Back in Black by Julie Ann Walker Blog Tour

A secret identity mixed in with forced proximity on top of red-hot chemistry? What could go wrong?

The Black Knights are back and better than ever!

FBI agent Grace Beacham is on the run. After an operation to bring down a Russian disinformation campaign goes sideways and ends in her partner’s death, the Kremlin has sent its most notorious assassin to kill her. Not knowing who to trust inside the Bureau, Grace is forced to call on the one man who might be able to save her. The one man she hasn’t been able to forget.

BKI operative Hunter Jackson walked away from Grace Beacham three years ago. And he hasn’t looked back. But when his cell phone suddenly jangles to life with Grace on the other end begging for his help, he doesn’t hesitate to ride to her rescue.

Grace is no stranger to men like Hunter. Men who are devastatingly attractive and in love with their perilous professions and no-strings-attached lifestyles. As the two of them go off-grid to uncover the truth behind what happened on her last assignment, she fears her life might not be the only thing on the line. With Hunter, her heart could be in danger too.

 

 

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have read a few of the original Black Knights and now I need to go back and read the rest of that series.

Grace Beacham is an FBI agent and after her partner is killed, she is the one that her fellow agents are after for his murder. While on the run, she is trying to figure out who could help her and comes up with one name. That name is Hunter Jackson, a BKI operative who walked away from her three years ago. Once Grace explains what is going on, Hunter has no problem bringing in the BKI team to help her out.

While on the run, there will be feelings they need to deal with, or will they forget them altogether? I really enjoyed this story. It was filled with suspense and intrigue from the very beginning and will keep you guessing who was behind the killing of Grace's partner and why they are after her.

I cannot wait for more and I highly recommend this one and I hope you enjoy it too.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This may be book one of BKI: Reloaded, but if you have not read the Black Knights books already, please do yourself a huge favour and go back to the start. They are all fantabulous reads and will set you right up for this one!

Hunter has been a favourite of mine for a while, so I am so happy that he got his story told. Be prepared for some pretty mind-blowing events – both of the very, very good kind, and most definitely of the less good kind too. Fans know going in that the Black Knights are the very best at keeping people safe, but that the body count can rack up – mix that in with an FBI agent being hunted by a Russian assassin and you can only imagine the crazy!

Grace was just the perfect foil for Hunter, and I loved that she could bring to him a family to add to the BKI one that he belongs to already.

Great to catch up with the crew, to have some fun and some suggestions as to who is next going to find their future happiness!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Action Romance

Grace is a FBI agent who has found herself entangled in a conspiracy. With not knowing who to trust, she calls the one person from her past she has never forgotten. Hunter.

Hunter is an alpha male who loves his job, but has always wondered what might have been with the beauty from before.

These two will have to outsmart an assassin, a government official, and fight for both their lives and love.

I really enjoyed the heroine and the hero – they are both strong in their own way and bring out the best in each other. Their friends are fantastic, and I can't wait for more.

 

 

JULIE ANN WALKER is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award. Her books have been described as "alpha, edgy, and downright hot." Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Connect with Julie Ann Walker

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Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Back in Black (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded #1) by Julie Ann Walker to read and review.

This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde

Fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Hazel Wood are cordially invited to spend one fateful night surviving an elite private school’s epic masquerade ball in Jen Wilde’s debut thriller, This Is the Way the World Ends.

As an autistic scholarship student at the prestigious Webber Academy in New York City, Waverly is used to masking to fit in—in more ways than one. While her classmates are the children of the one percent, Waverly is getting by on tutoring gigs and the generosity of the school’s charming and enigmatic dean. So when her tutoring student and resident “it girl” asks Waverly to attend the school’s annual fundraising Masquerade disguised as her, Waverly jumps at the chance—especially once she finds out that Ash, the dean’s daughter and her secret ex-girlfriend, will be there.

