RS Review: Friction (Hard Cover)

I've finished "Friction" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes a gripping story of family ties and forbidden attraction.

Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him relegated to desk work and with his five-year-old daughter Georgia in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly, ambitious and confident, temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high-stakes. Despite Crawford's obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. Her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the custody hearing. Crawford reacts instinctively, saving Holly from a bullet.

But his heroism soon takes on the taint of recklessness. The cloud over him grows even darker after he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman and realizes that the unknown person behind the shooting remains at large and a threat.

Catching the real culprit becomes a personal fight for Crawford. But pursuing the killer in his customary die hard fashion will jeopardize his chances of gaining custody of his daughter, and further compromise Judge Holly Spencer, who needs protection not only from an assassin, but from Crawford himself and the forbidden attraction between them.

FRICTION will keep you on the edge of your seat with breathtaking plot twists and the unforgettable characters that make Sandra Brown one of the world's best-loved authors. It is an extraordinary novel about the powerful ties that bind us to the ones we love and the secrets we keep to protect them.

About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of over sixty-seven New York Times bestsellers. There are over eighty million copies of her books in print worldwide, and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. She lives in Texas. For more information you can visit www.SandraBrown.net.

Product Details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition edition (August 18, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 145558116X
ISBN-13: 978-1455581160

My Review:

Storyline:  After the death of his wife four years ago Crawford Hunt's life went downhill and he was demoted to desk work and lost custody of his five year old daughter Georgia to her grandparents.  He has finally cleaned up his act, finished all the required court acts and now his family's fate lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly is wary of Crawford's past even though she can tell how much he loves his little girl and his total commitment to be the perfect parent.  Her opinion changes when a masked gunman enters the room and shoots her deputy sheriff and Crawford saves her.

Characters:  Holly is a strong person and doesn't really show her emotions until Crawford bullies her one night and she finally breaks down.  She is determined to prove herself as the right candidate for the judge's position permanently.

Romance:  I didn't think Crawford and Holly really got to know each other that well except for up close and personal.  You could feel the heat and attraction between them and it was hilarious when Crawford would tell Holly he wanted to get into her pants every time they were alone and she would defend herself against him.

Villain:  The villain was very bold and arrogant!

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: Mean Streak (Hardcover)

 I've finished "Mean Streak" by Sandra Brown.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown comes a heart-pounding story of survival, that takes the age-old question, "Does the end justify the means?" and turns it on its head.

Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law. Wrong becomes right at the hands of the man who strikes fear, but also sparks passion.

As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead - and from heartbreak.

Combining the nail-biting suspense and potent storytelling that has made Sandra Brown one of the world's best loved authors, MEAN STREAK is a wildly compelling novel about love, deceit, and the choices we must make in order to survive.

About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE (2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), RAINWATER (2010), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008) & PLAY DIRTY (2007).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program "PM Magazine."

She is much in demand as a speaker and guest television hostess. Her episode on truTV's "Murder by the Book" premiered the series in 2008 and she was one of the launch authors for Investigation Discovery's new series, "Hardcover Mysteries."

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer's Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Product Details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1st Printing edition (August 19, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455581127
ISBN-13: 978-1455581122

My Review:

Storyline:  Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina.    By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law. Wrong becomes right at the hands of the man who strikes fear, but also sparks passion.

As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead - and from heartbreak.

Characters:  Dr. Emory Charbonneau is a pediatrician, marathon runner, well liked and respected in the community and in her field.

The Stranger (we learn his name in the middle of the book):  He's caring, nurturing, kind, perplexing, frustrating, sexy and mysterious.

FBI Agent Jack Connell was quite persistent and relentless in finding his guy he has been searching for 4 years.

Romance:  I'm glad that the main characters didn't jump into bed right away even though there was an instant attraction between them. 

Villain(s):  One was a jerk and lying cheater while the other was very deceitful and two-faced.

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: Low Pressure [Hardcover]

I've finished "Low Pressure" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

Bellamy Lyston was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day.

Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day's most devastating moments.

Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan's murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy's identity is exposed along with the family scandal.

Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.

In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan's wayward and reckless boyfriend -- and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy's sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections - once unlocked - pose dangers that neither could foresee and puts both their lives in peril.

As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear. Haunted by partial memories, conflicted over her feelings for Dent, but determined to learn the truth, she won't stop until she reveals Susan's killer.

That is, unless Susan's killer strikes her first ...

About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of sixty New York Times bestsellers, including TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), HELLO, DARKNESS (2003), THE CRUSH (2002), ENVY (2001), THE SWITCH (2000), THE ALIBI (1999), UNSPEAKABLE (1998) and FAT TUESDAY (1997), all of which have jumped onto the Times bestseller list in the number one to five spot. Brown now has over seventy million copies of her books in print worldwide, and her work has been translated into thirty-three languages.

Product Details
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 18, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455501557
ISBN-13: 978-1455501557

My Review:

Bellamy Lyston was twelve years old when her older sister Susan was murdered on stormy Memorial Day.   Bellamy is afraid of storms when a tornado destroyed the crime scene and she lost her memories of that day.

