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COMEBACK GIRL: part 4 of 6 by Stephanie Bond


stephanie-bond
mystery
quick-read
woman-protagonist

Festive in Death: by JD Robb | Summary & Analysis


Book*Sense - 2014
    Robb. Within Festive in Death, the 39th instalment of the “In Death” series by author J. D. Robb, fans of the genre are re-united with their favorite kick-ass-and-take-names female cop, Lieutenant Eve Dallas. New readers will quickly find a new heroine. J. D. Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts, author of hundreds of novels. Roberts’ work has reached number one on the New York Times’ best sellers list. Her heroines are strong, capable women who, though flawed, resonate greatly with readers. Perhaps it is because they display their strengths while remaining decidedly feminine. In Festive in Death, Eve Dallas and her coterie are true to Robb/Robert’s vision. As they undertake a murder investigation, the women project intelligence, diligence, strength, wit and womanly intuitions/sensibilities which we breakdown in this companion. This romance mystery hits the rights notes where the romance is concerned. Eve’s husband, Roarke, is nothing if not uxorious: He positively dotes on Eve. When the two are together, the chemistry is almost palpable. Their love and sexual attraction is believable, and their repartee is an absolute delight. Indeed, in this reviewer’s opinion, their banter is the outstanding feature of the novel. Though, it should be noted Festive in Death also has its own shortcomings which will all be covered in this companion/analysis. This Analysis of Festive in Death fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.

ZEB: Rugged Ink


Amy Davies - 2021
    

Skin Deep


Gary Braver - 2008
    Someone whose keen eye for beauty masks a twisted mind. Someone who insinuates himself into his victims’ lives and leaves them with nothing but an elegant black stocking knotted around their necks.Homicide detective Lt. Steve Markarian must stop the killer before another vulnerable woman is sacrificed—possibly even his own estranged wife.Beset with loneliness and addictions, Steve pursues leads all over greater Boston—from the haunts of blue-blooded Brahmins, to seedy strip joints, to mansions by the sea, to the halls of prestigious universities, to the offices of his own precinct—and to the recesses of his own heart, only to discover that he himself may actually be the killer.In this stunning psychological thriller, bestselling author Gary Braver explores the nature of beauty, how women may strive to achieve it, and the forbidden yearnings that kill in its name.

Lawfully Devoted


Jenna Brandt - 2019
     Zach Turner is a dedicated search and rescue cop. The only wife he needs is his work wife, Aiden O'Connell, and his K-9 partner, Harley. That doesn't mean he's not into the ladies, because he totally is, but he doesn't want anything serious. Casually dating is more his speed, that is until he meets Erica Cruz through Aiden's girlfriend. Something about her intrigues Zach, but she wants nothing to do with him because of his playboy ways and lack of faith. Erica Cruz has a great life. She enjoys spending time with her best friend, Lindsay, serving at church with the junior high kids, and working as a dental assistant. The only thing missing is a good, Christian man in her life. She's tried all the different ways of finding one from the church singles' group to online dating, but she's had nothing but bad luck. The worst of the worst is Zach, who she has avoided since she met him through Aiden, Lindsay's husband. He's done nothing but hit on her since they first met. All she wants to do is stay away from him, but fate has a different idea. Erica never knew her father, so when he dies and leaves everything to her, she's surprised. But when she finds out her inheritance is worth billions, surprise turns into shock as her world turns upside down. To make matters more complicated, she starts receiving threats against her life. As she digs into her father's corrupt past, she realizes that money isn't the only thing she's inherited. She's also gained a massive list of her father's enemies and one of them is willing to kill her to set things right. Erica decides to reach out to her friends on the Clear Mountain Police Department, but the only person able to bodyguard her and go with her to Amsterdam to find out the truth, is Zach. Can they find a way to get along for the sake of Erica's protection? Will they find out who is trying to harm her and why before it's too late? And will they finally give into the attraction that has been secretly simmering just below the surface? *** The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join international bestselling authors Jenna Brandt, Lorana Hoopes and many others as they weave captivating, sweet and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers -- and the women who love them. The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love. ** Note: Each book in The Lawkeepers series is a standalone book, a mini-series of sorts, and you can read them in any order.

