RS Review: The Secret Brokers [Paperback]

I've finished "The Secret Brokers" the 1st book in her new Dallas August series by Alexandrea Weis.

Product Description

Head of an organization of elite spies, Dallas August is asked to uncover what secrets a reclusive woman, Gwen Marsh, is hiding about a mafia kingpin?s death. Dallas must pose as a bodyguard in order to get close to Gwen, but the stubborn woman wants nothing to do with her cool and contentious protector. Dallas soon learns that others are interested in Gwen when he stumbles upon the FBI monitoring her every move. Intrigued by the challenge of her analytical mind and aloof demeanor, Dallas has found his equal in Gwen. But with the FBI and the Mafia vying for the woman?s information, he can't afford to lose his objectivity. The sexual tension grows between them until Gwen finally lowers her defenses and confides in Dallas. His job done, Dallas returns to his organization in New York. But an unexpected turn of events leads Dallas back to Gwen's doorstep, where he discovers the Gwen Marsh he thought he was protecting, wasn't Gwen Marsh at all. Determined to find out who betrayed him, Dallas must put his life on the line to search for answers about a woman he thought he knew. Dallas August is about to find out how dangerous life can be as one of The Secret Brokers.

Product Details
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: World Castle Publishing (May 16, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938243609
ISBN-13: 978-1938243608

My Review:

Dallas August is the head of an elite spy organization which he took over from Simon La Roy who was killed in the previous book "Sacrifice".  He is recovering from a broken heart in New York after losing Nicci Beauvoir when he is asked by an associate to bodyguard a friend's daughter from a rival kingpin.  When he meets Gwen Marsh he's suspicious she's not who she is suppose to be after hearing information about her personality, habits and skills.  They start an unfriendly relationship but Dallas motto is to finish his job and protect Gwen from a kingpin.  He realizes she is keeping secrets and he is determined to figure out what it is. Even as she pushes him away he knows he has met his match.  As the days go by, Dallas finally breaks down her defenses and she succumbs to his charms and confides in him.

Once his job is done he returns to New York but he decides to visit Gwen one more time.  When he gets there the next day he finds out the Gwen he knew is an imposter and she traded spots with the real Gwen.  He is angry and feels betrayed so he is determined to find out who the women he knew as Gwen.  A contact in the FBI asks him to get involved in a sting for them but does he get in too deep - will he come out alive?

Alexandrea has written another thrilling and action packed romantic suspense full of intrigue, betrayal and sexual tension.  Dallas is my favorite character and I'm glad he finally found a women (she has her own set of deadly skills) who is a match for him.

4/5

Thanks Alexandrea for sending me your book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: To My Senses [Paperback]

I've finished "To My Senses" the 1st book in her Nicci Beauvoir series by Alexandrea Weis.

Product Description

Amid the prying eyes of spicy New Orleans society, one woman must choose between embracing her passion or heeding practicality in this finely - tuned Southern love story. Haunting and heartfelt, this debut novel is steeped in wit, charm and sizzling moments of desire. To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis shares one woman's journey through love, betrayal and the ultimate tragedy that eventually leads her to discover her true purpose in life.

About the Author

Alexandrea Weis has worked as a nurse for nearly two decades. She has previously published in nursing textbooks and journals but this is her first book of fiction. She lives outside of New Orleans with her husband and a menagerie of pets.

Product Details
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (June 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1419661116
ISBN-13: 978-1419661112

My Review:

Nicci Beauvoir has grown up in the glitzy world of being a debutante and doesn't really like it.  She wants to be a nurse and is enjoying completing her courses.  Her dad wants her to take over the family's scrape metal business but she's not interested.

One evening during a lawn party she meets an interesting individual David Alexander and struggling artist under the influence of his benefactor Sammy.  He swepts her off her feet by taking her fishing, having coffee at a coffee shop and then proceeds to show her he's a great lover.  While she is sleeping he paints her image on his canvas board.

Also during this time Sammy is out to get control of Nicci's father's business and David is somehow involved in this scheme.  Nicci finds out and is devastated by the betrayal.  She turns to Dr. Michael Fagles a man who only wants to find a wife he can control.  She allows him to direct her and her passion for life is gone ever since David's betrayal.

Will Nicci ever be passionate about life again or even forgive David - you will have to read to find out!

This is a beautifully written book with intrigue around every corner, betrayals, romance in the world of lavish backgrounds.

4/5

Thanks Alexandrea for sending your book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: Sacrifice [Paperback]

I've finished "Sacrifice" the 3rd book in her Nicci Beauvoir trilogy series by Alexandrea Weis.

