RS Review: Don't Say a Word [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Don't Say A Word" by Beverly Barton.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Zebra (July 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420110373
ISBN-13: 978-1420110371

My Review:

This book is the sequel to "Don't Cry" which is J.D. and Audrey's book.   This book had references to the case/murder in "Don't Cry" and the main characters in that one.

J.D. asked his friend and fellow Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Will Bannock to pick up his younger sister Chattanooga Police Detective Julia Cass from the airport.  What she didn't expect was to pick up her first case and to work with Will while on the way to J.D's house.  Both her and Will are in search of tracking down a serial killer who cuts out his victim's tongues, then hangs them and then leaves their tongue and a stack of 31 dimes on a scale under their dangling feet.  The killer is nicknamed "The Tongue Slasher".

Julia finds herself attracted to Will but doesn't want to be because three years prior she saw her partner and soon to be lover shot and then died in her arms.  Besides she thinks Will is a womanizer since she saw him talking and flirting with many flight attendants and actually making out/all over each other with one out in public. 

Will finds himself attracted to Julia but doesn't want to be because she's J.D's younger sister and he thinks she is a no-nonsense women.

The first victim is Federal Judge Lucien Lockhart who is corrupt and loves to double deal.  Next is shock radio commentator Roc VanVeter.  The killer likes to sit in his own cave and lovingly tapes a bit of his victim's tongue under their pictures in a scrapbook he made.

As Julia and Will investigate further they realize the killer has a hit list of all his victims.  They were connected somehow to an old case which the Lucien was involved.

I enjoyed the romance in this book  more than than the actual case (I was kind of surprised when the killer was revealed).  Beverly died writing the book and it was finished by a family friend.

4/5

RS Review: Cold Hearted [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Cold Hearted" by Beverly Barton.

Product Description

They all loved her. That was their mistake. Two husbands, her college fiance, an influential boss -- every man who gets close to Jordan Price is made to pay in blood. And the list is growing. The more investigator Rick Carson delves into the string of deaths from which Jordan has profited handsomely, the more convinced he becomes that he is dealing with a cunning, Cold Hearted, unstoppable killer.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Beverly Barton wrote over fifty contemporary romance novels and created the popular Protectors series. She was a two-time Maggie Award winner, a two-time National Reader's Choice Award winner, and a recipient of the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Adventure.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Zebra (September 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420100491
ISBN-13: 978-1420100495

My Review:

Jordan Price was married to Senator Dan Price when he committed suicide - but is it?  His family doesn't believe it was suicide but murder and Jordan wants to get to the truth so she hires Powell Agency.

Rick Carson is an investigator for Powell Agency and is assigned the Dan Price's case.  At the very start he is conflicted because they always look at the spouse first (he's attracted to her) but he doesn't want her to be.  He believes Jordan is the Black Widow when he uncovers two things about her:

1.  Her fiance Robby Joe Wright died in a car accident
2.  Her first husband Boyd died in a hunting accident

As he gets to know the Price family he learns a secret they want to keep hidden forever from the public eye.  Then Jordan is targeted but she doesn't want to believe someone close to her is after her.

I thought it was really funny how Rick would act so cold at first with Jordan then the next he would be very protective of her.

This book had a perfect balance of suspense and romance with some red herrings thrown.  We also hear the killer's thoughts which proves they are delusional.  The plot and pacing are well paced and it was so much fun trying to figure out who the killer was.

4/5

Other Books in Series:

1.  Killing Her Softly
2.  Close Enough to Kill
3.  The Dying Game
4.  The Murder Game
5.  Silent Killer
6.  Dead by Midnight
7.  Dead by Morning
8.  Dead by Nightfall

Dead By Morning [Paperback]

I've finished "Dead by Morning" by Beverly Barton.

Product Description

The darkest sins . . .

He begins his work just before dawn, wielding a knife with the precision of a surgeon. Cunning and meticulous, he's always in control. Mercy is not an option.

Will always . . .

Maleah Perdue is tough, outspoken, and completely dedicated to her work at the Powell Security Agency. But her fearless exterior shatters when a madman begins killing her colleagues one by one, mimicking a notorious serial killer already behind bars. Working alongside top profiler Derek Lawrence, Maleah will do anything to find the murderer, even if it means playing a psychopath's twisted mind games.

Come to light.

No one connected to the agency is safe. No one is beyond suspicion. For as Maleah and Derek piece together the clues, they uncover a chilling legacy of lies and brutal vengeance -- and a killer who has been hiding in plain sight all along.

Product Details
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Zebra; 1 edition (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420110357
ISBN-13: 978-1420110357

My Review:

Storyline: Powell agents and their families are being killed by brutal means and found in pools of water with triangles cut out of their arms and legs. The killer is known as the Copycat Carver because of the similarities  killing methods to the original Carver Jerome Browning the serial killer locked up for life in a Georgia State prison.  The Copycat Carver had Maleah in his sights and knows exactly how to lure her into his sick game.

Characters:  Maleah Perdue is one of Powell Private and Security and Investigative Agency's most skilled and dedicated agents.  She is also Nicole Powell's best friends and is a smart, strong and independent woman.  She has survived a horrible and abusive childhood touched by tragedy.  She has peaches and cream complexion and sun-streaked blond hair.