A Cutthroat Business


Jenna Bennett - 2010
    But Savannah doesn’t think she’s supposed to take the warning literally ... until an early morning phone call sends her to an empty house on the ‘bad’ side of town, where she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the boy her mother always warned her about. Rafe Collier is six feet three inches of testosterone and trouble; tall, dark, and dangerous, with a murky past and no future—not the kind of guy a perfect Southern Belle should want to tangle with. In any way. But wherever Savannah turns, there he is, and making no bones about what he wants from her. Now Savannah must figure out who killed real estate queen Brenda Puckett, make a success of her new career, and avoid getting killed—or kissed—by Rafe, all before the money in her savings account runs out and she has to go back to selling make-up at the mall.

Spying in High Heels


Gemma Halliday - 2006
    shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears - along with $20 million in embezzled funds - and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by the LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300 pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her...

Unforgettable Danger: Love and Trouble (The Unforgettables Book 6)


Mimi BarbourRachelle Ayala - 2018
    Bite your nails as a hooker turned nanny, a determined princess, a ghostly bride, a single mother and more turn up the passion and heat while escaping killers, thieves, and dangerous situations. Meet their brave and protective heroes who prove that love is most UNFORGETTABLE when lives and hearts are on the line. Thrills and heart-melting romance await you in Unforgettable Danger: Love and Trouble. SWEET FAITH, Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: From hooker to nanny, is her transformation possible? CHASING THE TIARA, Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: A missing tiara, a handsome investigator, a Princess determined to save her sister.... Big trouble... MAGGIE’S REVENGE, Jacquie Biggar, USA Today bestselling author: DEA Special Agent Maggie Holt is fierce, smart, beautiful-- and in over her head. FOR SARAH’S SAKE, Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: A two-year-old orphan faces danger and complicates the life of her rescuer and his estranged wife. THE FRAGRANCE FACTOR, Alicia Street, USA Today bestselling author: When Wesley discovers she is the unwitting keeper of a murdered friend’s secret, she is swept into a race to find the killer—before she becomes his next victim. DANGEROUS MEMORIES, Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author: Waking with amnesia, she wonders what kind of woman she is when two men claim to be her unborn baby's father. LADY HENRIETTA’S DILEMMA, Katy Walters, USA Today bestselling author: How can she marry without love? HIDE MY HEART, Rachelle Ayala, USA Today bestselling author: Single mother Amber McKay must hide her baby from danger, and there’s only one man she trusts.

Dead Men Don't Chew Gum: Martin and Owen Funny Romantic Mysteries #1


Nina Cordoba - 2016
     With her job, apartment, and boyfriend in New York suddenly gone, Rika Martín decides she’ll visit friends down at South Padre Island, Texas before returning to L.A. to face her family. But after she takes a short cut onto a desolate Texas highway at night and is run off the road by a pickup truck, Rika can’t wait another minute to heed nature’s call… and trips over a zombie! Wait. Not a zombie. Just a dead guy, and when she reports the body, shady Sheriff Strickland arrests her for the murder. Nick Owen realizes it was a bad idea to return to his hometown of Bolo, Texas to lick his wounds. Now, all he wants is move away again. The only good things that have come from his time here are his two resolutions: 1. No more rescuing damsels in distress. 2. No more murder trials. Not after what happened last time. But when he stops by the courthouse to pick up his friend Gabe—a.k.a. Judge Martinez—for a round of golf, he’s forced to act as attorney for a very attractive female murder suspect. Even worse, this “Paprika Anise Martín”—if you can believe that—seems more determined to solve the murder case than to defend herself against it in court. With devil worshipers reported in the area and at least one shooter determined to take Rika out, can Nick and Rika resolve this case before the murderer gets rid of her for good? *Dead Men Don't Chew Gum is book 1 of Nina Cordoba’s funny romantic mystery series. Book 2: Dead Men Don't Eat Quiche. Book 3: Dead Men Don't Flip. For notifications of future releases, go to NinaCordoba.com CONTACT page.

Tempest in the Tea Leaves


Kari Lee Townsend - 2011
    But when she uses tea leaves to read the frazzled town librarian, what lies at the bottom of the cup is anything but helpful.

