Bounty Hunter

Title:  Bounty Hunter

Author:  Fiona Roarke

Publisher:  Nickel Road Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com  (self published)

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-944312-07-7

Genre: {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Dalton wonders why Lina’s parents are so persistent about him finding her.  What he doesn’t know until after he gets to know her is why she ran.  As a solution to Lina’s problem, they get married in Vegas, but there is still the underlying problem of her family.

Bounty Hunter is the fifth book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series and is the last brother in the Langston family that we have met in previous books.  I have to say I liked this story the best so far.  The twists involving Lina’s family and their expectations will keep readers in suspense.

This book is different, as Lina’s family expects her to marry whom they want to increase the wealth of their family. She is married by proxy with a contract spelling out terms but becomes a widow on her wedding night, which causes some major issues for both families as they are actually crime families.  Lina runs after she overhears her parents plotting to trick her into another marriage.

Dalton decides to try to find Lina, even though he is on vacation, though he is curious why the family is so desperate to find Lina as she is over 21.  Things get very interesting once Dalton and Lina get married.  There are lots of twists, especially with her original in-laws.  I was very surprised by the two people that were behind a lot of the problems they were having.  Lina’s family is much better when they realize she and Dalton are married.

I loved Dalton’s family’s reaction when they found out who she actually was.  There were some funny moments involving Dalton’s brothers.

I am looking forward to more in this series and hope the stories are about Jessica’s brothers that we meet in Bouncer.

Bomb Tech

Title:  Bomb Tech

Author:  Fiona Roarke

Publisher:  Nickel Road Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-944312-060

Genre:  {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Alex met Veronica when he gave a presentation to her class.  Later, he ends up rescuing her from a fake bomb in the middle of town.  With help from Alex’s family, Alex and Veronica try to find out who is trying to kill them.

Bomb Tech is the fourth book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series and introduces us to the fourth Langston brother.  Alex became a fireman after his time overseas as a bomb tech.  In this story, we learn more about The Organization, the private law enforcement group that was introduced in Biker and that Alex is being actively recruited for, since most of his brothers now work for them.

Once Alex and Veronica get together, the chemistry is intense.  They have a few obstacles to work through such as a stalker, houses blowing up and smoke bombs. Alex has to overcome his undeserved reputation with the ladies, as well. 

Alex’s brothers and their boss from The Organization help with safe houses and other resources.  I was very surprised about who the stalker actually ended up being as all the clues pointed to one of Alex’s friends.  The scene where the stalker was revealed raised my heartrate for sure. 

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series, as there is one more Langston brother we haven’t met yet.  While each story can be read alone, I recommend this series be read in order to get the most out of it as each story includes some of the previous characters.

Bodyguard

Title:  Bodyguard

Author:  Fiona Roarke

Publisher:  Nickel Road Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-944312-05-3

Genre:  {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Chloe can’t believe she let her boss talk her into going on a blind date since it is turning into a disaster.  If it wasn’t for the sexy man she ends up kissing for the big screen when the camera gets focused on them, she would probably be screaming.  Deke can’t believe he met such a beautiful woman while he was working. 

Bodyguard is the third book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series.  Helping out a friend, Deke ends up talking to and kissing the beautiful woman next to him while attending a baseball game with his boss. Obviously, Chloe and Deke hit it off with some intense chemistry.  Two things that are very obvious in this series, so far, is that the heroes are all brothers and each have fallen in love almost at first sight, which creates some problems along the way.

The intensity of this story is just as intense as the previous stories.  Chloe picks up a stalker that ends up with her being kidnapped.  The kidnapper is someone that I didn’t see coming.  I actually thought it was someone else.  Chloe keeps her head, but trying to come up with different ways to escape that won’t get Deke’s brother killed is hard.

There is a difference in the way the Bodyguard ends that is a bit different than the first two.  I really liked it, especially the scene with Deke’s mother and the broccoli. 

While each book could probably be read by themselves, I recommend that the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series be read in order.  There will be laughter and tears, and I am so looking forward to the next story.

Bouncer

Title:  Bouncer

Author:  Fiona Roarke

Publisher:  Nickel Road Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-944312-03-9

Genre:  {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Reece is undercover for the DEA at a high-end club, looking for information on how the target is keeping his records once he accepts a client.  He meets Jessica and ends up working with her once her agency decides to use Reece to obtain access to the club.

