BOOK REVIEW: EVIL NEVER DIES BY T.R. RAGAN

Title: Evil Never Dies

Author: T.R. Ragan

Genre: Mystery, thriller

Published on: August 4, 2015 by Thomas & Mercer

Private investigator Lizzy Gardner believed in law and order once. But after losing a loved one to a killer and watching too many vicious predators game the system and walk free, she’s traded flawed justice for perfect vengeance.

Together with her tough and trusted assistants, Lizzy is tracking down a list of Sacramento’s worst offenders and dealing out the payback they deserve. But she may be lethally outmatched by a new criminal, a murderer the papers have dubbed the Sacramento Strangler. This ritualistic serial killer is dropping corpses and cryptic clues at a shocking rate—and he’s growing bolder and bloodier the longer he’s at large.

In the suspenseful finale to the Lizzy Gardner series, bestselling author T.R. Ragan’s gutsy heroine lashes out against the relentless onslaught of evil as she desperately fights to hang on to her own humanity.

Over four years since determined PI Lizzy Gardner made her debut, the final book in her series is here. Lizzy has since become one of my favorite fictional characters. Although she’s pretty on the surface, she is rather damaged on the inside. When Lizzy was a teen, she escaped from the clutches of a twisted serial killer. The experience inspired Lizzy to become a private investigator and a self-defense instructor. She wanted to help other women defend themselves from the monsters of the world.

In Evil Never Dies, Lizzy is even more broken than ever. At the end of the last book, her would-be husband (FBI agent Jared Shayne) died. He got shot several times during a surprise attack. Since Jared's death, Lizzy hasn't been the same. Now she harbors a deep, powerful anger towards the criminals and wrongdoers out there. Seeming to cross over to the dark side, Lizzy partners with Hayley and Kitally. She's resolved to take justice into their own hands. The criminals they target become the main villains this time around. That means there are more than one or two bad guys in this book. One of these is the strongest, so he can be considered a main antagonist.

BOOK REVIEW: I KNOW LUCY BY MELISSA PEARL

Title: I Know Lucy

Author: Melissa Pearl

Genre: Romance, mystery

Published on: April 17, 2014 by Evatopia Press

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free...if anything, it's going to get him killed.

The intriguing synopsis drew me to this novel. A teenage girl living on the run after witnessing a horrible crime? I had to know more. The protagonist, Lucy Tate, fled from home after a crooked cop murdered her parents. She was only thirteen at the time, too young to have been forced into such a dangerous life. Lucy had to adapt fast to survive. Several years later, she turns up in Danville, a small but wealthy California town. Lucy enrolls at Monte Vista High under the alias of Danielle Harrison.

I Know Lucy starts by introducing the other protagonist, Zach Schultz. He notices Danielle at school one day and feels an irresistible attraction to her. Zach is a bit of a male Nancy Drew, highly curious and with a taste for mysteries. He doesn’t know Danielle before deciding she’s a puzzle he needs to solve. Something about the new girl intrigues Zach. I scoffed a bit at this even though I’m not judgmental about romance. Still, this was a little over the top. Zach sees a lot in Danielle from just one or two looks at her.

BOOK REVIEW: FLUX FLAME BY K.J. JACKSON

Title: Flux Flame

Author: K.J. Jackson

Genre: Fantasy, romance

Published on: October 28, 2013 by AWD Publishing

A dark path is calling, and though she fights it, Skye soon finds herself lost in the most important battle of her life. A fight for control over her very own soul.

Watching his wife crumble from the inside out, Aiden is forced into the hardest decisions of his life. Decisions that will either save or damn Skye.

While Aiden and Skye fight the darkness within, Charlotte and Triaten find themselves swept up by an outside force that is determined to end their bond.

Fate and the flame moon threaten them all, and the four friends must find a way to band together against the evil that threatens all of humanity.

The Flame Moon series is intended for mature audiences. There is violence, sexual situations, and harsh language.

