Scorched grounds (Normal Alabama 2) by Debbie Herbert

Hello to all!

                      today i'm sharing with you my point of view on the new Debbie Herbert 's book, my first thriller of the year.

Happy reading

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publication: 2020

ISBN:  1542005868

Genre: Thriller, suspense, romantic suspense
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: earc

Description from goodreads :

 From bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a chilling, fast-paced story about family tragedy and confronting what terrifies us most.

In the eighteen years since her father went to prison for killing her mother and brother, Della Stallings has battled a crippling phobia. Her fear only grows when her father’s released. She still believes he killed her family, but the police don’t have enough evidence to arrest him again.

When new grisly murders occur—each bearing the telltale signs that seem to implicate her father—Della begins to wonder if the real murderer is still out there. Could her father have been framed?

To find the truth, Della must face her greatest fears and doubts—not only to find justice for her family but to ensure her own survival.

My opinion:

          This book was a certainly very intense read....it put me on edge and  with the winds blowing outside it could have been perfect in a halloween night really gripping, dark , twisted....an excellent thriller. While this is part of a series set in the same city this is a real stand alone i didn't know there was another book but nothing felt like missing it's a complete independent story.

The author uses different point of views to tell us what is happening and they  blend together perfectly to create a very dark and stressful ambiance to have the reader on edge, fearing for Della and unable to have the feeling he knows who the culprit is as many twists and the different point have view have you doubting yourself after  every chapter.

It's really a great read but  for me the ending wasn't satisfactory enough...i can't tell you a lot more if i don't want to spoil it but  justice wasn't complete in my opinion  but otherwise it's a great  really great thriller.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Unmasking the Shadow Man by Debbie Herbert

Hello to all,

                       a new week is starting so it's time to share my opinion on some new release as well.

Happy Reading

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

Publication: 2019

ISBN:  1335604685

Genre: romantic suspense

Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

 In a race against time

Can they defeat an unseen foe?

Officer Liam Andrews knows trouble when he sees it, and trouble should be Harper Catlett’s middle name. Especially considering the mysterious goings-on in the home where Harper’s sister died decades before. Secretly working undercover, Liam is soon roped into Harper’s amateur detective work as she probes Baysville’s sordid secrets. But together, can the pair solve these long-buried crimes…before they both wind up dead?

My opinion:

          Very interesting. A lot is happening, several investigations so the level of suspense is really high and  we stay glued on our seat wanting to discover what is happening  to Harper's house, what happened to her sister, who killed the homeless and so much more as the story progress....we only get the answers at the very end of the book which is wonderful. Guessing the culprit too early strip the story of part of his fun; here it's not the case.

The characters are really interesting and their personalities deep. The author built them with care and we enjoy following them in their investigation.  The pace of the story is just what we need with touch of romance from time to time to balance with the dark side of some investigation so this is a really great written romance suspense .

to be recommended.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Appalachian Abduction by Debbie Herbert

Hello to all!


           Today i'm sharing with you a book that can be considered as part of a series while being a standalone as we see characters from Appalachian Prey that i reviewed earlier this year here so readers shouldn't lost.

I hope you are ready for more suspense romance

Happy Reading

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

Publication: 2018

ISBN:  1335526277

Genre: romantic suspense

Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

 A small-town cop must protect a beautiful rogue undercover detective.

Trespassing, fleeing a peace officer…hell, she’d aimed a gun at his chest! Officer James Tedder can’t help but admire her fight. And undercover detective Charlotte Helms will never quit. She’s on a personal mission: rescue her best friend’s daughter…and bust the child-trafficking ring that lured her away. When they’re forced to become partners, James must trust Charlotte to have his back. But can he trust her with his heart?

My opinion:

          Lavender Mountains are really not a safe place to live as it seems. This book take place after " Appalachian Prey" and we see Liland and Harlan but this book focus on another couple Lilah's brother James (jimmy) and Charlotte so this one can really be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

James is working under Harlan after being retired from the military but he still has some bad effect from his time in Afghanistan  and he does doubt himself...when he discover an intruder in his father's cabin he isn't letting go until he discover the real story of Charlotte and when he does he can't leave her alone.

I loved that he was loyal, he is determined but also a bit wild. He does his job well but we can see that it doesn't complete him yet. He is also resourceful and quite stubborn.

Charlotte also is really stubborn...she has a lead to find the missing daughter of her friend and she let nothing get in her way but doing so she also renounce to help she really need. When she is forced to trust James...she tries not to let her past dictate her reaction but it's not easy and she sure is paranoid. However, i do admire her determination.

Both have been hurt and learning to work together quite a bit like them against the world help them to heal bit by bit .

Now, the investigation is interesting, the action fast paced but i did prefer Appalachian prey. In this book we get less info about the setting, the people but really focus more on Charlotte and James past which is good but i kind of missing the  rural ambiance. Also Harlan was a bit strict and while that's normal  with his past he should have been more open minded in my opinion. he did well but not fast enough and not the right way so for those who have read the other story it can be disappointing but for new reader it should be a problem at all.

So all together it's a good romance suspense that works perfectly as standalone without cliffhanger .

and 2018 starts : Appalachian Prey by Debbie Herbert

Hello to all!!


                    So, already 2018.....i can't say that 2017 was an excellent year so i do have hope for this new one especially since it started quite well as i'm bonding with our new family member..i so needed him. Now i think i can hope for some balance or at least i hope so  to reach that i'm avoiding unecessary stress so if i didn't manage to complete your christmas gift on time i'm sorry i was too overwhelmed but  i will do my best to 2018 an excellent year.