Bouncer is the second book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series and is actually about the next Langston brother.  Reece refuses to take any of the women up on their offer of hooking up since he knows they are only doing it because he happens to be one of the club’s bouncers.  He’s been burned once in a relationship already because of where he’s been working undercover for the last year.

Jessica is an FBI agent, who met Reece while trying to change her tire.  She has been looking for a hook up that won’t turn into a relationship and decides Reece will do nicely.   Both end up deciding to try for a relationship and their chemistry is intense.

Several obstacles abound when both agencies try to do end runs around the other, with Jessica and Reece in the crosshairs.  Both have instructions to not inform the other about what they are doing.  I found it interesting that both their bosses knew that the other agency was running ops, but not informing their two agents.  It reminded me of the issues that keep coming up about inter-agency cooperation in light of today’s climate.

I had to laugh at Jessica’s family, especially when it became clear Reece knew one of her brothers.  There are several humorous incidents and one agent that keeps harassing Jessica, keeps running afoul of both her boss and Reece.  He definitely deserved what happened to him after he blows Reece’s cover. 

I am looking forward to the next story in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series because it features another Langston brother.

Biker

Title:  Biker

Author:  Fiona Roarke

Publisher:  Nickel Road Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-944312-01-5

Genre:   {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Kaitlin has decided she wants to lose her virginity and that her next door neighbor, Zak, would be the perfect candidate to help her do so.  Zak is attracted to Kaitlin but is undercover and knows he will be leaving within a few weeks, so doesn’t want to act on his attraction.  When Kaitlin decides to act and follows Zak, things get taken out of their hands.

Biker is the first book in the Bad Boys in Big Trouble series.  I was caught up in the story from the start.  This is a fast-paced suspense story that has a lot of twists and turns.  There are also some humorous moments, especially after Zak and Kaitlin get together. The chemistry between the two is intense.

Kaitlin has her reasons for doing what she did and the number one reason is her step-sister.  There is a lot of rivalry between the two and Kaitlin has had enough of the bragging Brooke does.  Zak, once he’s on board, makes it easier for Kaitlin to face her, especially when things take a surprising turn after Kaitlin is kidnapped.

Zak’s family is very supportive, but he has a few differences of opinion with his boss.  The men and group Zak is investigating keep changing somewhat and he finds out that if Kaitlin hadn’t followed him that one night, he was supposed to be executed by one of the group.  Of course, he doesn’t find this out until the end of his investigation.

I think the author did a good job of showing how some undercover operations can be ended to protect undercover agents for the future.  I loved the way the author ended the story and really enjoyed the ending, especially Zak’s family’s reactions.  

This is the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.  I am also going to be looking for other books she may have written.

Vegas Sin

Title: Vegas Sin

Author: Jambrea Jo Jones

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Publisher URL: www.pride-publishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-78430-952-7

Genre: {M/M} Romantic Suspense

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Harrison Boone, head of security at the Totally Five Star Hotel, is the perfect stress relief for Detective Owen Carpenter. Unfortunately, before Harrison and Owen could do more than exchange names, a woman was reported missing from a wedding shower in progress at the hotel.

Vegas Sin is Part of the Totally Five Star imprint. The plot is a well-paced thriller featuring a budding romance between Harrison and Owen. The secondary characters add a touch of humor to the story.  But the main character is the psychotic kidnapper who is realistically terrifying.

Owen is a compassionate man dedicated to taking care of his ailing mother, his sister and his sister’s young daughter. Having a career in law enforcement is a family tradition for Owen.

Harrison is an honorable man formerly in the armed forces, who does his job with highly efficient accuracy. Since Harrison has no family living in Vegas, he thinks of the employees’ as part of his extended family. Harrison takes personal pride in the superbly prepared sociable elegance the hotel offers their guest.

The person responsible for the kidnappings is the worst kind of person imaginable. He is the very definition of a functioning sociopath, a meticulous planner; who lacks empathy or remorse.  He is a predator aroused by the thrill of killing. The perpetrator is so withdrawn from reality that he believes himself invincible. The driving force of his psychosis is his delusions of grandeur. 

Jambrea Jo Jones has created an exceptionally impressive as well as enjoyable suspense saga. Suspense is the main theme of this story; however there are a few sizzling intimacy scenes illustrated as Owen and Harrison’s association cultivates into a relationship. 