The Masquerade is everything Waverly dreamed of, complete with extravagant gowns, wealthy parents writing checks, and flowing champagne. Most importantly, there’s Ash. All Waverly wants to do is shed her mask and be with her, but the evening takes a sinister turn when Waverly stumbles into a secret meeting between the dean and the school’s top donors—and witnesses a brutal murder. This gala is harboring far more malevolent plots than just opening parents’ pocketbooks. Before she can escape or contact the authorities, a mysterious global blackout puts the entire party on lockdown. Waverly’s fairy tale has turned into a nightmare, and she, Ash, and her friends must navigate through a dizzying maze of freight elevators, secret passageways, and back rooms if they’re going to survive the night.

And even if they manage to escape the Masquerade, with technology wiped out all over the planet, what kind of world will they find waiting for them beyond the doors?

 

 

Buy Links

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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Hardcover (US)
Wednesday Books (Macmillan)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I love a good story about the end of the world, and I was really looking forward to reading This Is the Way the World Ends. This story of Waverly, an autistic, queer teen from Queens, who attends the prestigious Webber Academy. Waverly agrees to go to the school’s yearly masquerade ball, pretending to be the very popular student, Caroline, in the hopes of getting to see her ex, Ash.

We learn about Waverley and her life and family and friends. The story felt like it took a bit to get going but it may just have been me being eager to learn more about what was going on. There were even a few scenes that took us back to Waverly’s past and her romance with Ash. While the young love was sweet, I confess I was a little annoyed, because I was more interested in what was going on in the here and now.

I needed to be patient because when the big night of the ball arrives, the story absolutely takes off. Tension ramps up along with the action and danger. I was excited to soak up the action as Waverly and her friends fight for their lives. I was rooting for them. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was even shocked at one point because something happened that I did not see coming.

Once it got going, I had a blast reading This Is the Way the World Ends. This is a book I’d definitely recommend if you enjoy young adult apocalyptic stories.

 

 

JEN WILDE (she/they) is the queer, disabled author of Queens of Geek, The Brightsiders and Going Off Script. They write unapologetically queer stories about unlikely heroes, awkward romantics and chosen families. Jen’s books have been praised in Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, Autostraddle, Vulture and Bustle. Their debut, Queens of Geek, made the 2018 Rainbow Book List and the Amelia Bloomer List. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Jen lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her wife, where she collects books, candles and foster cats. When she isn’t writing, Jen spends her time shouting about queer books on TikTok. Connect with her online or visit her website.

Connect with Jen Wilde

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde to read and review.

Beyond Power by Connie Mann

If you dare venture beyond Disney's magic and Miami's high-rises, you'll find yourself in Florida's untamed wilderness…

Florida wildlife he can handle, but he's never come up against a woman quite like her before…

A bush pilot and officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Josh Tanner is one of the tough cops needed to manage the rugged areas of Florida. And the minute he finds Delilah Atwood deep in the woods without a good explanation, he knows something is very wrong…

Delilah barely escaped her ultra-fundamental militia family years ago. Now she's back to save her sixteen-year-old sister, and no government man is going to stop her. Josh isn't going to stand by and watch Delilah risk her life, but unless he can get her to a safe harbor, she may end up being the militia's next victim.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Florida Wildlife Warriors series!
For book one, Beyond Risk, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
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Paperback (US)
Sourcebooks Casablanca

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and whilst it involves a new pairing, it does follow on from the previous story, so there is familiarity with the team and the environment.

I found this to be a really powerful story, with a strong engaging plot, centering around the folk who live off the grid, but also a nomadic, militia grounded life. Delilah was brought up that way but managed to escape just before she turned 16 and became the marital property of another. She is now back to save her little sister from that fate now that she too approaches that age. But her cover, and her interest, is research into one of the troupes of monkeys which live in the area. Studying for her master’s gives her good reason to be in the area and to find where her family are currently camped out.

