1531 Entertainment has several Mystery suggestions for us. I’ve read and enjoyed both of them.

Rocco: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 1)

Former Navy SEAL and new Blackout recruit Rocco Foster is on a simple in and out mission. But the operation turns complicated when an unsuspecting woman wanders into the line of fire.

Peyton Ellison’s life mission is to sprinkle happiness on those around her. When a cupcake delivery turns into a fight for survival, she must trust her rescuer—a handsome stranger—to keep her safe.

Rocco is determined to figure out why someone is targeting Peyton. First, he must keep the intriguing woman safe and earn her trust. But threats continue to pummel them as incriminating evidence emerges and pits them against each other.

With time running out, the two must set aside both their growing attraction and their doubts about each other in order to work together. But the perilous facts they discover leave them wondering what exactly the truth is . . . and if the truth can be trusted.

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Haven of Swans: (previously published as Abomination) (Rock Harbor)

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name.

A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray—a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen.

The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five. He will kill again.

And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together.

Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for this absorbing tale of love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances. A deftly woven thriller from the bestselling author of the Rock Harbor novels.

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My current read is taking some serious will-power to put down. I’m not surprised since this is from another one of my favorite authors.

At 24% in, there are parallel but totally different stories going on. I can’t imagine what the connection could possibly be. We know there has to be one. I mean, who writes two separate stories in the same book, for no good reason? This whole thing definitely adds to the allurement.

Collateral Damage (Danger Never Sleeps Book #1)

Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others–but her days of helping military personnel are over. She’s got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she’s not equipped to take on more. Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way–terrorists, bombs, bullets. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin.

Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor, and Brooke is pressed by her boss to take him on. When he arrives at her office she isn’t there–but a dead body is. Brooke is devastated when she walks in, and Asher is a conveniently strong shoulder to cry on. But she can’t take him on as a client after sharing such an intimate and unprofessional moment, can she? And he’s not sure he can handle sharing his deepest fears with such a beautiful woman.

When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack–and that her secrets go even deeper than his own–Asher vows to protect her no matter what.

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Happy Reading!

Two finished, one to go. This has been an excellent reading day.

The first one, finished early today, was enjoyed even though there was something familiar about it, as if I’d read it before. Maybe it was in a collection or something. I couldn’t decide for sure where it could have been. Still, it was time well spent.

Ranger Faith (Texas Ranger Heroes Book 4)

Last Christmas, profiler Emilia Sanchez barely escaped the clutches of a serial killer. All she wants is to forget the incident and move on with her life, especially since the murderer is dead. But when she receives a poinsettia along with a threatening message, it triggers Emilia’s worst fears—that she’s not safe after all. 

Texas Ranger Bennett Knox has steered clear of Emilia since the day he rescued her from a killer. The beautiful profiler is smart and brave, but Bennett knows his presence brings back painful memories. The case has always haunted him too. He had concerns with the way the investigation ended. 

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The second book was started and finished today. On one hand, it was an enjoyable read, on the other hand, it wasn’t. That’s why I was able to finish it quickly and move on to my third book for the day. The problem was excessive unnecessary detail. I will confess to reading less than half of the book, jumping ahead every four or five chapters to find out how it ended. It was worth it.

I did enjoy the parts that were vital to the story and would be happy to see a rewrite.

Sophie’s Search (Search the North Country Book 1)

Sophie Stearns and her search dog, Belle, flee to the mountains that feed her soul and straight into the arms of the one man she could truly love. If only he didn’t hate her.
Widowed and buried in debt, Sophie Stearns is not going to pin her dreams on a man again – even if Patrick O’Brien is the man of her dreams.

Patrick O’Brien learned the hard way city girls will rip a man’s heart out to get what they want. After his ex-wife’s betrayal, he bolted to the Adirondacks to lick his wounds and forge a new life protecting the fragile mountain ecosystem from development. The best way to stop the newest threat, Shopsmart is to shutdown their environmental engineering contractor, Sophie Stearns.

When a saboteur destroys Sophie’s project and threatens her life, only Patrick’s intervention can save her business. But Patrick must decide which is more important: his principles or his need to protect the Adirondacks.

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This current read is the best of the three. No speed reading or skipping ahead chapters at a time. I know for sure something vital would be missed and time would be wasted backtracking to see what it was. To say nothing about ruining a perfectly enjoyable read with foolish interruptions.

Expired Getaway (Last Chance County Book 7)

Bridget’s whole world came crashing down six years ago. Now she’s back in her home town with a murderous colleague and a cartel on her tail, and no idea of the secret that awaits her. If she doesn’t track down the enemy, their entire client list could be in danger—along with everyone she loves.

Last Chance police officer Aiden Donaldson wants nothing more than to right the wrongs he’s done by being the best cop—and father—he can be. Until the woman he thought he’d lost comes back into his life, throwing his best laid plans upside down. While the threat comes from every direction, Aiden and Bridget must reconnect if they’re going to have a hope of coming through this. With the help of their friends they just might find the last chance they’ve been looking for.

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I’m paused at an exciting part and need to get back to it while there is still time to find out what happened. Are they still alive? And is he is as angry and I think he is? Keeping secrets is hard on a marriage but her secret… Whoa.

Happy Reading y’all