The Forsaken

Title:  The Forsaken

Author:  Shiloh Walker

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-61923-248-8

Genre: {M/F}, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

The Unwanted          4 Nymphs

Both Destin’s and Caleb’s psychic powers meshed too well, according Caleb.  He left Destin because she wouldn’t open up to him, but he kept getting distracted by the feedback when she connected with a rapist.  Now they have to work together to track down another rapist.

The lack of communication between Destin and Caleb was a little disturbing, and when they have to work together again after five years, they still avoided the issue for a while.  Even as they worked together to solve the case, Destin realizes things aren’t always what they seem

The Innocent     4.5 Nymphs

Jay is tracking Linc down because he abruptly dumped her, even as it seemed they were getting close.  Jay’s boss sends her to Hell for a different reason.  Immediately, Jay causes Linc problems. 

The suspense in this story will keep readers guessing until the end.  There were quite a few twists in this story, including one very big surprise that throws several characters into roles they didn’t plan on.

The Forsaken is part of The FBI Psychics series about an organization called the Oswald Group that employs psychics with various talents.  The group also trains them with shielding and how to live with their talents in the real world. 

I enjoyed this book and thought that the two stories were intense.  All the characters were very realistic, even those with seemingly strange abilities.  The author showcased a few issues Destin and Jay had when they used their abilities.  I liked that Jay had someone that she could touch without repercussion in Linc. 

Both couples had trust issues to overcome, due to their individual circumstances.  Please be aware that both stories dealt with rape and a few other issues that can trigger some readers.  Each story ended with interesting and realistic solutions. 

I am looking forward to reading more in this series.  Each story can be read by itself and The Forsaken combines two novellas of The FBI Psychics series into the FBI Psychics Collection 1.

Buck Baxter & The Disappearing Divas

Title: Buck Baxter & The Disappearing Divas

Author: Geoffrey Knight

Publisher: Wilde City Press

Publisher URL: www.wildecity.com

ISBN: 978-1-925180-83-1

Genre: {M/M} Romantic Mystery Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

The show must go on, but in the last days before The Snake Charmer’s Slave play is due to open, the odds seems to be working against it.

Buck Baxter & The Disappearing Divas is the sequel to Buck Baxter, Love Detective. The fascinating plot exhibits the murder and mayhem in the works at the Maharaja Majestic Theater and Buck, along with his mouthy assistant Stella, has been hired to solve the case. Naturally everyone connected with the theater is a suspect. However, Buck discovers a few revelations during his investigation. For instance, the theater is a deathtrap for the unwary. Some of the financial supporters are known to have illegal activities but are too powerful to ever bring to justice. Buck also questions the owner’s tea imports from India after a deadly theater mishap.

The characters are witty, as well as being entertaining. Buck is struggling with new feelings of love for Harry plus finding a murderer.  Harry is struggling with hiding the fact he is gay from his wealthy father, while attempting to convince Buck the love is reciprocated. The actors display an over the top persona as if they are always on stage to be worshipped by adoring fans.

Geoffrey Knight has created a captivatingly enjoyable saga. I was mainly impressed by the unexpected shock aspect constructed into the otherwise traditional mystery theme. 

Under Pressure

Title:  Under Pressure

Author:  Laurie Roma

Publisher:  Siren Bookstrand Publishing

Publisher URL:  http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN/BIN:    978-1-62241-578-6

Genre:  {M/F}, Romantic Suspense, Series

Rating:   5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Bella returns to Chicago to pick up the pieces of her life after nearly dying at the hands of a stalker.  Jason runs into Bella at a fund-raiser and really likes her feisty spirit.  What happens when Bella’s brothers and Jason go head-to-head when they realize she and Jason are together means lots of conflict and yelling.

The first book of the IAD Agency series is full of suspense, hot chemistry and humor.  Under Pressure examines a very serious alpha male in full alpha mode, as Jason understands the threat to Bella.  The sparks fly when Bella and Jason are together and not just in the bedroom.  I had to laugh out loud when Bella dug in her feet about Jason keeping her informed when the threat returns.

All the secondary characters, from Bella’s friends to Jason’s co-workers/friends, were funny especially since the men let their alpha personalities show.  Bella’s threats when she was cooking were so funny.  I loved the way the author wove these characters into the story and I could see where some pairings might show up future stories.  I was a little surprised about the ending, especially in light of some earlier remarks in the story.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the IAD Agency series, and I know we will be seeing all these friends in future books.  Under Pressure is one story that I will be reading again.