18 years later after the crime Bellamy now 30 has written a sensational book based on the real life murder of Susan.  She wrote under a pen name to protect her family from the pain and publicity.  But a reporter has digged up a scoop and has exposed Bellamy and her family to a scandal.

As a result, Bellamy has become a target of a stalker who either wants to make sure Susan's murder is never solved or as revenge for a man who was wrongly convicted and died.

Bellamy to unearth her stalker must confront her painful past and the man accused of the crime Dent Carter (her long time crush), Susan's bad boy boyfriend.  Dent is determined to clear his name and find out who the real killer is but needs Bellamy's sealed memories to do that.

As Bellamy investigates further she uncovers disturbing facts and information about her family which causes her to question their motives.  She is determined to figure out what really transpired that day even though she is still haunted by flashes of memory and her conflicted feelings for Dent.

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

ARC Review: Lethal [Hardcover]

I've finished "Lethal" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.

But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society

Product Details
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455501476
ISBN-13: 978-1455501472

My Review:

This was a really thrilling, exciting and fast paced mystery thriller with characters not who they are.

Storyline: Lee Coburn is accused of killing 7 people in a warehouse so he is on the run.  He ends up in the backyard of Honor Gillette.  Her four year old daughter Emily announces their is a sick man in our backyard.  Honor goes to check out the sick man while asking her daughter to get her phone from the bedroom.  As she nears the man he's so quick she doesn't have time to react before he's behind her with a arm around her neck and gun pointing right at her heart.

He says he's there to retrieve a package her husband is in possession of and he attempts to terrorize her.  He then proceeds to tear up the house but promises her he would not harm her or Emily if she does exactly what he says.  He hints that Eddie her husband's death wasn't an accident but murder and was killed for what he knows.  He also says the the item he is looking for is of great value and that Honor and Emily are in danger.

She eventually believes him and they are forced to go on the run when the police are called in.  They must find out what Eddie knew and what he had in his possession, who the killers are and the identity of "The Bookkeeper".

Characters: I loved how honor would do anything to keep her daughter Emily alive so she would endear the treatment that Lee forced her.  I also really loved how she believed her husband Eddie was clean and a good cop and wasn't on the sly.

Romance: There wasn't really a build up of romance but you can feel the tension and attraction between Honor and Lee.  Honor was exactly what Lee needed in his life.

Killer(s):  The killers were very deadly and really enjoyed the killings.  They took their order from "The Book Keeper" who is a mystery and never been identified.  This person who was the Book Keeper wasn't someone I expected it to be until I had some clues to make me suspicious of them.  They really got off on killing people they thought was in the way or to make a statement to employees. 

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Tough Customer: A Novel [Hardcover]

I've finished "Tough Customer" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn’t let rules get in his way — in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology.That’s why he’s the first person Caroline King —who after a thirty-year separation continues to haunt his dreams — asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter . . . the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline’s call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt.  Dodge’s mind may be a haze of disturbing memories and bad decisions, but he arrives in Houston knowing with perfect clarity that his daughter, Berry, is in danger. She has become the object of desire of a co-worker, a madman and genius with a penchant for puzzles and games who has spent the past year making Berry’s life hell, and who now has vowed to kill her.  Dodge joins forces with local deputy sheriff Ski Nyland, but the alarming situation goes from bad to worse when the stalker begins to claim other victims and leaves an ominous trail of clues as he lethally works his way toward Berry. Sensing the killer drawing nearer, Dodge, who’s survived vicious criminals and his own self-destructive impulses, realizes that this time he’s in for the fight of his life.

From acclaimed best-selling author Sandra Brown, Tough Customer is a heart-pounding tale about obsession and murder, the fragile nature of relationships, and, possibly, second chances.

About the Author

SANDRA BROWN is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers -- including most recently Smash Cut, Smoke Screen, Play Dirty, Ricochet, Chill Factor, White Hot, Hello, Darkness, The Crush, and Envy. She is the recipient of the 2008 Thriller Master Award from International Thriller Writers, Inc. She and her husband live in Arlington, Texas.
 
Product Details
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (August 10, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416563105
ISBN-13: 978-1416563105

My Review:

Storyline:  There is two storylines in this book one that deals with Dodge and Carolina (when they first met and to the present day) and who is after Berry their daughter and how to catch him.

Characters:  All of the main characters were well written and I really enjoyed the history between Carolina and Dodge.  I feel so sorry for Dodge because his boss when he was a beat cop made him do something that he didn't really want to do (which cost him Carolina).  His life went down hill from then on but he's lucky his friends have helped him get his life back together. 

Romance: I enjoyed the romance between Dodge and Carolina 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"!!!  It's a love/hate relationship!

Killer: The main killer was just sick and perverted and I'm glad he got what was coming to him.  He has no conscience or remorse for his killing (he does it for kicks and revenge)!  Some of the killings are quite graphic and what he does to them before!

