Review

Risk It All by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cara is the one who does research so why was she picking the lock on a motel room. Why was Henry Kavenski more amused than upset when he catching her. That is the start of a very dangerous journey for both. I loved both of the main characters. I could tell that they belonged together. I did get tired of the long deceptive section as they were on the run. I also thought Cara was a little slow on the uptake about who Henry really was. All in all a good second book in the series.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 380 - Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci, In Her Sights by Katie Ruggle

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brittany Pressley (Narrator ), Kyf Brewer (Narrator ) do a great job with Long Road to Mercy. I loved the two main characters. Atlee Pine carries the story and she is well served by Bloom, her secretary. This is book one and the series started with a great story line and a plot that moves at a brisk pace. What starts simple becomes very complex and it held my attention for the entire time. The ending was the same as the beginning as what happened to Mercy is so much a part of who Pine is.


In Her Sights by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a slow start things really picked up for Molly and her crew of bounty hunters. The main plot point in this new series is where is Molly's and her sister's mother, something that was not solved in book one. Her mothers disappearance brings on another big problem. John Carmondy just wants a chance with Molly and between the two they face danger together as well a solve the other big problem. Great cast of characters. The set up for the next book and the next sister who will find both danger and romance is in the last chapter. Interesting new series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 297 - Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen, Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle

Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lone Star Christmas is the start of a new series by Fossen and this first book does not follow the pattern she used in previous books. There were no babies or pregnant women and while there were lawmen they were not the central male characters. I liked the change. Using characters who were in the foster care system or who had been in the system highlighted both the good and the bad. Callen Laramie is a product of the bad and then the good. His struggle is to remember the good. Shelby McCall has always had a thing for Callen. Watching the two interact was at the heart of the story. This had romance, great characters, secrets, and dealing with the past. All in all a great start to the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A new series from Ruggle and it is off to a great start. I loved Camille Brandt and how she came out of her shell around Steve Springfield's children. It was great to see a character who had problems facing a lot of people and to watch her work out how and when she would be comfortable. It did not hurt that Steve had been her secret crush in high school and that he did not mind her quirky behavior. This was a great book about being different but still being able to be yourself around friends and family.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 286 - Impostor's Lure by Carla Neggers, Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle

Impostor's Lure by Carla Neggers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While the plot was interesting I found that I was often confused by the characters and their relationships. Added to the confusion was the references to events in the past that were not really part of the story line. This is book 8 in the Sharp and Donovan series but the first one I have read. While the actual story line could stand alone I really needed to have read the previous books. The story was told from several different points of view and had more than one story arc. They all came together near the end and I admit I did not have a clue how they were related and how the mystery would end.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This appears to be the last book in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series and it ends with a bang. Kit Jernigan is the new K9 officer and her Bloodhound partner is a scene stealer. He provides some needed laughs as the story progresses. Kit meets Wes on her first day and the two are a interesting match. A new woman has arrived at Jules and while Kit does not trust her no one is listening to her. That leads to danger and an answer to several questions that have been part of the mystery in the series. This is a fun story full of tension, danger, romance and some very nice comic moments. I loved Kit and Wes has become one of my favorite romance heroes.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 187 - Into the Fire by Elizabeth Moon, Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle

Into the Fire by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just when Admiral Kylara Vatta thinks that she is home free everything falls apart. There are enough problems in Into the Fire to fuel the plot for several books. It was interesting to see how each of the characters reacted to the danger they find themselves in. Of course Ky does seem to win in the end but not until several of the key characters are almost killed. There is one characters who finally comes into her own leaving Ky feeling very puzzled by her reaction to events. A interesting read filled with danger and tension. Understanding the backstory and the world building worked best if book one in the Vatta's Peace series was read first. Into the Fire continues the interesting plot started in book one.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like over the top danger Survive the Night is the book for you. It seems the bad guys have enough weapons and people to take on an entire town. Why? Because there are two women there that are a big danger to them. This time it is Sarah Clifton who arrives trying to escape her brother who wants to marry her off to a member of another crime family. K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen takes one look at Sarah and knows he has to defend her from all comers. This has a very sweet romance between the two, danger that causes a very large amount of damage, tension from first to last page, and a continuation of the plot started in the first book. This can be read as a standalone but is much better if you have read the previous books. Ever way pick it up to read.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 136 - Earthly Remains by Donna Leon, Torn by Mary Brock Jones, On the Chase by Katie Ruggle

Earthly Remains by Donna Leon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Commissario Guido Brunetti is one of my favorite characters. I have learned to love Venice after seeing it through his eyes. This time Brunetti does something very foolish and as the book starts I found my self laughing as he has to follow through with what he started. It has some interesting consequences including a medical leave from work. There he meets new characters and Leon brings into focus some of the damage man has done to the area around Venice. There is a conclusion to the mystery in the story but no one is brought to justice. I found that to be an interesting take on what and how we treat this earth. I listened to this as an audio book and as always the reader develops just the right tone for the action in the story.


Torn by Mary Brock Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I had felt more connection between Fee and Caleb this would have been a 5 star instead of 4. I loved the world building (a planet changed for human life, the plot (anything for money even if it destroys the planet), and the characters (well drawn and suited for where they lived on the planet). The story moved at a brisk pace with a lot of action, tension and danger. In the middle of all of that was the attraction and love story between Fee and Caleb. That attraction started of slow and built but it felt forced instead of a natural part of the story. This is book one of a new series and book 2 is on my wish list. I do want to see how the big issue of keeping the planet safe plays out in future books. Torn just puts everyone in place but does not have a solution to that big problem.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


On the Chase by Katie Ruggle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I felt that I was missing some key elements in the story as I had not read book one. The story here has two different events driving the plot. Kaylee has to run for her life taking a new identity. Hugh and his K-9 partner, Lexi, are on leave after Hugh has been shot in the leg. The two events drive the story. Both Hugh and Gracie (Kaylee's new name) are in danger. Finding a solution to Gracies' problem and finding the man trying to kill Hugh kept the tension level very high. I liked the setting, Colorado Mountains, the plot, danger, danger, danger, and the characters. Hugh was really fun and Gracie (Kaylee) was his match. Lexi with her cold nose added some fun moments to the story line. A interesting series. I plan to go back and read book one to get the backstory I missed.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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