Winter’s Journey

Title: Winter’s Journey

Author: Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Publisher: Eternal Press

Publisher URL: http://www.eternalpress.biz

ISBN: 9781615724604

Genre: {M/F} Romantic Suspense, Murder-Mystery

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph 

After losing her trucker husband to the bitter Wyoming winter one year ago, the last place Loretta Brennan expected to be was in “Baby Blue”, her eighteen-wheeler, heading along those same icy roads. However, if she wants to keep a roof over her and her daughter’s head, Loretta needs to start taking action, now. 

She may have accepted the dangerous job for honorable reasons but Loretta soon realizes she has bitten off more than she can chew. There’s no way she’ll get her haul to the destination in time by herself. So when hitchhiker Sam Emerson offers to share the burden, Loretta is loath to turn him away. She knows the danger of picking up a stranger, but Sam’s sob story pulls at hear heartstrings. As the duo ride out the winter storm, Loretta leans more about the enigmatic Sam, but not all of it is good. She can’t fight the feelings that are growing for the man, but when they hear that truckers are being murdered nearby, Loretta starts putting two and two together, and coming up with five. With a coldblooded murderer on the loose, can Sam be honest enough about his past to save his and Loretta’s future? 

Despite Loretta and Sam’s actions making me want to bang their heads together most of the time, I just couldn’t put Winter’s Journey down. The author did an amazing job creating such an atmospheric setting that I shiver now just remembering the cold and icy conditions faced by the characters. There were shivers of a different kind as people Loretta and Sam met along their journey started turning up dead. The constant “friend or foe?” vibe coming from Sam kept me on edge and helped me ride the rollercoaster of emotions with Loretta as she tried to figure him out. The climax of the murder mystery was exciting and unpredictable. The romance between Loretta and Sam was slow building and let my imagination wander to all sorts of possibilities between them. If you are looking for an engaging story with twists and turns plus tender romance, I highly recommend Winter’s Journey.

The Triaxen

Title: The Triaxen
Author: Ciara Lake
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand
Publisher URL: http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/
ISBN: 1-61034-129-5
Genre: {M/F}, Sci-Fi, Romantic Suspense
Rating: Golden Blush
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Krevan is meeting the supply ship and looking for the man he made a contract with; only he turns out to be a she. Ancelin’s family was murdered for the power source her father had invented and now she is trying to build a new life for herself.

The Triaxen is a wonderful suspense story that will definitely keep you on your toes. The twists and turns the author has, both within the story and the relationship between Krevan and Ancelin, kept me up most of the night, once I started reading, to the point my husband finally told me to get to bed.

I fell in love with Krevan as I was reading and loved the world Ms. Lake created. The story is a combination of the old-style lawless western we read about within a sci-fi world. Krevan reminded me of an old-style cowboy/lawman who wants to be left alone, certainly not wanting to be around people, much less looking for a mate. Circumstances throw Krevan and Ancelin together in close quarters and Krevan realizes she is his bond mate. Most women that come to Verrian are there as mail-order brides, though Ancelin had not done her research to realize she should have had a protector with her.

So much of this story could take place in today’s society and, in some instances, be torn from the news. The Triaxen is Ms. Lake’s debut novel and I hope that this story is not the last one about the Triaxen people. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Taken

Title: Taken
Author: J.C. Owens
Publisher: Etopia Press
Publisher URL: http://www.etopia-press.net/
ISBN: 978-1-936751-10-5
Genre: {M/M} Suspense
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Landon, a mercenary, has a bad feeling about this mission to kidnap Kirith Martinelli from his tropical island home. Kidnapping the brother of a mob boss was madness. Landon’s team crept into the house; suddenly everything had all gone terribly wrong. Landon is held in captivity, with no possibility of escape until Kirith offers Landon something Landon has never had before, freedom.

Taken is a well written compelling dark thriller. The plot is well paced with plenty of sinister action, as well as emotional trauma. The intimate scenes are sensual. The intricate plot features a psychotic killer with an unpredictably perverse motive. The characters are believable, in addition to presenting a psychological puzzle. Raised by his two malicious older brothers, Landon suffers from low self-esteem. Compassion and love are foreign concepts to him. Nonetheless, he has integrity, as well as mercy. For years Landon has put aside the money he made, striving for the day he would have enough to escape his abusive siblings’ power over him. Landon was forced to be a mercenary and feels guilty because of his bloodstained past. He first became aware of his own sexuality after accepting Kirith’s proposal. What started out as just sex developed into a love affair.

