Review: The Haunting of Maddy Clare

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Deadly Fear

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Sweetest Scoundrel

Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Pine Lake

Pine Lake by Amanda Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*

As a teenager, Jack was accused of his girlfriend's murder.  Even after someone else was caught and found guilty, his small town still treated him differently.  As soon as he could, he left.  Olive moved in with her uncle after her dad was killed in a car accident.  As a result of the trauma of that, Olive sleepwalks.  Due to her sleepwalking, she may have witnessed 2 murders.  Jack comes back to town after his uncle dies to both decide what to do with his uncle's home and to clear his name.

Nice mystery and a decent amount of suspense and setup.  Romance is light in this one.  No insta-love or I love yous.  Just a HFN which I thought realistic given the length of time Jack and Olivia get reacquainted.  I would have liked more about Mona and Beth (and what they knew).  Ending was a little rushed.  

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Review: Devil in Spring

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5* rounded up
My favorite so far of the Ravenels. This is Pandora's and Gabriel's story. Devil in Winter was another Kleypas favorite of mine, so it was wonderful to "see" Evie and Sebastian. Gabriel is their oldest son. The Challons are a loving family. Pandora's parents were not and she and her sisters had an isolated upbringing.
Pandora is a character I really grew to like. And Gabriel. He was so perfect. What made this book work so much for me was this: Pandora and Gabriel love each other just as they are. There is nothing sexier or romantic than that. No big misunderstanding. They communicate their wants, desires, what doesn't work, etc.
Nice setup for the next (Dr Garrett Gibson and Ethan- a detective who might be related to the Ravenels).

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Review: Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Graphic novel
Excellent collection of a mix of some well known women and others I had not heard of. I learned something about all of the women, even those I had heard of. The illustrations are spot on. Recommended even for those who aren't a big fan of the graphic novel (full disclosure- I can count on one hand the number I've read).
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Review: Destiny's Captive

Destiny's Captive by Beverly Jenkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is Noah's story, the youngest Yates brother. Noah was shanghaied at 18. He spent months in a prison camp before he signed a 2 year conscription as a sailor. The captain was the individual responsible. He did things to survive and had things done to him during that time in prison. The trauma continues to follow him around.
Pilar joined the army for fight the Spanish when she was 15. She's fighting for Cuba's independence. Her uncles and father were all killed by the Spanish. She needs a boat to run some guns. Noah's is not too big/not too small.
Things happen. They meet again through some interesting connections. Noah decides he can't live without Pilar. They fall for each other gradually. No insta-love here! I liked the snippets from history that you don't often see in romance (Cuba's fight, segregation, inability for a woman to run a business b/c of gender). This was a nice wrap-up to this series; Alanza/Max, Drew/Billie, and Mariah/Logan are all in this one too.
My only complaint is this touched on Noah's trauma (and PTSD) too lightly. 
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