One Good Book Deserves Another

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: The Killer, Book 1
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Length: 400 Pages
Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Mira Books publisher Harlequin via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.


That night had been like youth itself, full of promise and hope, colored bright by young love and flavored with the tight yearning of burgeoning sexuality. She'd been sixteen and nearly incandescent with it. Her boyfriend Dante, just a little older at nearly eighteen, and his three best friends, boys on the cusp of manhood all, were to her just her boys, and had stopped by the ice cream shop where she was working to pick her up after her shift.

It went so very wrong. The knowledge of how much worse it could have been still haunts her. And she still bears the scars.

Twelve years have passed and homicide detective Anna Pallino is called back to the cold, unforgiving alley that witnessed the end of her innocence and death of her childhood. The scene was horrifically familiar to her, the man standing near the body, surrounded by two others who she had once considered hers, was a shock.

Dante Renaldi had disappeared from her life after that night so long ago. He'd left town, left her, and she hadn't heard from him since. Now he's back, and near his feet is the body of a man he had considered his father. A man who had been beaten to death...like the young man her boys had beaten after her attack, with a carved heart on his chest...just like the one in her own scarred flesh.

Someone knows the secret they had kept for over a decade. Someone knows what happened in that alley, knows who was there, what was done. Someone knows and is taunting them as he claims more victims.

Dante knew that coming back would be painful, but he had no choice. His employers, the ones who had trained him so very well in the art of death and had erased his identity from existence, would cut him enough slack to do what he needed to do. But he hadn't expected quite so painful a reintroduction to the raging mistress of grief, and he certainly hadn't expected to come face to face with his past in quite so grim a circumstance.

Meeting Anna's eyes across the alley that had changed everything in his life reminded him of two things. He had never stopped thinking about her, and his regrets always came with too damn high a price tag. With his foster father murdered and the love of his life glaring at him as if he'd done it, all Dante knows for sure is that he isn't going anywhere until he finds the killer and reclaims what he lost all those years ago.


Maybe it's ironic, but for all the books I read and all the reviews I've written, I still can't quite put my finger on what it is that makes some books hit me with more force than others, touch me more, make me feel just a bit more. I haven't quite been able to pinpoint that wow factor. I can certainly recognize it when I feel it, though. I felt it while I was reading this romantic suspense series debut.

From the gripping prologue which, quite literally, had me by the throat in bony talons of dread, through to the surprise conclusion, which I hadn't seen coming, this book worked for me beyond the elements of quality fiction it features, beyond the sum of its parts, and it became one of my favorite romantic suspense reads of the year. I just don't know why...though I suppose the why doesn't really matter in the big picture.

What does matter is that Burton impressed me with her gritty, tense narrative and the shadowy secrets and taut suspense surrounding every one of her main and secondary characters. Nothing and no one is as they seem in this book, and it was done with such talent and intelligence that I just sat back and admired as I read along. Dante, in particular, was so much dark, dangerous fun that I fell for him quick and hard. He was a strong male lead and his character was written so well that the marks left from his shadowy past clearly defined him as a man and as a lover as he evolves throughout the book.

Anna was a little harder to enjoy, but the payoff was worth it for the attempt. Scarred by her past and so damn realistic and believable it hurt, she is prickly, closed off, and tough. Her independence and gritty determination in her job is the focus of her life...well...it is her life. She doesn't have much of one beyond the job. And I totally understood why, just as I understood her less than thrilled reaction to Dante's return. What I appreciated, though, was the book never swerved into a quagmire of emotional angst over the past and instead Anna and Dante owned up to the emotional fallout...if not always the reasons for it. It may have taken me a while to warm up to Anna, but I always respected her, and that was part of the reason why.

And Gabe? Wow, okay, he may have been a secondary character, but I can't wait for his book, because I loved everything about him. He stole every scene he was in.

Burton wove a tight, suspenseful psychological thriller and a decent police procedural together for the suspense arc of this book. Each piece of the puzzle was carefully distributed throughout the book, and the twists and turns in the story were as plentiful and as exciting as those on any theme park coaster. I was thrilled by the red herrings, by the investigative process, by the characters' interactions on the case, by the clues uncovered and the paths down which those clues took the book. I was thoroughly and fully engrossed in it all and enjoyed every minute of it.

