and Trey is a powerful character.