Josh is local law enforcement, and when Delilah finds a dead body, he realises that his interest in her is not only as a suspect. But as much as she may have left her childhood life behind, her trust in law enforcement is low, and her mission to save her sister cannot be jeopardised. And so the set up for a really rich, fast-paced, exciting, and, by turns, romantic story is in place.

It is a wonderful mixture of really quite scary – really, Delilah does not have a strong self-preservation gene, or she is super confident of her senses, because I would not be walking around that wilderness alone, that is for sure – funny, and adorably romantic, in spite of the challenges that the two of them face.

Thank you, Connie Mann, for a really good read.

 

 

CONNIE MANN is a licensed boat captain and writes romantic suspense stories set in Florida's small towns and natural environments. She is the author of the Wildlife Warrior series, the Safe Harbor series, as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called warm, sunny Florida home for more than twenty years.

When she's not dreaming up plotlines, you'll find "Captain Connie" on Central Florida's waterways, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator.

She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

Connect with Connie Mann

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Beyond Power (Florida Wildlife Warriors #2) by Connie Mann to read and review.

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

An undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who values her independence must team up when a local barista is found dead in their coastal Texas town in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in The Texas Murder Files!
For book one, Hidden, click HERE.
For book two, Flight, click HERE.

 

 

Book 4
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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Berkley (PRH)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Mystery, Romance

Leyla is a shop owner and caterer who loves her town. She is good at what she does and loves it too – even in the stressful times. When her brother finally gets married and is happy, Leyla helps with the catering and cake. What she doesn't plan on is for her employee to be killed just outside the cafe where she works.

Leyla knows that there is more to Sean than he'd like people to know. Since Leyla is from a family with law enforcement, she knows they can't always talk about their jobs. Sean wants to know Leyla better but can't let his personal life get in the way of his job. People are counting on him.

Leyla and Sean don't have great chemistry for me. It's a miss for the relationship since they could have been really explosive. Leyla is smart, funny, and a great chef and baker, who has a nose for sleuthing too. Sean wants to be the alpha protector but has horrible communication skills.

I really wanted much more from this story and just didn't get it. While I enjoyed the story, it was not like the previous books in the series that I had read.

 

 

LAURA GRIFFIN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.

Connect with Laura Griffin

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Deep Tide (The Texas Murder Files #4) by Laura Griffin to read and review.

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin

When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps a detective piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she’s perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker—with her designer jeans and shiny car—who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Ava’s discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

 

 

Buy Links

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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Berkley (PRH)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really good romantic mystery, set in a small town in an unforgiving desert, where some really strange things are going on. Whilst Ava and Grant are obviously the leads in this book, the inclusion of Huck the crazy Lab, who is also a search and rescue dog, inherited by Ava from her dad, is absolutely essential.

The set-up of the antagonistic sheriff, the lack of respect for the voluntary work done by Ava to help find missing people, and the whole small town vibe definitely got the tension ramped up from the start. I am a bit of a wuz, it has to be admitted, but I did spend quite a lot of time waiting for something terrible to happen!

I was entranced by the setting; the descriptions of the desert landscape, with ravines and caves, and hiding places – barren, wild, and unforgiving, and yet beautiful in its wildness. It was easy to imagine the fear of losing someone out there, and of the need for a dog to help find them. And easy to imagine how there were parallels with the issues holding Ava and Grant back from the romance they both clearly are interested in pursuing. Ava, in particular, is hiding in plain sight from an unpleasant previous relationship with another lawman, so wants to avoid similar entanglements.

Full of twists and turns and little bursts of humour to lighten what is a pretty dark drama. Be warned, difficult to put down, keep a snack to hand for extended reading!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Mystery Romance

This was a great story. The main characters, Ava, Grant, and, of course, the dog, Huck, are really well developed. You get to see their working side and their personal side equally, and both create complex characters that are easy to relate to.