I thought the first two books in the Flame Moon series ender a bit too quick. Maybe that’s because I enjoyed them so much. I usually am not fond of “unoriginal” fantasy (like using Atlantis or, in this novel’s case, basing the characters on Greek deities). Despite that, these books were really well done. The main characters are Skye, Aiden, Triaten, Charlotte, and Shiv. They’re Panthenites, a semi-magical race that humans used to view as gods. The Panthenites have their opposites, known as Malefics. Neither of them look any different from humans, so they’re able to coexist.

Once again, Flux Flame picks up at the exact point the previous book left off. As you’ll remember if you read Triple Infinity, Skye has landed in huge personal trouble. After she and Shiv got caught in a surprise attack, they underwent a transformation. This comes as a shock to Skye, who thought that her sister Shiv was human and died in the attack. The latter appears jubilant with her second chance at life. And Skye couldn’t be happier to have her sister back—even with what Shiv has become. Aiden wasn’t fond of Shiv in the first place, so it’s a wonder how things will turn out.

BOOK REVIEW: REVIVING IZABEL BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Reviving Izabel

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: December 4, 2013 (first edition), self-published

Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.

New Adult romance and dark thrillers are considerably different genres. J.A. Redmerski manages to handle them both with brilliance. Killing Sarai was mind-blowing, and now the author brings the titular character back in Reviving Izabel. This book’s story continues months after the first one ended. Sarai is living with her surrogate mother, Dina, trying to lead a normal life. The endeavor is proving rather difficult. Until some time ago, Sarai was kept captive by Javier, a Mexican cartel lord who dealt in sex trafficking. All those years of suffering left their mark on Sarai. She can barely function in normal society now.

Sarai's still far from well-adjusted despite finding a friend (Dahlia) and a boyfriend (Eric). Unbeknownst to anyone, Sarai hasn't forgot about Victor Faust, the man who freed her from Javier. Victor is a contract killer who grew to care for Sarai in the time they spent together. Because of his dangerous life, he knew he couldn’t keep her close. Victor thought Sarai deserved a chance at a normal life, so he left her with Dina. She has other things in mind, though. Sarai goes after a vile man named Arthur Hamburg, whom she met in the previous book. It doesn't take long for Sarai to realize she's in over her head. She barely escapes with her life thanks to Victor, who returns just in time.

BOOK REVIEW: ALWAYS REMEMBER BY EMMA HART

Title: Always Remember

Author: Emma Hart

Genre: New Adult, romance

Published on: May 11, 2013, self-published

How long does it take for a long-distance relationship to break down? Sixteen months.

When Jen and Carl put their relationship to rest after Christmas, Jen’s biggest problem is going back to London ten days earlier than planned – and her ever-present attraction to Samuel ‘Bing’ Edwards.

Bing has no idea why Jen left Devon so fast. All he knows is that he wants her as much as he did the first day he laid eyes on her – so spending time with her while Lexy is still in Devon isn’t exactly a hardship for him. When he finds out she’s single, the only thing on his mind is finishing what they started at his dad’s fiftieth birthday party.

Feelings that have been a long time building between the two explode, and they both find themselves sucked into an easy yet passionate relationship, with Bing determined to prove to Jen that she’s it for him. That she is The One.

But in a city like London, the odds are stacked against them, and there’s always that one person ready to stir things up… And Jen doesn’t know how much of that she can take – even for the guy she loves more deeply than she ever imagined, and eventually she breaks.

Bing isn’t down with that. He wants Jen, and he wants her by his side for good.

Jennifer Mason must learn that Samuel Edwards doesn’t do giving up. Especially not when his forever girl is involved.

The Memories duology ends with this book, Always Remember. I liked the story a lot. This book focuses on Samuel “Bing” Edwards (older brother to Lexy, the protagonist of Never Forget) and Jennifer Mason. I didn't expect Sam to change his ways and become monogamous. Jen inspires him to become a different person. That’s what I liked most about this couple. The right girl can change even the most wayward guy. When I read the first book, I wasn't sure why they nicknamed Samuel's character after a search engine. I wrongly assumed everyone called him Bing because he could find anything! Ha ha.