Derek Lawrence is a top-notch profiler and consultant for Powell Private and Security and Investigative Agency who is a former FBI profiler.  He comes from a very wealthy family but has shunned the life of a trust fund millionaire. 

Romance:  Derek has been fascinated by Maleah ever since their first meeting but Maleah hasn't trusted the tall dark and handsome womanizer.  I really loved the antagonism between Maleah and Derek because it was so much fun to read and how she reasons with herself why she shouldn't be so attracted to Derek.  Loved how they got to know more about the both of them and they realized they actually like and respect each other.  They are honest with each other about everything.

Killer(s):  The mastermind has hired an assassin to do his killings and Griff is the ultimate prize.  He knows this will hurt Griff to the core which has caused some problems with his wife Nicole.  He also has forced someone to start killing people associated to Yvette's charges and Powell agents.

5/5

Dead By Midnight (Paperback)

I've finished "Dead By Midnight" by Beverly Barton.

Product Description

In Murder. . .

The last sounds Dean Wilson hears are a clock striking twelve and a killer's taunting words. And his death is just the first. One by one, victims are stalked and shot at close range. Only the killer knows their sins, and who will be the next to die at midnight. . .

And In Life. . .

In the ten years since her Hollywood career imploded, Lorie Hammonds has built a good life in her Alabama hometown. When the first death threat arrives, she assumes it's a joke. Then she gets a second note. Sheriff Mike Birkett, her high-school sweetheart, has avoided Lorie since she returned to Dunmore, but when investigators uncover her connection to a string of recent murders, he's drawn into a case that's terrifyingly personal.

Timing Is Everything

With every murder, the killer edges closer. Soon Lorie's will be the last name left on his list. Her only hope is to unearth a deadly secret -- before the clock runs out for good...

My Review:

Storyline: There were four storylines the first has to do with finding out who were murdering all the main actors and actors starring and co-starring in the movie "Midnight Masquerade and why? The second was who was obsessed with Lorie? The third was the love story between Mike and Lorie which I thought was great!!! The fourth is who is killing Powell agents and why?

Characters: All the characters were well written and you got to know them and care for them. I totally feel for Lorie about her past coming back to bite her in the butt! I can also side with Mike but I thought it was harsh for him to call her a whore (I won't reveal why, you will just have to read the book yourself, LOL!) and ignore her and tell her not to talk and stay away from his kids!  It's quite obvious he still loves her and everyone could tell and would tease him (since he's a jealous and possessive man)!

Romance: I enjoyed the romance between Mike and Lorie because I enjoy books where the main characters are former lovers who find their way back to each other and they both are tortured and really still love each other. Glad to see they are together at the end and finally saying "I Love You"!!!

Killer(s): The main killer was just sick and psychotic and I'm glad he got what was coming to him.  I can see why he would sick and twisted!  The other one who was obsessed with Lorie was sick and perverted and would watch her day and night!  Glad that Lorie was the one who gave him what he rightfully deserved!

I will be writing more of my review later on tonight, so please check back, thanks!

5/5

Silent Killer (Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Silent Killer" by Beverly Barton.

Product Description

In A Town Full Of Secrets

To most people, men like Mark Cantrell are fine, upstanding pillars of the community, completely beyond reproach. But their killer knows better. They are sinners of the worst kind, and they must burn on earth before they burn in hell. . .

Trusting The Wrong Person

Eighteen months after her husband's unsolved murder, Cathy Cantrell has returned to her Alabama home, eager to build a new life for herself and her son. But pieces of her past are everywhere - including Jackson Perdue, the town's deputy sheriff. The spate of recent deaths-each victim burned in the same horrifying manner-leave Jack and Cathy in no doubt that a serial killer is at work, one whose rage grows more vicious each day. . .

Can Be Fatal. . .

Now as a twisted killer moves in for a final, brutal act of vengeance, buried crimes are coming to light once more. And this time, justice will be swift, merciless, and as silent as the grave. . .

My Review:

Storyline: I thought it was a pretty good storyline! The main killer you didn't know until near the end and why they thought he/she should be the one to kill certain characters.

Characters: Most of the characters were well written especially Jackson, Cathy, Sean, etc.

Romance:  I really liked the romance between Jackson & Cathy and it was done well.as he struggles with his heart saying she is innocent, but his upper head and the townsfolk think otherwise.   I enjoy books where the characters are previous lovers and re-connect in the future!  I also enjoyed the Mike & Lori's story along with Maleah & Derek's.

Killer: The killer didn't really know who it was at first there are many suspects and why they were killing certain victims. 

4/5

A Time To Die (Center Point Platinum Romance (Large Print)) [LARGE PRINT] (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "A Time to Die" a book in her Protectors series by Beverly Barton.

Product Description

Ten years ago, Black Ops commando Deke Bronson's bullet left up-and-coming journalist Lexie Murrough paralyzed.

It's taken years of painful physical therapy to bring Lexie back from the brink. And Deke is just grateful that she has no memory of his part in the incident that left her injured and him emotionally scarred. He's tried to put the past behind him, leaving the military and joining the Dundee Agency, but he's never been able to forgive himself.…

When Lexie, now head of an international charity organization, begins receiving terrifying threats from the son of the dictator killed during that long-ago operation, it's Deke who's assigned to keep her safe from harm.

Maybe it's fate's way of giving him another chance, but falling for Lexie isn't supposed to be part of the deal. And what if she finally discovers the truth?