Ava is working as a lawyer in a tiny town. She's decided she's done with big corporate law. But with the arrival of her new law firm, she is also one of the locally trained SAR workers, along with her dog, Huck. Huck is a great add to the characters since even though it's a dog, you can see the easy demeanor and ease that all of the other characters feel around him.

Grant is working back home. A place he didn't think he would come back to. But now that he's here, he wants the people of his town to be safe and for people coming from out of town to feel safe too. But with an elected official above him who does the bare minimum, it will take all of Grant's knowledge to figure out what's happening around their tiny town.

You will not be disappointed in this book. The scenery is described in a way that you feel like you're standing right next to the characters and the story has several twists and turns, both mysterious and personal for the characters. It's a quick read, but really well done.

 

 

LAURA GRIFFIN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.

Connect with Laura Griffin

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin to read and review.

You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti

Fans of Lauran Griffin and Lisa Jackson won’t want to miss this brand new thriller series by New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti, as FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow, a rising star profiler, strives to stay one step ahead of the criminal mind—and discovers that her own demons may be the hardest to outrun…

Laurel Snow wouldn’t call hunting a serial killer a vacation, but with a pile of dead bodies unearthed near her Genesis Valley, WA, hometown, she’ll take what she can get. Yet something about this case stirs her in unexpected ways. Like the startling connection she feels to Dr. Abigail Caine, a fiercely intelligent witness with a disturbing knack for making Laurel feel like she has something on her. Then there’s Laurel’s attraction to Huck Rivers, the fish and wildlife officer guiding her to the crime scene—and into the wilderness…

A former soldier and a trained sniper, Huck’s thirst for blood is rivaled only by his fierce pursuit of Laurel. He’s been burned by love, wounded by the government, and betrayed before, and to say he has trust issues is the ultimate understatement. Plus, he might be closer to this killer than anybody knows…

Once in the heart of darkness with Huck, Laurel must negotiate her distracting desire for him, her complex rapport with Abigail—and her mission to find a serial killer among a growing list of suspects and a danger that’s far too close to home. So close in fact, Laurel fears she will never find her way back to the woman she once was…

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Kensington Books

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller, Murder Mystery

Laurel Snow is an FBI agent who is very good at her job. Being particularly intelligent is both a blessing and curse for Agent Snow. She went to college at a very young age and because of that, she hasn't met many people who are on par with her intellect. When she's diverted from going back to DC because of a case near her home, Laurel will need all of her smarts to make sure that the killer is caught.

Huck is a loner. After being a soldier, he needed the solitude of living in the woods. Now, he occasionally searches for lost hikers or helps out on police cases when he can be helpful. But he isn't looking forward to having the FBI in his back yard. With only his dog as a companion, Huck isn't used to someone always being around, but he can't help his attraction to Agent Snow, who doesn't take guff from anyone and can stand her ground.

This book will keep you guessing because Zanetti is great at throwing in details that aren't necessarily useful in figuring out who the killer is, but fantastic at pointing fingers at everyone or anyone.

You won't be disappointed in this thriller. The mystery definitely takes the show, and the romance is in the background, but not lost. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for more.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
You Can Run is the first novel in Rebecca Zanetti’s new Laurel Snow series, and what a great first book it is. I was hooked right from the start. Laurel proves herself to be pretty awesome right off the bat when she catches a pickpocket at the airport. She is highly intelligent, beautiful, not so great with people, and she chases serial killers for a living. I loved her.

Laurel returns to her hometown to assist on a case where her uncle is one of the suspects. She promptly meets Huck, the local Fisheries & Wildlife officer also working the case. Huck is all male and what you’d call a mountain man and a loner. He is also the love interest. Their developing attraction and friendship are woven well through the story and gives us a few steamy moments.

I have to say the hunt for the killer was so well done. There are various suspects. We have the weird and creepy Dr. Abigail Crane, who takes a strange interest in Laurel and inserts herself into the case; a pastor; Laurel’s uncle, and more. The story has good tension, a good amount of twists and turns along with plenty of danger. And I loved that I didn’t know who the killer was. I had several ideas, but I couldn’t decide on one. The author did a great job keeping me guessing.