That I also completely bought the realistic evolution of the romantic arc between Dante and Anna, and appreciated every single moment of their relationship development, just iced the cake and lit the candles. Okay, and yes, they were smoking hot together. Their chemistry was off the charts.

I have to admit, the conclusion wasn't quite as thrilling to me as all the rest. It's not that I thought the big reveal was disappointing - it was a true stunner. It's just...the level of crazy in the Big Bad was a little surprising. I can't say I completely bought into every aspect of the Big Bad's actions and motivations, or believe that that much crazy wouldn't have been at least been a little noticeable at some point. Still, I enjoyed it. And as that's the only complaint, small as it is, that I had with the whole book, you won't hear me belabor the point.

I still don't know what it is, what mysterious element or elements that combine to reach out and press that wow button for me. I may never know. It's more than just a particular mix of characters and story that makes up a book, of that much I'm sure. To be honest, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. When I come across books like this one though, I sure do settle back against the cushions with a smile on my face, thoroughly and completely enjoying it. And really, that's enough for me.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Anthology
Series: N/A
Rating: 4 Stars
Length: 313 Pages
Formats: Kindle
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.


Four holiday romance novellas make up this seasonal delight, and they did a nice job of keeping me toasty on a couple of cold winter nights. Metaphorically, anyway, as southern Florida isn't exactly known for its brisk evening temperatures, even in winter.

This anthology didn't have the shared concept that united the three novellas in the previous anthology I read, but I'm perfectly happy without that. This one was a more consistent and entertaining read, each novella offering something for readers. And especially nice, Carina Press offers each of these four titles individually, for those who prefer to pick and choose. I appreciate that, even though in this case, the set together didn't have any that disappointed. For me, this anthology as a whole rated a little higher than four stars.


Brenna Keating curses the misinforming weatherman as the flakes begin to fall in earnest on her slow climb up the mountain to her grandmother's house. Her life is at a crossroads and the thought that this may be the last holiday she spends with her beloved grandmother makes this holiday both intensely bittersweet and vitally important. Her entire focus is on enjoying every single holiday tradition before she goes overseas for a year. She should have spared some focus for the deer that's standing in the middle of the winding, snow-covered road.

Rescuing a woman Dr. Dillon Craig knew could only be Brenna Keating from her wrecked car in the middle of a worsening winter storm was just the first good deed the reclusive doctor would be doing this holiday season. Once they're safely back to his mountain home, he's forced to acknowledge how appealing the young woman is. Not that he has any intention of acting on the attraction. He's got far too many of the sorts of wounds that scar the soul, for one. And he knows she's up here to see her grandmother before leaving the country. Messing with the woman in any way, shape, or form would be courting disaster.

With Christmas just days away and the attraction between them heating up the cabin more effectively than a roaring fire, the love that builds between them may be just the Christmas miracle they both need...and deserve.


I enjoyed this holiday novella. It was beautifully written, and in places emotionally powerful beyond my expectations. The messages of love, healing, and finding your heart's home aren't limited to holiday stories, but they certainly did fit well.

Brenna and Dillon got involved a little quickly for my taste, and I would have preferred the ending be written out a little differently, but this was a lovely novella with two great characters who had genuine chemistry and a relationship with enough depth to appeal. I enjoyed it quite a lot.


Wyatt Kent has nothing but bad memories and regret from the marriage that ended three years ago. Now he's got to face a construction job contracted by his ex-wife's sister. He'd rather be nailed to the frame of the room addition for day care owner Calliope Andrews than deal with the sheer physical lust the feisty woman inspires in him. And when did the little girl he knew become such a pushy, gorgeous, sexy creature intent on driving him out of his mind...or his pants?

Callie has loved Wyatt since she was a socially awkward college kid, and even she had known that he and her sister were a bad match long before they even tied the knot. It's been three years since the breakup, though, and Wyatt has become a grouchy, grim, stick-in-the-mud. She is just who he needs to give him the love he deserves. And with winter wrapping tight around them, she has every intention of doing just that...just as soon as she convinces him she is nothing like her sister.


While Burton writes a perfectly cohesive, well-developed novella with believable characters and lots of sizzle, I can't say I was thrilled by every aspect of this one. I have to give credit to Burton, I enjoyed Wyatt and Callie together by the end, and that was pretty impressive considering how much I disliked the premise of Wyatt being previously married to Callie's sister. Which was a lot. I really don't like inter-familial relationships.