The story of Samuel and Jennifer shows that true love can really change a man, even in very profound ways. Their relationship was very entertaining, as the two were constantly on each other's toes. They really were like dogs and cats at first. When you find out whether they end up together for real, you’ll exclaim “Finally!” I didn't blame Jen for having her reservations about Samuel, given his playboy ways. It seems it’s not easy to gain someone’s trust when your reputation isn’t stellar.

BOOK REVIEW: KILLING RUBY ROSE BY JESSIE HUMPHRIES

Title: Killing Ruby Rose

Author: Jessie Humphries

Genre: Mystery

Published on: May 1, 2014 by Skyscape

In sunny Southern California, seventeen-year-old Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died, she's also got a few killer secrets.

To cope, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal). But after six months of therapy and pathetic parenting by her mom, the District Attorney, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

When Ruby ends up killing a murderer to save his intended victim, she discovers that she's gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There's a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who's using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up swapping Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl's forced to kill, won't the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?

At first glance (and a perusal of the synopsis), this book appears like a Nancy Drew sort of read. Only, Killing Ruby Rose seems more thrilling, and aimed at slightly older audiences. The titular character, Ruby Rose (not to be confused with the actress of the same name), isn't your typical rose-tinted-lenses kind of girl. She’s rich, talks to her collection of designer shoes like friends, and had a SWAT sergeant for a father. He taught Ruby how to fight and how to use weapons. Thankfully, this dad still let his baby girl have a childhood. Ruby started training in her teens. Her best friend, Alana, found this rather strange but went along with it.

Ruby never thought that her training would come in handy so soon. We meet her after she’s just recovered from a devastating loss: that of her father. All Ruby knows is that he died during an operation with SWAT. This caused her to withdraw for months. Ruby’s therapist told her that she needed an outlet to cope. What did she end up doing? Ruby started following criminals around as her “outlet”. Besides her friends, it’s what’s been keeping Ruby sane.

BOOK REVIEW: CLOSED HEARTS BY SUSAN KAYE QUINN

Title: Closed Hearts

Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: May 14, 2012, self-published

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.  

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.  

Things amp up in Susan Kaye Quinn’s follow-up to Open Minds. This book, Closed Hearts, takes place eight months after protagonist Kira Moore revealed herself and her kind to the world. Kira is one of a minority of mindjackers, people who can control minds. They live in a 22nd-century society where mindreaders have been around for decades. Mindreaders are afraid of jackers and what they can do, creating fear and conflict.

Since there's no need for world-building anymore, Closed Hearts starts at a faster pace. Kira and her father, Patrick, now work as mindguards (anti-jacker security) for a man named Mr. Trullite. Kira is referred to as “Lucy” now to protect her identity. After outing the jackers to the world, few of them were happy. The government is after her as well, particularly an Agent Kestrel. He’s an FBI agent/mindjacker who heads a clandestine project doing unethical tests on his own kind.

BOOK REVIEW: OFF THE RECORD BY K.A. LINDE

Title: Off the Record

Author: K.A. Linde

Genre: Romance

Published on: March 11, 2014 by Montlake Romance

Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life.

Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter.

But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought.

Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner?

Stories about star-crossed lovers are quite common, but K.A. Linde’s Off the Record proved hard to put down. Can a well-known politician and a rookie reporter hope for a serious romance? That question was what drew me to this book.  Off the Record is written in the third-person POV of main character Liz Dougherty.

The book starts with Liz’s first big press conference. She’s there with Hayden Lane, the editor of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill newspaper. When Brady Maxwell III (a popular NC Senator) comes into the stage, Liz is breathless. After Brady announces that he’s running for the House of Representatives, he starts a round of questions. To Liz’s surprise, Brady picks her for the last question because he also attended UNC. What Brady doesn’t expect is for a rookie reporter to ask a tough question.