In the Acknowledgement at the beginning of the book, Rebecca Zanetti mentions that You Can Run is her 70th book but for me it is the first book of this author that I’ve read and I absolutely loved it. The chase for a killer with great romance is right up my alley. I look forward to reading more stories in this series and I can’t wait to go check out some of the author’s previous books.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first in a new series, and there is some good world building through the book, which feels organic. Laurel may come from Genesis, but she left at eleven for college and, after a haul of degrees, she joined the FBI and became a profiler.

A gruesome discovery back home has Laurel flying in to see whether she can solve the mystery. Her uncle is a suspect, and she is confident that is a mistake and wants to help him too. Utterly unprepared for the weather, she finds herself needing help on her arrival – from a law enforcement officer, Huck and his working dog, Aeneas. We gather quite quickly that there is an unusual chemistry between them, but also that there are bigger needs in the town as more bodies are found.

I found the jurisdiction issues over the crimes really fascinating, and the blustering of the sheriff was both funny and disturbing. It adds some of the complexity to the solving of the case, but most of it comes from the local church. Be ready for some excellent red herrings and also some very unexpected twists and turns.

A really engaging read, and at times the description of the bad weather had me shivering. I am definitely going to be looking out for future installments, as I am invested in the futures of Laurel, (and her mum), Huck, Aeneas, and Kate and her girls, to mention just a few of those who live in Genesis.

 

 

REBECCA ZANETTI is the author of over fifty romantic suspense and dark paranormal romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. The New York Times reviews has found that in her books, “humor surfaces in even the tensest moments, giving the high-stakes drama humanity and warmth.”

She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat… and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off… and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out.

Connect with Rebecca

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Facebook Group: Rebecca’s Rebels

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of You Can Run (Laurel Snow #1) by Rebecca Zanetti to read and review.

Don't Look by Alexandra Ivy

IF YOU'RE ON HIS LIST

A woman's naked body is discovered, cold and pale as the surrounding snow--except for the crimson scarf around her neck. The weeks that follow bring more victims and evidence of a terrifying pattern. The killer has a list. And every woman on it will get what she deserves...

YOU'RE AS GOOD

Dr. Lynne Gale followed in her father's footsteps to become a vet in Pike, Wisconsin. For years, she's had little contact with Kir Jansen, son of the town's late sheriff. Suddenly he's back, insisting that Lynne's in danger. She can't believe anyone would target her, but someone is hunting the women of Pike, savoring every last moment.

AS DEAD

Kir hoped that his father's frantic calls about a serial killer were just an old man's delusions. But the body count doesn't lie. In this quiet town, a monster stalks and kills. And soon, Lynne's will be the last name on his list...

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Zebra (Kensington)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Mystery with a hint of romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Kir has just buried his dad. He knew that he should've come back, knew he should've made the time, but time was always getting away from him. While he's back home, a woman is killed, and it sets off a chain of events that has Kir puzzled and scared.

Dr. Lynne Gale is a small town vet. She loves her job, loves the animals, and loves her town. She always takes the time to make sure everyone is being helped. She also runs a non-profit to help animals heal and receive care. She has never really looked at Kir as anyone other than a towns person, but when she sees him again at his father's funeral, she takes notice.

Kir and Lynne are worried about their town. Someone is killing people and nobody knows why or what for. While the mystery in their town heats up, Kir knows that Lynne could be the next target and he isn't going to let anything happen to her. With a sheriff who is less than enthusiastic about what's going on, needing someone to pin the murders on, and townsfolk running scared, whomever solves this mystery will be the town hero.

Can Kir and Lynne find the killer and keep their lives? Why is this happening now? It is a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You'll want to read through the night and hope that book two is coming out soon.