Considered mob aristocracy by birth, Kirith is knowledgeable plus realistically capable of being dangerous. Yet he chose a legal career, instead of his family’s profession. What Kirith truly desires is to be loved for himself, not his family connections and wealth. Constantly surrounded by armed guards for protection, his home is more like a prison. Kirith is cautious of most people, nevertheless he is capable of exhibiting true affection for a few of his family members. J.C. Owens has created an impressive and fascinating happy ever after saga that I thoroughly enjoyed.

All She Wrote

Title: All She Wrote
Author: Josh Lanyon
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60928-200-4
Genre: {M/M} Romantic Suspense
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

When Christopher Holmes receives a call from his former mentor, he’s more than ready to come to her aid. Anna Hitchcock believes someone is out to murder her and called on the one man she could trust to help her solve the mystery. When things turn unpredictably dangerous, J.X. comes to lend Christopher support. Will the two figure out who is really behind the plot to harm Anna?

All She Wrote, Josh Lanyon’s second story of the Holmes & Moriarity series, was a fantastic read. Set on a wintery backdrop, Christopher is taken out of his warm solitude element and thrust into a retreat with a host of characters that test his patience more than once. It was nice to see him finally recognize what J.X. has seen in him all along - that he’s a desirable man who deserves happiness. Their interaction in this installment gives me hope for the two men to have a great future.

Mr. Lanyon’s ability to create a story with fascinating characters, a sound plot, and steamy erotic encounters keeps me coming back for more. Those who enjoyed the first release will not be disappointed.

Breathe

Title: Breathe
Author: Sloan Parker
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-890-7
Genre: {M/M} Romantic Suspense
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Lincoln McCaw is attempting to anesthetize the guilt with beer at the local bar. Lincoln suffers from nightmares after he caused a fatal accident. Recently released after six months in the county jail, Lincoln must focus on family. His sister and her kids are counting on him. Jay Miller is sitting in the same bar, for the same reason, trying to move past his grief. Hearing the gossip of two other patrons mention the gay man sitting at the end of the bar, Jay decides to give in to his sexual fantasies of being with another guy. Jay strikes up a conversation with Lincoln, which leads to an appointment in the back alley. Wounds still raw are reopened when Jay realizes his clandestine sexual activity is with Lincoln, the man who caused Jay’s wife’s accident.

Breathe is a heartrending romance intertwined with multiple layers of drama. The characters are convincing. The story illustrates numerous facets of grief, giving an in-depth description of how each character is affected by the loss of a loved one. Lincoln is his own worst enemy; he constantly berates himself for the accident. He feels he deserves the anonymous veiled threats he started receiving while in jail. Lincoln will suffer through anything to protect his love ones, including sacrificing his love for Jay rather than cause Jay more pain. Jay tries to stay away from Lincoln, even though Jay craves the touches, along with the emotional support Lincoln provides. Both are admirable as well as compassionate men.

Lincoln and Jay realize grief is the catalyst of an already unhinged mind when the coercion directed toward Lincoln escalates into violent acts. Lincoln and Jay join forces to discover the perpetrator before someone is killed. Sloan Parker has created a superb saga that kept me on the edge of apprehension until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed Breathe.

Ties That Bind

Title: Ties That Bind
Author: Anne Patrick
Publisher: Awe-Struck Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.awe-struck.net/
ISBN: 978-1-58749- 732-2
Genre: {M/F} Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, Mystery
Rating: Golden Blush Award
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Jo is considered the expert of the experts in profiling serial killers. Her gift allows her to see and feel what a victim feels right before they die and eventually starts getting an idea of what the killer is going to do. Jo goes back to her hometown to help with the murders of decapitated women. She has not been there in almost ten years and is estranged from her mother and older brother.

Austin Garrett took over the position of sheriff after Jo’s father died. He is actually from Los Angeles and had hoped, when he moved, he would not have to deal with the kind of murders he is now facing. Austin takes one look a Jo and can’t believe she is actually an FBI profiler. After some rocky times during this case, he and Jo eventually fall in love with each other.

