No Escape by Shannon K. Butcher

What's this one about?

Teacher Isabelle Carson is grief-stricken, angry, and scared. Three of her childhood friends have died. The police say they're suicides, but Isabelle knows they would never, ever take their own lives. Her past binds her to every victim, and she knows it's only a matter of time before the killer comes after her. Only one man can help her now, the only man she's ever trusted, the man who saved her so long ago... 

For Grant Kent, Delta Force vet, just being near Isabelle brings back old memories and desires, and stirs longings he'd rather deny. Yet he can't ignore the real terror in her eyes, or resist the thought of holding her again. But even as their friendship begins to blossom into a passionate affair, a killer continues his deadly rampage and plots his next move: the "suicide" of Isabelle Carson.

What did I think?

'No Escape' is the last book in Butcher's Delta Force Series., and while I have enjoyed each one of them, 'No Regret' the first in the series is hands down my favorite. 'No Escape' definitely left me wanting more, and I really disliked that Butcher decided to tell the reader pretty early on who the villian was. I personally like to be guessing the "who-dunit" part of the book until the last few pages, as it keeps my head more in the story and leaves me wanting to read more. There are no bells and whistles with this series or this book in particular, there just a good easy read. 

How many stars?

[Shannon K. Butcher's Website]

Published by: Forever

ISBN 0446510289 (ISBN13: 9780446510288)

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

What's this one about?

TWO BRILLIANT AGENTS 

FBI Special Agent Monica Davenport has made a career out of profiling serial killers. But getting inside the twisted minds of the cruel and the sadistic has taken its toll: She's walled herself off from the world. Yet Monica can't ignore fellow agent Luke Dante, the only man who ever broke through her defenses. 

ONE DREAM TEAM 

Luke has the unique ability to put victims at ease...professionally, he and Monica made a perfect team. Now they're reunited to catch a murderer who uses his victims' deepest, darkest fears for sport - but their investigative skills aren't enough. Luke and Monica will have to face the secrets from their past, the ones that terrify them the most, if they are to have a future together. 

BUT CAN THEY CATCH A KILLER WHOSE WEAPON IS... 

DEADLY FEAR

What did I think?

This is the first book I read by Cynthia Eden, and NOT my last! 'Deadly Fear' was a great read. Monica and Luke were well written characters, and my only hope is there's still more of them to come in future books. It was such a well written story. I was interested and each and every character, it was fast paced, and left nothing undone, Eden followed the story to absolute completion. I truly hated to put it down, but when I did I rushed back to it the first minute I could. 'Deadly Heat' due out in February 2011 has a lot to live up too!

How many stars?

[Cynthia Eden's Website]

Published by: Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 0446559245 (ISBN13: 9780446559249)

Mass Market Paperback: 385 pages

White Cargo by Stuart Woods

What's this one about?

From Edgar Award-winner Stuart Woods, a master of suspense fiction, comes this thrilling international adventure tale of cocaine smuggling, white slavery, and a father's desperate search for his missing daughter.

What did I think?

Hmmm, I'm not really sure what to think of this book! At the beginning and all the way through the book I was glued to it--a fathers desperate attempt to locate his missing daughter, what more did it need? Hmmm, let me think. I got it! a better ENDING!! For 300+ pages all the reader wants is this father and daughter to be reunited--after all thats the point. However, the reunion was totally anticlimactic! Not only did Cat (the father) receive a slap in the face for his efforts, so did the reader! Where's the dialogue between them? Anyone? Anyone? Nope, thats right no dialogue other than "What took you so long?", and no more than a handful of other unimportant lines. This one started out hot, and maintained that heat right to the end where it just fizzled and died. What a disappointment.

How many stars?

[Stuart Woods' Website]

Published by: Avon

ISBN 0061711640

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen

What's this one about?

A CIA agent's two-year-old child was stolen in the night as a brutal act of vengeance. Now, eight years later, the torment of Catherine Ling's missing child is something she awakens to every day. Her friends, family, and colleagues tell her to let go, move on, accept that her son is never coming back. But she can't. And won't. Ever. Catherine needs to find someone as driven and obsessed as she is to help her. And that person is Eve Duncan. She knows that Eve shares her nightmare, since closure is also something that eludes Eve after the disappearance of her daughter Bonnie. Now, Eve must use he talents as a forensic sculptor to use age progression as a way to help Catherine find her child. As Eve gets drawn further into Catherine's horror, she must face the looming demons of her own. Bonnie's killer is still out there. And a new killer is taunting Eve and Catherine at every turn. Is Catherine's son alive? Sometimes the killer indicates no. And sometimes, more horrifying, his answer is "yes…" As two women face the worst than any mother can face, Iris Johansen's latest thrill ride is a gut-wrenching journey into the darkest places of the soul.

What did I think?