 

 

ALEXANDRA IVY is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romantic suspense, paranormal and erotic romance. She has also written Regency historicals under the name Deborah Raleigh. A five-time RT Book Award Finalist, Ivy has received much acclaim for her Guardians of Eternity, ARES Security, Immortal Rogues and Sentinels series. She lives with her family in Missouri.

Connect with Alexandra

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Don't Look (Pike, Wisconsin #1) by Alexandra Ivy to read and review.

Counterfeit Lover by J.C. Farmer Blog Tour

Darrin Clark is an impoverished young man, madly in love with his long-time friend Janie. He is desperate for a job, and any way to win Janie’s affections. Then a Hollywood studio promises to make him a movie star—if he will submit to a face-modifying procedure they are developing.

Darrin’s love overcomes his fear, and he allows the movie studio to alter his face. Soon his dreams come true. He is extraordinarily handsome, rich, and popular, full of the confidence he needs to earn Janie’s love. Yet, changing faces doesn’t seem enough, and the studio wants him to sacrifice more of his identity than just his appearance.

His plan to win Janie’s heart becomes complicated when she unexpectedly joins the cast and changes her face too. Now a gorgeous star, she’s pursued by prominent, powerful men, and beneath the glitz and glamour, Darrin finds himself in a world of death and deceit, where anyone can have any face.

Several of his friends are murdered by a mysterious killer who sets Janie in his sights, and the ability to alter appearances seems to make the criminal invincible. Darrin must abandon his pursuit of Janie, simply hoping to keep her alive. The only way to outsmart the ruthless villain is to risk everything. How drastic a transformation is Darrin willing to make for love?

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

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Barnes & Noble

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
This book was a departure from my normal. The blurb intrigued me, and I had to check this out.

Darrin is your typical young man. He harbors a secret love for his best friend Janie, he is an aspiring actor, and he is just down-to-earth. Nothing special or remarkable, just a normal guy. When he is offered a role in a new movie, of course he's excited... until he learns the method his character must follow for the role. He will get no accolades, his name won't even be listed in the cast of characters, but he will get the opportunity of a lifetime to play the role of a historically famous actor from decades before Darrin's time. This studio employs a face-changing machine, and their movies aren't actors playing the roles of characters... these actors are transformed to BE the actors they are portraying.

Not only are we following Darrin and Janie's journey, but we get to meet some classic actors such as Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and many others. While all of this is going on, there is also a mystery to solve. This technology has gotten into the wrong hands, and any evil that could come of it, has.

Overall this story was interesting, there are some slow moments but there was always something going on. I thought Darrin's romantic interest was going to be the main theme, and while it does occur throughout the story, I feel like it wasn't the main focus. I was invested in the characters, I was constantly trying to piece together the mystery, and I was always cheering for Darrin's success. I was pleasantly surprised by this story!

 

 

Jerome Connelly Farmer has had a successful career as an engineer, inventor, and technology consultant. He has three engineering degrees from Stanford and an MBA from the Anderson School. He has several patents and spent many years managing engineering teams and consulting for high-tech firms, movie studios, and Fortune 500 companies.

J.C. was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He is an airplane pilot, sailor, scuba diver, and avid traveler; he has explored Tibet, camped in the Australian outback, canoed through the Amazon River, and retraced segments of Ernest Shackleton’s famous rescue in Antarctic. J.C.’s passion for wildlife photography has taken him to all seven continents, including searching for Komodo Dragons in Indonesia, wild macaws in the Peruvian jungle, endangered species in the Galapagos Islands, Duck-billed Platypus in Australia, and White Rhinoceros in Botswana.

J.C. is the author of the romantic thriller Counterfeit Lover and the children’s book Santa’s Dashboard. Writing combines his love for adventure, invention, and exploration.

When he is not traveling, J.C. lives in Solana Beach, CA.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Counterfeit Lover (American Fairytale #1) by J.C. Farmer to read and review for this tour.