That being said, a year can't be good without good books so it's time i start giving you my opinion on the first book of the year: a romance suspense by Debbie Herbert: Appalachian Prey.

Happy reading!!

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

Publication: 2018

ISBN: 1335638962

Genre: romantic suspense

Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

 Star-crossed lovers on Lavender Mountain…Danger awaits them both.

After her father’s murder, pregnant Lilah Tedder dreads facing deputy Harlan Sampson, her child’s secret father, who left her heartbroken. Though she still wants him, Lilah knows his professional ambition won’t let him associate with a moonshiner’s daughter. But when a killer targets Lilah, Harlan becomes more than her protector. Now they must uncover old family secrets or pay the ultimate price.

Star-crossed lovers on Lavender Mountain…Danger awaits them both.

After her father’s murder, pregnant Lilah Tedder dreads facing deputy Harlan Sampson, her child’s secret father, who left her heartbroken. Though she still wants him, Lilah knows his professional ambition won’t let him associate with a moonshiner’s daughter. But when a killer targets Lilah, Harlan becomes more than her protector. Now they must uncover old family secrets or pay the ultimate price.

My opinion:

          Very good! This book was perfect to start my year as i really loved it. It's a second chance romance if you want ( i'm not fond of those but in this case no cheating was involved only misunderstanding or something like that) but more importantly a romance suspense and i LOVE those! really when it's cold or raining outside staying in front of the fire immersed in a good investigation is a real pleasure. In this case it's even better as  there are several cases open on which our characters are investigating which make the story even more interesting.

Debbie Herbert wrote very realistic characters and we wouldn't be surprised to meet them at the turn of a street but it also make us want to stay on their side. Lilah is a wonderful woman, she grew facing difficulties but she didn't gave up and despite being from a family on the verge of the law ( to say the least) she became a good citizen. The fact people judged her because of her family sounded very unfair and made her even more admirable for staying true to her beliefs. She was hurt by Harlan while she also understand his reasons and because of that she was willing to let him free.

Harlan has big goals, he want to become sheriff to clean the area from crime.....more importantly he want to become a good man and not repeat the errors of his father however to do so he gets too easily influenced by public opinion so when his superior told him that a relation with Lilah would look bad on him and diminish his chance to be elected he just stop seeing her without explanation....on that side i  didn't like him. He is intelligent as we can see during his investigation but he also lacks courage for what is more important. I did appreciate to see him think about the past and what he really want and what he is willing to give up for that.

the investigation(s) led to some discoveries which added to my pleasure as i don't like guessing everything from the start and with several investigations it wasn't the case.

it's really a good romance suspense that i recommend with pleasure

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Bayou Wolf ( Bayou Magic 3) by Debbie Herbert

Hello to all!!

 A new year, a new start and to be honest also a lot of new fears...as you already know 2016 was desastrous for me so i hope 2017 will be better even if so far it just added more Hardships ( you didn't know it but you are reading a zombie ^^;;).
I decided not to worry and see as real year beginning Chineese new year that way  i can hope a little longer^^.


However, i did read and i should have posted this review a lot earlier ( but then zombie remember that mess with dates, calendars etc).....this is the third book in a series and as you know me i do prefer to read in order so of course i have read book 1 but you will get that review later only. So we start 2017 with Bayou Wolf from Debbie Herbert


Enjoy!!!

Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne

Publication: 2017

ISBN:  9780373139798

Genre: paranormal romance, magic
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy
 

 Description from goodreads :

 The taming of the shrew…

Tallulah Silver is tough. She has to be—because she's the Choctaw tribe's only female shadow hunter, and because she doesn't know how else to survive the loss that almost destroyed her. Payton Rodgers has devoted his life to protecting his pack. But when mauled bodies start to pile up in the bayou, Payton begins to wonder if Tallulah might be right about werewolves deserving the blame. As darkness gathers around them, Tallulah will have to decide if she can risk opening herself up to love again. And Payton will have to determine where his true loyalties lie.

My opinion:

          After reading and loving book 1 i couldn't wait to have more of the series as it has romance, action and the bayou setting so when i discovered that this one has werewolves too couldn't resist any longer. i don't regret it even if Tallulah was my least favourite character...i mean she suffered a lot i get it but it made her so bitter and so cold that it was hard to warm to her even if she got better.

Now, discovering who her mate is we understand a bit more  i think^^.

Tallulah is still hurt from the past events but she doesn't stop trying to do her hunter job as best as she can if no better. During one of her nightly hunts ,she encounters a wolf with unnatural behaviour but manage to make it leave. Since wolves are not native from the area it makes her suspicious. However no matter the nightly events, during the day she is still  the stubborn woman she is and discovering that a crew is cutting wood on the tribe land puts her in combative mode so she doesn't hesitate to confront the workers among whom Payton  reacts to her.

Payton is loyal; perhaps even too much he had a difficult upbringing and because of that he feels in debt to his pack..his job doesn't make him happy but it's good for the pack so he does it. All is about the pack until he comes across Tallulah who fast become Lulu for him. He is intrigued, wants to discover more about her - is ordered to by his alpha ( and worse)- but there is more. He doesn't want to do it for his pack but wants to protect her even more after finding her hurt. So suddenly he is stuck between two universe not sure what his place should be. I loved how honest he was with her ( i did want to shake him a few time as well so it was good that " Lulu" didn't keep her tong in check.)

The story was well written even without reading book 2 nothing seeming off, we got the info needed so this works well as standalone ( even if i recommend to read the others). the investigation was well done with the touch of romance and action well balanced.

I was really happy with this book, read in one sitting. the pace was constant, i saw Annie like i wanted so i definitively recommend this if you want a romance with paranormal elements set in the bayou.