Product Description

Nicci Beauvoir fell in love with the artist, David Alexander, in To My Senses, and then uncovered his killer in Recovery. Nicci is back to finally confront David's dark past in Sacrifice. Stunned after seeing a man she believes to be her beloved David Alexander in a crowd outside of the St. Louis Cathedral, Nicci goes on a desperate hunt for the truth about David's demise. But to get the information she desires, Nicci must team up with David's former boss, the ruthless Simon La Roy. Nicci decides not to tell her fiancé, Dallas August, about her involvement with Simon. As Nicci becomes hopelessly entangled in Simon's sinister plans, Dallas discovers her secret, and tries to protect her. But one night on a deserted French Quarter street, Nicci unexpectedly learns what really happened to David Alexander. Now she must engage in a deadly game of intrigue to keep what she has unearthed from Simon La Roy. In a final confrontation, a revengeful Simon forces Nicci to choose between her life and revealing all that she has discovered. But what mystery is Nicci protecting and is it worth her future happiness? For Nicci there can be no happy ending unless she keeps what she knows about David Alexander hidden from the world. It's a decision that will cost her everything. Is Nicci willing to pay the price? In the end, there can never be a happily ever after without a little ... sacrifice.

Product Details
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: World Castle Publishing (November 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937593169
ISBN-13: 978-1937593162

My Review:

Nicci believes she sees a man that looks just like her beloved David Alexander outside of the St. Louis Cathedral.  She decides to go on a hunt for the truth behind David's murder.  She teams up with Simon La Roy David's old boss to get the information she needs.  She doesn't tell Dallas August her fiance about working with Simon.  The more she gets involved in Simon's deadly game Dallas discovers her secret and is determined to protect/save her.  In an emotional climax revengeful Simon forces Nicci to choose between her life and all she has learned.

Wow this book is very intense and emotionally captivating.  Nicci isn't a damsel in distress she's the one actually taking on the danger head on.  I didn't like how she was leading Dallas on and I thought she was quite angry in this book.

Very fast paced with an intriguing storyline and very flesh out characters.

4/5

Thanks Alexandrea for sending me your book to review, greatly appreciated!

Recovery [Paperback]

I've finished "Recovery" the 2nd book in her Nicci Beauvoir series by Alexandrea Weis.

Product Description

Recovery by Alexandrea Weis is the second novel in the wildly sexy series featuring the enigmatic Nicci Beauvoir. A thrilling read, this character-driven book boasts a whodunit mystery, sultry seductions, and an unforgettable cliffhanging twist. Once a darling of New Orleans society, Nicci pens a novel about her departed love, the artist David Alexander. While promoting her book in the Big Apple, she’s approached by David’s former boss, Simon La Roy, who has a theory about David’s death that devastates Nicci. She learns David’s murder may be linked to someone from her past. Enter Dallas August, an elite member of Simon’s organization of corporate spies prized for his ruthless ability to get the job done. Playing the part of Nicci’s lover, Dallas returns to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans with her to flush out the killer. But everything is not what is seems in the Big Easy, and soon the couple finds themselves trapped in a psychotic’s twisted game of revenge. As the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous.

On the run for their lives, Dallas and Nicci must confront their tormentor before it is too late. It’s a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything, but it is her only chance for finally revealing the identity of the murderer. Just as the truth behind David’s death is discovered, another more compelling mystery is unearthed.

It’s an unexpected turn of events that rocks Nicci’s world.

About the Author

Alexandrea Weis’s popular first novel, To My Senses, received rave reviews and garnered awards for both commercial fiction and romance writing. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, when Weis isn’t writing novels, she’s rescuing orphaned and injured wildlife. She, her husband, and a menagerie of pets live in New Orleans. 

My Review:

Nicci has just written a book about her murdered lover David Alexander and artist who painted portraits of her.  The murder was never solved and the people(s) involved were never found.

We open the book at a booksigning in New York City where a sleazy and creepy character by the name of Simon Le Roy introduces himself to Nicci and they both know a mutual acquaintance, David.

He reveals that he is the one who taught David everything he knew about wine, clothes and women when he was working for him.  She has written about all this in her book, Painting Jenny.  She is Jenny.  He also mentions that he introduced David to people who needed their problems solved.  Nicci didn't know that David used to work for Simon or much about his past so this information startles her.

She also learns from him that David was killed because of her not because of his work or his past.  She also learns that he was the specialist in getting secrets from any women by seducing them.  We learn he admitted to Nicci in the past that he was ordered to seduce her to collect information to destroy her family business.

He also reveals that he has been investigating David's murder for two years wants to find the person(s) involved because he lost one of his best man and it's hurting his business.  He asks Nicci to work with Dallas August one of his special elite members who has a reputation of getting jobs done.  They are to pretend to be lovers and return to New Orleans to flush out the culprits.

Nicci discovers Dallas is an elusive and cold person who has many secrets and hidden feelings bottled inside.  Their relationship was quite rocky and tumultuous at the beginning but built to a loving and caring relationship at the end.

I highly recommend this book if you like a good mystery with just a right amount of suspense and romance.  It had some very quirky secondary characters like Nicci's Aunt Hattie, Uncle Lance and cousin Colleen.

I really loved reading how Dallas would rile up a love-struck admirer and a former lover.  Those parts were so hilarious!

4/5

Thanks Pump Up Your Books and Alexandrea for letting me join this tour with a review, greatly appreciated!