4/5

Thanks Maylene from Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Rainwater [DECKLE EDGE] (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Rainwater" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

The year is 1934. With the country in the stranglehold of drought and economic depression, Ella Barron runs her Texas boardinghouse with an efficiency that ensures her life will be kept in balance. Between chores of cooking and cleaning for her residents, she cares for her ten-year-old son, Solly, a sweet but challenging child whose misunderstood behavior finds Ella on the receiving end of pity, derision, and suspicion.

When David Rainwater arrives at the house looking for lodging, he comes recommended by a trusted friend as "a man of impeccable character." But Ella senses that admitting Mr. Rainwater will bring about unsettling changes.

However, times are hard, and in order to make ends meet, Ella's house must remain one hundred percent occupied. So Mr. Rainwater moves into her house...and impacts her life in ways Ella could never have foreseen.

The changes are echoed by the turbulence beyond the house walls. Friends and neighbors who've thus far maintained a tenuous grip on their meager livelihoods now face foreclosure and financial ruin. In an effort to save their families from homelessness and hunger, farmers and cattlemen are forced to make choices that come with heartrending consequences.

The climate of desperation creates a fertile atmosphere for racial tensions and social unrest. Conrad Ellis -- privileged and spoiled and Ella's nemesis since childhood -- steps into this arena of teeming hostility to exact his vengeance and demonstrate the extent of his blind hatred and unlimited cruelty. He and his gang of hoodlums come to embody the rule of law, and no one in Gilead, Texas, is safe. Particularly Ella and Solly.

In this hotbed of uncertainty, Ella finds Mr. Rainwater a calming presence. She is moved by the kindness he shows other boarders, Solly...and Ella herself. Slowly, she begins to rely on his soft-spokenness, his restraint, and the steely resolve of his convictions.

And on the hottest, most violent night of the summer, those principles will be put to the ultimate test.

From acclaimed bestselling author Sandra Brown comes a powerfully moving novel celebrating the largess and foresight of a great bygone generation. It tells a story that bears witness to a bittersweet truth: that love is worth whatever price one must pay for it.

My Review:

I thought this one is Sandra's best book even though I have my favs by her.

The romance between David and Ella was sweet and there were two love scenes but they weren't graphic.  I thought they were perfect for each other and they definately both needed each other.

The events they go through is true during this time period and there is alot of prejudice.

5/5

Thanks Loretta from Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciate it!

Smash Cut: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Smash Cut" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

The latest thriller from "masterful storyteller" (USA Today) Sandra Brown

THE PRINCIPALS: Paul Wheeler: CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire, is shot dead during an armed robbery. Julie Rutledge: A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, was hand-inhand with Paul Wheeler at the time of his death. Derek Mitchell: A defense lawyer of renown, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client -- and headlines for himself. Creighton Wheeler: The prodigal nephew of Paul and a playboy with a passion for movies. Even those closest to Creighton can't be sure when he exits reality and enters the fantasy world of films.

STORYBOARD: The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. It's a case that could earn Derek Mitchell even greater star power. When the Wheeler family approaches him about defending Creighton for his uncle's murder -- even before he's charged -- he jumps at the chance.

Although Creighton has a rock-solid alibi, Julie is convinced that he is responsible for Paul's murder. Caught in several lies, and keeping secrets from Derek and the police, Julie is suspected of casting blame on Creighton to cover her own crime. Meanwhile, Derek fears he's being duped...yet he burns with jealousy when he thinks of Julie with her late lover. But the more Derek learns about Creighton, the more he doubts the young man's innocence. And hiding in a squalid motel under an assumed name is the one man, a career criminal, a killer, who knows the truth. The clock ticks down toward a shocking ending that can't be known until the final SMASH CUT.

Unabridged Compact Disk Includes a Bonus MP3 CD of Sandra Brown's The Switch!

About the Author

SANDRA BROWN is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers--including most recently Smash Cut, Smoke Screen, Play Dirty, Ricochet, Chill Factor, White Hot, Hello, Darkness, The Crush, and Envy. She is the recipient of the 2008 Thriller Master Award from International Thriller Writers, Inc. She and her husband live in Arlington, Texas.
 
My Review:
 
Storyline:  I thought it was a pretty good storyline!  The main killer is a movie fanatic and when he kills he re-inacts scenes from movies.
 
Characters:  Most of the characters were well written especially Derek, Julia & Creighton.
 
Romance:  I loved the romance between Derek & Julia.  They joined the mile high club!  He didn't trust her but still wanted her!
 
Killer(s):  Creighton the main killer was one sick uck! (ex:  there was a scene from the GodFather where a horse was found in a bed).  He re-inacted that scene but used another victim instead of the horse. 
 
5/5

Smoke Screen: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Smoke Screen: A Novel" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a tale of corruption and betrayal, revenge and reversal - where friends become foes, and heroes become criminals in the ultimate abuse of power.

When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.

Handsome and hard-partying, Jay was a hero of the disastrous fire that five years earlier had destroyed Charleston's police headquarters. The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.

Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.

Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.

That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.

But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.

Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it -- Smoke Screen is Sandra Brown's most searing and intense novel yet.