When I read the plot summary on this book it sounded really interesting and I was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, this book failed to take off for me. I found myself putting it down more often than picking it up as it just seemed to drag. As a result of this I ended up giving up half way through, which I RARELY do. I've never read a book by Iris Johansen until 'Chasing the Night' and this may have affected the rating as it's the 9th book in this series. I was more interested in the characters of Catherine, and Kelly than I was of Eve and Joe. Of what I read of this book I didn't feel the characters of Eve and Joe were crucial for the development of this book--yes, Eve's talents were necessary to help Catherine help find her son, but I feel that element could have been taken away and the story wouldn't have lacked any more than it already has. IF I had started reading this series with the first book maybe my rating would be different as I may have had more of an attachment to Eve and Joe. Maybe one day I'll be drawn back to Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan series but it won't be anytime soon.

How many stars?

[Author's Website]

Published by: St. Martin's Press 

ISBN 0312651198 (ISBN13: 9780312651190)

Hardcover: 384 pages

Palindrome by Stuart Woods

What's this one about?

Award-winning author Stuart Woods has crafted a masterful novel no reader will soon forget. For years, Liz Barwick has been battered by her brutal husband, a famous pro football player. This time it takes an emergency room to keep her from death. Now, the beautiful and talented photographer retreats to an island paradise off Georgia's coast to find solitude—and herself.
A 

s she becomes increasingly involved with the strange and handsome twin scions of the powerful Drummond family, she feels her traumatic memories begin to fade. But when a killer launches a series of gruesome murders, Liz discovers that there is no place to hide—not even in her lover's arms.

What did I think?

Since this is the first book I read by Woods, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I definitely didn't expect what 'Palindrome' delivered--it was great. It had all the things I look for in a book, great characters-- whom you're truly interested in, multiple story lines, wonderful plot twists, and the best of all when you--the reader--think you have it all figured out....nope you don't.

If you haven't read this book go and get a copy however you can, because you wont be disappointed! Great read and I can't wait to read another book by Stuart.

How many stars?

[Stuart Woods' Website]

Published by: HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN 006109482X (ISBN13: 9780061094828)

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages

Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart

What's this one about?

Surrounded by greed and treachery, Rachel Chandler feels completely alone in the world— until her brother, who's been missing for fifteen years, is spotted in Hawaii. Rachel will stop at nothing to find him.… 

But when she arrives at her brother's cottage, she encounters a stranger. A man haunted by his past. A man looking to use Rachel for his own purposes. 

A man Rachel wants as she's never wanted another.…

What did I think?

My only hope is that new readers to Anne Stuart don't start with 'Tangled Lies'. Not only did I have everything figured out within the first few pages, there was no climax in this novel. The plot arc just ended up being flat. This novel left me with more questions than answers, and I wish Stuart would have explored each character a little more. The character of Uncle Harris just dropped out out of the book during the middle and never returned.

Before you read this book read Anne Stuarts 'Ice' Series, because if you start here I fear you'll never try another one of her books, they are worth the read....just not this one.

How many stars?

[Anne Stuart's Website]

Published by: Silhouette

ISBN 037345161X (ISBN13: 9780373451616)

Paperback: 256 pages

Close Enough to Kill by Beverly Barton

What's this one about?

Close Enough To Touch 

He s their secret admirer, wooing them with phone calls, love letters, and special gifts. From a distance, he admires them. Desires them. Despises them. And when he gets close enough, he kills them all. 

Close Enough To Kiss 

Adams County, Alabama, is a small, friendly place where everyone knows each other -- but not well enough, it seems, because Sheriff Bernie Granger has a serial killer on her hands, a total psycho who stalks, woos, kidnaps and kills his victims. It s Bernie s first big case, a chance for her to prove herself to her new boss, former Memphis police detective Jim Norton, but it won t be easy. This killer is uncannily smart. It s as if he knows what Bernie s thinking. And his next move is more than shocking -- it s chillingly personal. 

Close Enough To Kill 

A terrifying game is underway. A desperate hunt has begun. And a rookie sheriff is determined to stop a killer at all costs. But is she getting nearer to catching him or drawing far too close to his deadly flame?

What did I think?

The previous Beverly Barton book I read was 'Killing Her Softly' and I really enjoyed it. So going into 'Close Enough to Kill' I had bigger expectations, and 'Close Enough to Kill' quickly fell short.

My biggest frustration with it was I'd figured out the "who dunnit" part of the book very quickly, and ended up just page turning to see if indeed my prediction came true--and it did. I also felt there were to many victims. Since the villain lured each of his victims the same way it was like re-reading previous chapters, with the only difference being the victims name. With those two combined, and topped off with the slow building relationship between the Sheriff and her Deputy the book just seemed to drag.

I will read another Beverly Barton book, however, if the next one falls short like this one did, I'll cut my loses and move on.

My Rating:

[Beverly Barton's Website]

Published by: Zebra

ISBN 0821776886 (ISBN13: 9780821776889)

Mass Market Paperback: 438 pages