Anyone that loves intense mystery and suspense stories is going to love Ties That Bind. The author has a way of keeping you on your toes as you read this book. There are so many twists that you will have a difficult time guessing who the killer is. Ms. Patrick keeps you guessing until you get close to the end of the book. I actually guessed wrong, but the man could have been the killer from the clues the author dropped.

This story has a lot of romantic and subtle Christian undertones but they don’t detract from the mystery. I could not put this one down. The evolvement of the relationship that Jo and Austin have is a realistic journey that we have all had at one time. Jo’s relationship with her family also adds to some of the stress she has. I am looking forward to reading other mysteries by this author. Ties That Bind is one book to be placed on every mystery lover’s bookshelf to be read more than once.

Dirty Deeds

Title: Dirty Deeds
Author: Sheri Lewis Wohl
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Publisher URL: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59578- 677-8
Genre: {M/F} Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Louie is a former cop who is now a bounty hunter, going after people who skip out on their bond. She is assigned, by her partner, to go after Jamie McDonald after he fails to appear in court.

In the course of learning about Jamie, she meets his older brother Paul. They team up to find Jamie, but as the case goes forward, Louie finds that it ties in with her brother’s attempted murder. Louie keeps tying up all the loose ends but bodies keep piling up after Jamie is killed.

Dirty Deeds is a pretty good mystery with a lot of twists and turns. I did get a little confused at the beginning as the story did some skipping around but as it progressed, everything started to tie together. This story had several underlying currents that I would have liked explored. The author focused on the suspense of the story, as well as the various relationships that Louie had with those around her. Paul and Louie had lots of chemistry between them, but both question their feelings for each other. If you like mystery suspense stories with some twists, you will like this one.

The Genesis Clock

Title: The Genesis Clock
Author: Christine McKay
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419921919
Genre: {M/F} Romantic Suspense
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Satyr Vael

Evie’s father spent all his life trying to piece together the Genesis Clock, a powerful tool created by the builders of the Tower of Babel to harness time and control it. With him dead, it falls to Evie to continue his work. Not everyone is so eager to see the Genesis Clock, though. While she races time itself to uncover truths and myths, Evie also desperately tries to escape those who would rather the thing remain a secret.

Aaron was sent to kill Evie, daughter of a deserter. Unfortunately, that’s proving harder to do than he imagined. Despite the job he’s meant to do, he can’t get her out of his mind. She’s forbidden fruit--the best kind.

The Genesis Clock, like all of Ms. McKay’s books, is impeccably written. She draws you in and doesn’t let go. The pages ooze with danger and intrigue, excitement and utter sensuality like no one but Christine McKay can do.

I love the breathless style of the prose--the intensity of the tombs, the heat of the sensual moments. Ms. McKay amazes me with her unending ability to pen a tale worthy of many re-reads.

Cold Scheme

Title: Cold Scheme
Author: Edita Petrick
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419921346
Genre: {M/F} Suspense
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Thinking that she is in control of her life for a change, Detective Meg Stanton finds that that is not the case at all. First she is greeted with a dead body as a hood ornament on her partner’s car. The problems of her past starts adding to her already hectic work load of cold case files and the questions Meg doesn’t want to answer at the moment.

Meg’s partner is a lot of help to her when she starts to get off track. When her inquiries take a turn for the worst, I was wondering if she had finally accepted her past and was ready to move to the future. There was a lot going on for her to focus on just one thing and she was having a hard time separating her emotions, both professional and personally.

Cold Scheme is truly a thrilling suspense with a few twists to it and I must say that I was completely surprised with the identity of the villain. Meg impressed me with her intelligence to solve old crimes and her ability to analyze any situation quickly. I felt for her when two of the people she most wanted to forget came barging back into her life; her father and ex-husband, wanting control.

This mastermind villain was so devious, I never even got an idea or wasn’t paying enough attention to the clues they gave. The sad part is Meg looked at them as a good friend, and never suspected until it was almost too late to do anything about their threats to her loved ones. A very smart person with the right connections could only pull off murders at this level and almost got away with it too!

Kudos to Ms. Petrick for her brilliant storytelling of how masterfully an evil person can be, and I am hoping to read more about Meg Stanton.

Diamond Lust

Title: Diamond Lust
Author: Madelle Morgan
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419923517
Genre: {M/F} Suspense
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Petra Paris is a geologist, who is on a secret mission for the board of a company she works for, with the intent of clear her father’s name of fraud. Along the way, she makes a few mistakes by taking other employees into her confidence in finding the culprit and Seth is determined to save her from being in danger. Petra unwillingly develops more feelings for him that she would like, especially after her mother’s bitter teachings of not trusting men.