I also could have done without the "knocking up" conversation and I would have happily exchanged a sex scene for a more complex and significant confrontation between Wyatt and Cassandra. After three years of the sort of negative emotions that were generated by that divorce, the resolution seemed a little too easy and superficial, even for a novella. Still, the story definitely had it's good points, and I really enjoyed Callie's feisty spirit. This one may not have been my favorite in the bunch, but it was better than okay, even with my issues.


Missing and loving on-again, off-again boyfriend Austin Thomas was never the issue for Carrie Anders. That's why she took her dream job at the museum in D.C. and that's why she made the painful decision not to return to her hometown in West Virginia for the holidays. Even her determination to live her life to the fullest couldn't withstand her heart's desire for Austin when she is with him. He just can't seem to understand how desperate she is to not live a life of regret. To not turn out like her mother.

Austin has always known that he and Carrie were meant for each other. They have the sort of love that lasts a lifetime. All he has to do is remind her of that, which is why he is dragging his brother and a bunch of Christmas trees into D.C., camping out in the vacant lot across from Carrie's apartment, and staying until he can convince her to come home with him. Because one thing he knows, Carrie isn't like his own mother, who walked away from her family without a backward glance and put a career first. She couldn't be. And this Christmas he'll finally convince her of that.


HelenKay Dimon is a new author for me, and that brings up one of the best things about anthologies...exposure to authors you may not have read before. I loved her breezy, humor-rich writing style and the clever way it lightened the tone of some fairly serious relationship issues. Austin was a wickedly charming guy who was utterly clueless about Carrie's needs, but he sure did try hard. Carrie was equally lovable - if a bit too self-absorbed to the detriment of Austin's issues. I can't say much for their ability to communicate effectively, though.

Dimon managed to tell a lot of story in the space allowed. I especially enjoyed Austin's brother as a secondary character, and the backstory of Austin's issue with alcohol added some nice depth to his character and the overall romance arc. The entire novella had a very complete-story feel to it that is often lacking in stories of this length. I wasn't totally thrilled with the logistics that Austin and Carrie worked out at the end, though. It was a little too nebulous for my HEA-loving heart.

Overall this was a wonderful, fun, and funny novella with charming characters. It touched on enough serious issues to have weight and offered enough holiday-flavored romance to warm up the most Scrooged heart. It's definitely put me on the lookout for more stories by Dimon.


When Claire Rutledge's husband died two years ago, the grief and guilt would have crippled her if it hadn't been for her husband's best friend, Justin McCormick...now her best friend. In the two years since, they have relied on each other, spent time together, worked together, crashed at each other's homes, doing everything two best friends do. Until Justin shows up in the last place Claire was expecting him...her dreams. The sort of dreams that she hasn't had since her husband died. Hot, sensual dreams that leave her wanting.

He can't do it anymore. Can't be with Claire, see her look at him as a trusted friend when he aches for her so badly, yearns for her so damn much. It's Justin's private shame, his deepest secret. He is in love with his best friend and has been from the moment he saw her...even before she'd gotten married and slipped beyond his reach forever. He is going to have to give her up, because the one thing he can't do is dishonor the memory of the man who trusted him to watch out for her.

If he can get through the holidays, he'll do the right thing and walk away. His resolution gets tested, though, the night of the Christmas party. The night his best friend and the woman he's loved for years looks at him across a crowded room with a glint in her eye that he recognizes for the frequency he's felt it within himself. It's desire. For him. Maybe this holiday will see all his Christmas wishes granted, after all. Maybe.


Neither the shorter length nor the less complex plot prevented this novella from being my favorite in the bunch. Not only is the friends-to-lovers theme my favorite of the romance tropes, but Stacey imbued this story with some very painful but emotionally honest moments that resonated with a level of realism I appreciated. Both Claire and Justin struck me as earnest and believable, and while their short journey didn't have room for much depth in plot, it packed a punch and carried me right along with the story.

This one made me feel good as I rooted for Claire to embrace her new leash on romantic life, as I watched Justin come to terms with the understanding that being with Claire doesn't make his guilt go away. Though, to be fair, I wanted to bop him on the head a bit for that. Still, I loved when Justin admitted the full scope of his feelings for Claire and let her know just how long he'd loved her. I melted a little at that. I even enjoyed the method Stacey used to get the two crazy kids together for their HEA. Just about everything in this short, sweet novella appealed.