Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb

*      *      *      *      *

Vengeance in Death – a suspense novel created by the brilliant mind of J.D. Robb surrounded with futuristic thriller splashed in a steamy romance between our two most beloved fiction characters – Eve and Roarke. As the title implies, the story is about revenge of a man they call Avenging Angel. He is a techno-savvy madman with the mind of a genius and the heart of a killer. He quietly stalks his prey. Then he haunts the police with cryptic riddles about the crimes he is about to commit – always solved moments too late to save the victims’ lives. Lieutenant Eve Dallas found the first victim butchered in his own home. The second lost his life in a vacant luxury apartment. The two men had little in common. Both suffered unspeakable torture before their deaths. And both had ties to an ugly secret of ten years past – a secret shared by none other than Eve’s husband, Roarke.



What makes this novel rise above the previous novels in the series is the new formula J.D. Robb injected into the story. It used to be the villain being introduced at the early part of the story imposing as a good character. This time the villain’s identity though mentioned in trivial parts throughout the story was never revealed at all as it remained a puzzle until toward the end chapters. Because of this carefully planned puzzle I was engrossed, determined to solve exactly how the story ends. I have learn the compassionate side of Eve – a cop who does not bend the law finds herself breaking the law for the love of her marriage – her love for Roarke. As much as I wanted to believe that the novel itself is a suspense story in its entirety I have to admit that Robb’s formula of love between Eve and Roarke is superior in the plot making it more appealing, irresistible, a page turner – a master piece.


A master piece = (Suspense (religion + revenge)) + (Romance ((Eve + Roarke)/love))


In this novel I have become more acquainted to Roarke’s past back in Ireland, an important part in the series I never had the opportunity to explore in the previous novels. Not to be too specific but I wanted to mention the emphasis on the famous phrase of “An eye for an eye” revenge might have been an old trick but somehow Robb managed to provide fresh and believable story as if it had never been told. It was the murder style that piques my curiosity having religion as an instrument for killing and in a young mind a dangerous mind molded into taking revenge. In Robb’s own way I am able to arrive to an ending with satisfaction and a sigh of relief – finally justice has been served –a life for a life.

+        +        +

I had been following Christine’s In Death Challenge this past few weeks and to tell you the truth it had been a great journey exploring the series from the very beginning both a pleasure and a learning experience for me. I have learned that J.D. Robb also known as Norah Roberts is not only superior in delivering a story full of love, suspenseful murders, steamy romance, promising futuristic police investigations but also an author with the power of word(s) breathing through the reader’s mind. It is Robb’s superior choice of words that makes the impossible believable allowing the readers to live the world of fiction – even temporarily.


Vengeance in Death is by far the best novel in the series and a favorite of mine. Thank you J.D. Robb.

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

*      *      *      *      *

The story is about Susannah and Ryan. Susannah married to a football superstar Ryan Sanderson has finally decided to give up on Ryan and move on as she is sick of playing second fiddle to his team, watching women throwing themselves at him, and living in terror of the hard hits he took on the field. With their divorce just days from being final, she’s already planning a wedding with her new fiancé. On the other hand Ryan has finally figured out what’s really important to him. He has just ten days to convince his soon-to-be ex-wife to give him a second chance. He has just brought home his third championship and his career is at its pinnacle, but during the year of their separation, Ryan’s come to realize it doesn’t mean anything at all without Susannah.

Upon reading the synopsis and finding out the five stars it gathered from Amazon I was a bit hesitant to read this novel because I thought the story is focused in sports and that the romance between Susannah and Ryan would gear toward Ryan playing football. I was wrong because the story is more than just sports – the story is about Ryan taking his chances of winning back the love of his life. Both main characters in the story are fully developed enough to get to know them and feel the whirlwind of passion, enough to feel the need to read more and more of their struggles and heartaches, worthy enough to finish the novel while absorbing a happy ending story.

Marie Force is a first for me and her work created a remarkable impression an author I will surely follow and seek for more of her previous novels as well as in the future to come.

Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins

*      *      *      *      *

JUST ONE OF THE GUYS is a contemporary romance about love, the value of family and friends, and passion for pets. Chastity O’Neill – a journalist returns to her hometown and determines to find the love of her life but was torn choosing between her first love Trevor Meade who see Chastity as anything more than just one of the guys and her current boyfriend Dr. Perfect, the better Trevor looks. The story is told in first POV.


Let me just say this out loud before I begin talking about this wonderful piece of writing – I am in loved with this novel, a first for me on this author. There are so many magnets glued all over the pages they pull me right into the mind and heart of each character.


What I like about:


The opening is so captivating I want more. More of the “I THINK WE SHOULD STOP SEEING each other” devastating yet sympathetic in your face kind of line. It arouses my curiosity as what could happen next while caught off guard and unprepared. Chastity’s reactions are so believable, filled with pity and at the same time loads of humor. From the beginning ‘till end the writing is humble yet laughable - more showing than telling I wanted to give Higgins a hug. One that prints to mind is how vivid Higgins painted Chastity’s fear for blood– that moment by moment detail on how she panics with just the idea of the “bl-red stuff” line she utters so quickly I burst into laughter I had to pause for a second. Then there’s the description of Trevor’s black eyes – compared to a molten chocolate I quickly remember how I take pleasure in that molten chocolate cake I once had – so tasty so yummy mouth watering flavor.


