Review: A Soldier’s Honor by Regan Black

Title: A Soldier’s Honor

Author: Regan Black

Mills & Boon imprint: Romantic Suspense

Year of publication: Out today! The author kindly gave me a copy to read and review

The heroine: Government contracts officer Bethany Trent

The hero: Army major Matt Riley

The blurb: When a security snafu turns his world upside down, Major Matt Riley reunites with his long-lost son. And fourteen years later, the military man is still captivated by his ex, Bethany Trent. Matt must convince her that their new family bond is for keeps—but first, he must keep them alive…

Standalone or series: This is book one in The Riley Code series, but can be read as a standalone.

The review: This is book one in the Riley Code series, and it’s off to a good start. Matt Riley, the oldest of the Riley children, met Bethany Trent when they were both at West Point as cadets. They were young when Bethany fell pregnant, and instead of having them both thrown out of the academy she chose to move to another school and raise the baby as a solo parent. Matt has known all along about Caleb and has been drip fed information about him as he’s grown, but Bethany has always made it clear that she was putting Matt’s career in the military first and that she would raise Caleb alone.

When a hacker starts sending them both threatening messages about exposing Caleb’s existence, Matt and Bethany know it’s time to tell him about Matt. But Caleb already knows; the hacker clued him in with anonymous photographs. Caleb flees to find Matt, and then Matt realises that all three of them are being targeted by someone.

As Matt and his military colleagues work behind the scenes to find out who this mysterious man is who seems to want to hurt Matt and his family, he tries hard to make a relationship work with not only his son, but Bethany. He still loves her, and she him, but every time he tries to bring it up she pushes him away.

Bethany comes to realise she’s done both Caleb and Matt a huge disservice by not allowing Matt to be a bigger part of Caleb’s life from the beginning. She did what she thought was best for her child, and she was young at the time, but I found myself frustrated with Bethany and her actions. I could understand her not wanting to be a military wife, wanting to protect Matt and his career… but once he graduated, why couldn’t he have been merged into Caleb’s life then? And even when she knows how Matt feels about her, that he’s loved her all these years, she still won’t let him in.

But that all changes when Bethany and Caleb are abducted and they have to pray Matt will find them in time. Will Bethany finally realise she needs to stop hiding her feelings and admit Matt has always been the only man for her? Will Matt finally get the family he’s always wanted? You’ll find out by the end of this book… and there’s clearly more books planned in the series, if the ending is anything to go by! An enjoyable read if you like romantic suspense.

Review: What She Knew by Regan Black

Title: What She Knew

Author: Regan Black

Year of publication: Out today! The author kindly gave me a copy to read and review

The blurb: Dr. Luciana Perez thought she hit the jackpot when she landed the position at the Shutter Lake Medical Clinic. Until her friend Sylvia Cole is murdered and the authorities come calling, certain that Luciana has more information about the crime.

But Luciana only knows Sylvia had secrets she wasn’t inclined to share. Secrets that had Sylvia seriously worried. Secrets someone was willing to kill to keep buried. Every day that the killer isn’t found, Luciana’s fear tightens like a noose around her neck: fear of her own secrets being exposed, fear of becoming the next victim, and fear that the murderer will irrevocably shatter the idyllic peace and security of their beautiful town.

Standalone or series: This is the fourth and final book in this mini-series, each one written by a different author. You will need to read all four in order, as together they form one big book.

The review: What She Knew is the fourth and final instalment in the Breakdown suspense mini-series, and we finally get answers to all the questions built up over the other three books – who killed Sylvia Cole and why? What happened to the missing girl and FBI Agent investigating her disappearance?

It turns out that I had correctly guessed the identity of Sylvia’s killer, although I hadn’t worked out the motive. For a picturesque town like Shutter Lake, a great number of its residents were hiding some pretty dark secrets. Our heroine for this book is Dr Luciana Perez, known as Ana. She hides the darkest secret of them all, and in the course of helping uncover the identity of Sylvia’s killer – she and Sylvia were close friends and Sylvia had confided in her about what she’d been investigating in the lead up to her death – Ana’s own painful secret about her past comes out. She’s ready to flee, but Deputy Laney Holt convinces her not to.

It’s with Ana’s determination and smarts that the killer is uncovered, but not before she is harmed in the process. However, the truth is uncovered in the end, and while everyone’s secrets have come out, it’s not to the whole town but to a chosen few.

While there were a few small things that didn’t gel for me in this book – there was a hint of a romantic attachment for Ana to a man featured heavily in the previous books that I didn’t see coming and didn’t care for at all, and once again some of the interactions between the female leads felt more like strangers than close friends – all up, I really enjoyed this series. If you like mysteries, you should enjoy this series.