Seth is an undercover cop for the RCMP Diamond Protection Unit and works as a pilot. What he needs to do is get out to the mine where the stealing is being done, and it the only way he can find out how the smugglers are moving the diamonds. What he does while flying Petra out to the mine is convince her into saying he is her boyfriend, and he proceeds to make people believe it’s really true. He finds out as the hours of the day progress that she is a headstrong woman, who he is attracted to, and he has to keep a close eye on Petra.

Diamond Lust is a fantastic story that kept me on edge throughout the entire book, trying to figure out whodunit. Each time Ms. Morgan started getting close to who the villains are, she turned another corner and sparked my interest even more. It made me appreciate the amount of work it takes to change rough diamonds into the sparkling gems seen in the stores, giving me the utmost respect for the miners. I found the hero and heroine quite entertaining with their stubborn determination to avoid a relationship, and when they finally faced the truth of what was going on in their lives, the story got even better for me.

I must say that this is the first book I have read by this author, and I am really pleased with her storytelling of diamonds, murder, and a blossoming love affair. Even with the small amount of history given on the characters, this is a great story. I will be keeping an eye out for more from this author.

Night is Darkest

Title: Night is Darkest
Author: Jayne Rylon
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60504-800-0
Genre: {M/M} {M/F} {M/F/M} {M/M/F}, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Ménage
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

When Lacey loses her brother Rob at the hands of a murderer, her world threatens to collapse. No stranger to tragedy to begin with, only the support of best friends Mason and Tyler stop her life from imploding. Thanks to their help, she is able to get through the blur of the funeral and the seemingly never-ending parade of well meaning mourners, without being overwhelmed. She just can’t understand how everybody else is carrying on with their lives. To stave off the bitter loneliness attempting to seep into her soul, Lacey seeks comfort in the two men who have never been far away from her thoughts or fantasies.

Since childhood, Lacey has held a very special place in Mason and Tyler’s hearts. They have watched over her as they all matured; the realization that they wanted so much more than friendship slowly developing. Right or wrong, they decided to shield her from their more adventurous desires in the fear of scaring her away. When, fuelled by woe, Lacey finally makes her own needs clear, the guys are more than a little shocked and start questioning whether they made the right choice back then. Tyler is ready to take the next step but Mason holds back, afraid that if Lacey finds out just what they have been getting up to, plus what they have in store for her, she’ll run a mile. Lacey doesn’t understand his behavior but is determined to get everything out in the open.

As if dealing with the unexpected erotic turn of events wasn’t enough, the two men are working hard to deal with their own grief, as Rob meant the world to them. The trio of handsome guys had all worked hard to get onto the force so to see a fellow officer taken down in the line of duty has them itching to find the culprit who robbed them of their best friend. When Lacey tells them she is getting suspicious emails and telephone calls, they are on high alert – somebody knows what is going on but it is a race to put all the pieces together before the most important person in Mason and Tyler’s world suffers anymore.

With three extremely engaging, interesting characters with scorching chemistry and a plot that kept me hooked from start to finish, Night is Darkness has a little of everything. The introduction to Lacey was very well done as I was immediately became endeared to her. Having a traumatic occurrence so soon in a story doesn’t always work as the reader hasn’t necessarily had time to connect to the characters but that wasn’t a problem at all with Lacey. I really felt the shock and disruption to her life, due to the loss of her beloved brother. Mason and Tyler were intriguing, with early hints of their night-time activities thrilling me into submission. If you like your men to take control of the situation and treat you like you are the most precious stone in existence, these two are your guys. Lacey does what any strong, independent woman would do in this situation, fight the kid gloves with all that she is worth, but in the end, she knows how badly she needs Mason and Tyler in her life.

In some ways, reading Night is Darkness was like reading two books. The story of three friends who have so obviously not been communicating, slowly untangling the truth and delving into their suppressed desires was a delicious three course meal that really satisfied the appetite. On occasion the threesome’s relationship overshadowed the unraveling of the murder plot. However, the author does a very good job for the most part in keeping me riveted as past secrets come back to haunt characters and with a fantastic twist at the end that I did not see coming, I thoroughly recommend Night is Darkness.