But as hilarious as it may sound I discover more to the story than just having fun with Chastity. There is so much love in the air very refreshing dialogues – first love that seems to be unreciprocated, a love is not enough relationship between couple, friendship old and new, relationship with the family, then there is also the love for an ugly looking yet lovable big ear dog. Out of the blue, tears start trickling down – now there is the DRAMA. I love drama – I am a drama queen (I think). I cry for Mike – Chastity’s father feeling devastated. It breaks my heart hearing Chastity and Trevor fight – yes I read but at the same time I can hear the miserable words. Then there’s the tears when the engagement was broken up (you’ll have to read which engagement that is for) and another tears when Mike apologizes to Betty (his ex-wife, Chastity’s mother). It wasn’t enough, I had to cry for the last time (whew) witnessing the “I can’t live without you another minute” part at the end. Yes, yes there is a happy ending after all.


Here’s one thing that makes this novel a gem – it breaks my heart into pieces then like a puzzle it puts me back into one whole piece of heart.


So anything else I should know about Higgins before I dive in to THE NEXT BEST THING and get all lovey-dovey once again? Should I get more tissues for the next batch of tears?

Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb

*      *      *      *       *      

Ceremony in Death is a mystery novel about Lieutenant Eve Dallas working on a top-secret investigation on a death of a fellow police officer that had compromised her personal loyalties. The death is followed by several murders linking to cults and old religious practices, which confront Eve’s own beliefs of right and wrong.

I have to admit the emotional upheaval I went through while reading this novel - that in a good way though. Mostly because I am convinced of the awful evil-like-act of sex and slaughtering of human lives injected into the main plot. The scenes are vividly gruesome – full of blood and dark forces (boo!) to experience few wakeful nights contemplating what comes next. However I do not believe this as a distraction nor an obstacle in reading the novel. Furthermore, I do not believe it was black magic or witchcraft the ultimate reasons for such terrifying moments, but rather the writings of J.D. Robb continuously prove powerful as ever in creating believable suspense and overpowering sexy scenes through the magic of her words. With that being said it becomes obvious to me that this novel is a mystery first and the romance is only a secondary part of the story. The intensified romance between Eve and Roarke is as always appetizing and fulfilling with the added colorful twists shared by other characters - but the main goal is for Eve to face death and find justice. So with all honesty if you have the stomach to stand before the dead - then this novel is rightfully yours to explore.

I have read the first four books in the series (from the very beginning) and I now believe the beauty of taking it all in gradually with light paces in between – savoring moments by moments without any pressure of finishing the book at once is an ultimate satisfaction I have acquired. Of course one cannot help if the novel is hard to put down the only choice left is to finish the novel in a very short time, which occurred to me previously.

Despite other great books I have recently read I remain a new and faithful follower of J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts) and will surely continue on exploring the next book in the series: Vengeance in Death.  I also recommend checking out Christine’s previous review of Ceremony in Death – which I am sure my friend will get you hooked into reading this novel if you have not yet indulge your precious time with Robb.

SO what are you waiting for? 

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James and Something About You Entry

Summary


Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face-to-face, they’re perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they have kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as coworkers for one reason only: to make partner at the firm. But all bets are off when they’re asked to join forces on a major case. Though apprehensive at first, they begin to appreciate each other’s dedication to the law – and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it’s an all-out war. And the battle of the sexes is bound to make these lawyers hot under the collar…

Follow up

This is a first for me with Julie James’ novels and I must say I was never disappointed from start to finish because of several reasons. The author stayed to its original plot all way through the story throwing fresh ideas while keeping ambition to make partner at the firm between the two main lawyers as the main focus of the story– Payton and J.D. goes through interesting yet entertaining battles just to prove who is best amongst each other. In truth opposites attracts each other where they come from opposite backgrounds – they are like cats and dogs fighting for years of law practices. The story reminds me of the movie “Laws of Attraction” played by Pierce Brosnan and Juianne Moore only this novel has better appeal and humor written all over it. There are many flirty dialogues they share with each other that add vital spices to the already heating romance between them; I keep on thinking what would happen to the relationship they unintentionally built for eight years after the partnership news is revealed. And I - being a fan of topic about lawyers makes it even more exciting as I never thought I would finish a novel in one night and still manages to get few hours of sleep. This novel is an easy read - a first for me and will never be the last as I am heading back to the store to get her debut romance novel.

*        *        *

 

Julie James' Something About You is soon to be released which I look forward for in just few weeks. Here's an excerpt from the site:
 
FATE HAS THROWN TWO SWORN ENEMIES. . .



Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends in bloodshed. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and nearly ruining his career…


 . . .INTO EACH OTHER’S ARMS


Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it’s no joke: the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension…

I have acquired a brain fart syndrome

I am now a believer of people hitting a bulls eye while they blurt out the words of "brain fart here they come" or what my friend would call - a brain 'tot. I'm stuck on the first page of Julie James' Practice Makes Perfect just right after I abandoned Meg Cabot's Size 14 Is Not Fat Either. I happen to be on page 101 of Ceremony in Death when I realized I am due with the library on few of these novels in front including Elizabeth Noble's The Girl Next Door. In between sentences I kept fidgeting on what seems like eternity - I haven't even started a single word on my writing assignment for this week! That stupid window topic is messing my head as I trudge toward the computer. I know these are all winter gas in life and would soon pass. Soon.

Or anytime now...