Jade Calhoun Series bundle, books 1 and 2


Deanna Chase - 2012
    When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn't count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord. Being an empath has never been easy on Jade's relationships. It's no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it's up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she'll need Kane's help--and he's betrayed her with a secret of his own--to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?Witches of Bourbon StreetJade Calhoun was never fond of her empath abilities. Now she's discovered she has another gift she'd rather not unwrap--magic. But when her mentor, Bea, becomes gravely ill and insists Jade's the only one who can help, she's forced to embrace her witchy side.It's too bad she spent a decade shunning the magical community and never learned to harness her powers. Because time's run out. A trapped spirit has revealed a clue to Jade's long-lost mother. The resident angel has gone rogue and disappeared with Jade's boyfriend, Kane. And if that wasn't enough, her ex appears to be possessed.To save any of them, Jade will need to find a way to control her inner white witch--without succumbing to black magic. Otherwise, she'll lose everything...including her soul.

Ignited By Him


Kylie Kent - 2021
    The one I’ve both loved and lusted after from the sidelines.For years, I’ve kept myself distracted with work, turning my family’s company into an empire. And, more importantly, I’ve kept my distance. It’s best for everyone.But when she walks into my club and tries to cheat me out of money, all bets are off.One way or another, she’s going to pay back what she’s stolen.Although, it won’t be in the form of cash.BreannaI love winning, even if I have to cheat to get to the finish line. I knew better than to come to this club to play.I knew he’d more than likely find out I was here.What I didn’t expect was to see him up-close. I’ve hardly seen him over the last few years.I wanted him to notice me. To see that I wasn’t a little girl anymore.And that was my mistake, because he did more than notice.There is no going back now.That flame we’ve both been dousing in denial has just been ignited.Can I really play with fire without getting burned? Or will everything around me turn to ash?

Disappeared


Linda Castillo - 2021
    Kate and her officers brave the downpour to search for the toddler, fearing he may have been swept away in the rising creek waters. But an explosive family secret leads Kate to believe this disappearance may be more complicated than anyone is letting on. Can she find the boy and uncover the truth before darkness falls?

Nowhere Safe


Dianna Love - 2013
    Surviving members disappeared to heal their wounds, and have now resurfaced as part of Slye Temp, an agency contracting security work with corporate America. At least, that’s what goes on above ground... Slye Temp agent Josh Carrington should have died during the blown UK mission, but he didn’t. Scars fade and nightmares can be managed, but he’ll never forget watching an innocent woman die because she trusted him. Tempted by the best, he sticks to Personal Rule Number One: Never mix business with pleasure. Slye Temp sends Josh to uncover a leak in a DEA task force...a mole in league with the traitor who betrayed the UK team. A deadly shipment is bound for the US and nothing will stop Josh from taking down this mole, blocking the shipment, and nabbing the traitor. Not even Trish Jackson, hardheaded sister of his #1 DEA suspect. A faceless stalker has turned Trish’s life into a living nightmare and threatens to kill anyone who helps her, including Josh, the new man on her brother’s task force who has planted both unwelcome feet in the middle of her world and refuses to leave. The closer Josh gets to the twisted truth, the more he struggles to keep Trish out of harm’s way--and his bed--but the sultry firecracker gets under his skin like no other woman, forcing him to question everything, starting with Rule Number One.

Rumble on the Bayou


Jana Deleon - 2006
    Then DEA agent Richard Starke shows up in Gator Bait, Louisiana, giving out orders and insults faster than you can cast a fishing line. Dorie knows the residents of Gator Bait aren’t going to talk to a stranger, especially a Yankee, but she stuck with Richard until he catches his bad guy. With no other alternative to restore peace to the small town, Dorie agrees to help Richard catch a criminal and in the process, uncovers decades of secrets that have been hiding deep in the Louisiana bayou. (Note: This book is part of the author’s backlist, originally released in print in 2009 by Dorchester Publishing)

Before the Storm


Diane Chamberlain - 2007
    But his mother sees a boy with a heart as open and wide as the ocean.Laurel Lockwood lost her son once through neglect. She's spent the rest of her life determined to make up for her mistakes, and she's succeeded in becoming a committed, protective parent—maybe even overprotective. Still, she loosens her grip just enough to let Andy attend a local church social—a decision that terrifies her when the church is consumed by fire. But Andy survives…and remarkably, saves other children from the flames. Laurel watches as Andy basks in the role of unlikely hero and the world finally sees her Andy, the sweet boy she knows as well as her own heart. But when the suspicion of arson is cast upon Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her son…and how far she'll go to keep her promise to protect him forever.