Review: Braving the Heat by Regan Black

Title: Braving the Heat

Author: Regan Black

Mills & Boon imprint: Romantic Suspense

Year of publication: Out today! The author kindly provided me a copy to read and review

The heroine: Firefighter (Mac)Kenzie Hughes

The hero: Mechanic Stephen Galway

The blurb: One man wants her dead. Another will do anything to protect her. Firefighter Kenzie Hughes never thought saving lives would make her a target. When someone rigs her car and sexy Stephen Galway offers to be her bodyguard, the flames of danger burn red-hot. Stephen lost his fianc’e to violence years ago, but he can’t resist Kenzie. Can he keep Kenzie safe and out of his arms when they’re forced to confront what they fear most?

Standalone or series: Book four of the Escape Club Heroes series, but can be read as a standalone

The review: Kenzie Hughes’s life has been turned upside down ever since she rescued a man name Murtagh from a fire. A former firefighter himself, he seems to have a bee in his bonnet about female firefighters and sues Kenzie for the minor injuries he received during the rescue. As a result, she’s been placed on administrative leave. Forced to leave her apartment because of other issues, she has to rely on friends for help, something an independent spirit like herself is reluctant to do.

Stephen Galway is mired in grief. Three years ago, his fiancee was murdered because of her job at the local community centre. Stephen is wracked with guilt that he couldn’t save her. He’s angry that the man who pulled the trigger was found not guilty of the murder. He’s determined, despite the best efforts of his family, not to give his heart to another woman. Ever.

When Kenzie’s old car seemingly falls apart, she’s had enough. She works with Stephen’s brother, Mitch, who offers Stephen’s services to look at the car. When Stephen finds out about Kenzie’s predicament with no current roof over her head, he offers her the camper he lives in on the garage premises.

Kenzie’s good with cars, thanks to her father, and she helps Stephen in the garage where she can. Meanwhile, someone is targeting Kenzie – her car has been sabotaged and someone is slandering her on the internet, determined to get her fired. Despite it all, Kenzie refuses to bow and her fierce determination not to give in means that she can still find things to laugh about.

It’s that determination and that laugh that draws Stephen in, as much as he doesn’t want it to. He can’t help his attraction to Kenzie, and it’s obvious she feels the same way. Will they find out who’s behind the attacks on Kenzie? Will Murtagh get his way and have her fired, and why does he want that so badly? Will Kenzie and Stephen act on their desire for each other? Will Stephen finally open his heart again? If you want the answers, you’re just going to have to read the book and find out 🙂

 

 

 

Upcoming release – Braving the Heat by Regan Black

Mark your calendars, folks! On July 1st, there are books by at least three amazing authors being released and you know I’m going to read them 😀 Braving the Heat by Regan Black will be out and you won’t want to miss it. What’s it about?

One man wants her dead.  Another will do anything to protect her.

Firefighter Kenzie Hughes never thought saving lives would make her a target. When someone rigs her car and sexy Stephen Galway offers to be her bodyguard, the flames of danger burn red-hot. Stephen lost his fiancée to violence years ago, but he can’t resist Kenzie. Can he keep Kenzie safe and out of his arms when they’re forced to confront what they fear most?

Read an excerpt here.

Protecting Her Secret Son by Regan Black

Title: Protecting Her Secret Son

Author: Regan Black

Mills & Boon imprint: Romantic Suspense

Year of publication: 2017

The heroine: Jennings Construction employee Shannon Nolan

The hero: Firefighter/Jennings Construction manager Daniel Jennings

The blurb: After escaping a world of ruthless crime, Shannon Nolan finally thought she’d left her nightmares in the past. Then the worst thing she could imagine happens: her son is kidnapped! With nowhere else to run and no one else to trust but her boss, she puts her life in Daniel Jennings’ hands.

Firefighter Daniel knows Shannon is safe under his protection, but the one threat he doesn’t want to face is his growing passion for her. But as they put everything on the line to rescue her son, that very connection might just be what saves them all…

Standalone or series: Part of the Escape Club Heroes series, but can be read as a standalone.

The review: Shannon Nolan has been attracted to her boss for a long time, but having come out of a violent marriage and fleeing NYC to get away from her domineering ex-husband with mob connections, she’s afraid to trust another man. She also didn’t tell the ex she was pregnant, and when he finds out there’s a child involved, he’s determined to get revenge.

Daniel was planning on asking Shannon on a date, but the day he finally works up the courage to do so Shannon’s four-year-old son, Aiden, is kidnapped from his babysitter’s house. Thanks to Daniel’s connections, Shannon has help in trying to find her son and she has to trust Daniel and his friends to bring Aiden home safely.

The ex turns out to be a nutcase who was led to believe Shannon cheated on him, resulting in her pregnancy, and he kidnaps the boy to exact revenge. Aiden is safely brought home and he quickly becomes attached to Daniel, as does Shannon. Daniel realises he’s ready to settle down and wants to be a husband and father, and his wish is granted.

I liked the romance between Daniel and Shannon. I’m glad the kidnapping wasn’t drawn out for the entire book. Shannon was tempted many times to take Aiden and run, but I’m glad she didn’t. Daniel is a good guy who made them happy 🙂