Secret to Die For - A Review

Published - Revell Books, September 2018
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - A Secret to Die For
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

My Thoughts:
This book was fast-paced. I was hooked from the beginning of it. I can tell you it kept me awake many evenings because I didn't want to put it down!

Grace is dealing with some of her own issues when she learns one her clients was murdered. I didn't expect this book to have developed the characters so deeply. I also didn't expect the book to show how the characters deal with their traumatic pasts.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm hoping it's part of a series so that I can catch up with these characters at another time.

I received a copy from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion. I was not required to like the book, only to give an honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Dani Pettrey, Irene Hannon

Rating - 4 stars

Pursued - A Review

Published - April 2107, Revell Books
Series - Nikki Boyd Files Book 3
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Pursued
Format - ebook, paper
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Nikki Boyd is returning to Nashville on what should be a routine flight. Then the plane crashes. Suddenly Nikki finds herself in the midst of chaos. When the woman who was seated next to her disappears, the FBI ask Nikki to help. But it's a race against time, and the FBI won't share all of the details. Can Nikki and her team find answers before it's too late?

I've enjoyed each book in this series and this one was no exception. I loved how fast paced this book was. The twists and turns that the case followed had me eagerly turning the pages.

What I found different than the others in the series was that Nikki was a victim this time as opposed to the investigator. Seeing her attempt to separate herself from her job was interesting. Especially when she was trying to figure out her relationship with Tyler.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense.

I received the Kindle copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of giving my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon

Rating - 4 stars

Missing - A Review

Published - July 2016, Revell Books
Series - Nikki Boyd Files Book 2
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Missing
Format - ebook, paper
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Nikki Boyd doesn't  usually investigate homicides. But when her task force is called in to assist on a missing persons case associated with a homicide, Nikki and her team jump right in. The first set of clues lead them to the marina and the boat that just happens to belong to her friend Tyler Grant where there is another dead body. Now the stakes have just been raised. Nikki must figure out what connection Tyler has to the case, find the missing woman, and do it all without getting killed. Because someone is silencing anyone looking for answers and now Nikki's life is in danger.

When I read the first book last year, I really enjoyed it. This one, pulled me in from the first page and didn't let me go. I think I finished this one in a matter of hours.

I loved how quickly Nikki had to work to stay one step ahead of the killer. I also loved seeing how she has grown since book one. Her relationship with Tyler is evolving as well. I am looking forward to seeing what will develop between these two as well.

Nikki's team is wonderful. I love how they work together to put the clues together and to help keep Nikki safe.

While this was book 2, it could easily be read as a stand alone.

I received the Kindle version of this book for free from Revell via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey

Rating - 4 stars

Vendetta - A Review

Published - October 2015, Revell Books
Series - Nikki Boyd Files Book 1
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Vendetta
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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Nikki Boyd is driven. She's a member of the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force, and strives to make sure that other families don't suffer the way hers has. Ten years ago, her sister went missing. The case is still unsolved, and Nikki will do anything to make sure that other families get answers to their missing persons cases. A day of rock climbing is cut short when Nikki is called to assist with the disappearance of a teen girl. At first, this appears to  be like any other missing person's case until a Polaroid photo of the missing girl shows up. For Nikki, this may be the first real break in her sister's case. But is she too close to the situation? Because the closer that she gets to the finding the girl and who abducted her, Nikki starts to feel less like the hunter and more like the prey.

I've enjoyed Lisa Harris's books in the past. This one was no exception. It was different though. Her previous books had an obvious romantic element in it, this one, there is a hint of the romance, but it's not obvious. I'll be interested to see how that relationship develops.

This book was very easy to read. The action started off immediately. And then when Nikki got pulled to assist with the missing teen, it got even more exciting. I also found that it was a quick read.

I like Nikki. I like how determined she is. It'll be fun to see how much more she grows and develops as the series progresses. I'm really looking forward to see how her relationship with one particular guy progresses and if he will admit his feelings or not.

I received the Kindle version of this book from Revell Books via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, romantic suspense

Rating - 4 stars

Hidden Agenda - A Review

Published - January 2015, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Southern Crimes Book 3
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Hidden Agenda
Format - ebook, paper
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Michael Hunt is presumed dead by family and friends. Only he's not dead. Not at all. He's been deep undercover infiltrating a known drug cartel. The problem? His cover's been blown and he's about to be killed. Michael has no choice but to put his life and his trust into the hands of Olivia Hamilton, the daughter of the cartel leader he is trying to take down. When Olivia and her brother Ian find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, they can't help but rescue Michael and escape. But with cartel members chasing them as well as leaks in the Atlanta Police Department, the trio doesn't know who to trust. Enlisting the assistance of Michael's family eases some of the danger while creating more. Michael is determined not to go down without a fight, and he will take as many cartel members down as possible. He wants this all to be over so he can explore his growing feelings for Olivia.

This was probably my favorite of all three novels in this series. Like the others, it was fast-paced and very quick to read. I had no idea how things were going to end up and I'm glad that they ended the way they did.

I loved Michael. I thought that he was very well developed. I also loved Ian. And I loved seeing how Michael interacted with his family once he was no longer "dead". I also loved how he was willing to admit he was wrong about things.

Fans of romantic suspense will love this book. I think it's the last in the series, but I would love to see more about Avery's team - Tori, Levi, Carlos.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, DiAnn Mills

Rating - 4 stars

Fatal Exchange - A Review

 Published - May, 2014, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Series - Southern Crimes Book 2

Author - Lisa Harris

Title - Fatal Exchange

Format - ebook, paper

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Emily Hunt is content to live a relatively boring life compared to that of her sister, her brother, and her father. She's a high school history teacher when the rest of her family works in law enforcement. Her quiet life suddenly changes when a student holds her classroom hostage with a gun while demanding a ransom to be paid in order to get his brother back from a drug cartel. Emily must figure out a way to remain calm and in control. When Mason Taylor hears that the student he has been mentoring for the past several months has taken Emily's class hostage, he acts as the negotiator. He knows the boy. Hopefully Mason can talk the student into ending things peacefully. But time is running out. And there is more at stake than just release of the hostages. Will Mason be able to meet the demands?

I've got to admit that this book was MUCH better than the first one in this series. It literally kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire book. While not an all time favorite, I was fully engrossed and engaged with Mason and Emily. It was fast-paced. This particular book did remind me of an NCIS episode several years ago. I think that may have been why I enjoyed it so much. I think it would make a great summer read.

You don't have to read the first book in order to understand this one, but it is recommended.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, Dee Henderson

Rating - 4 stars

Dangerous Passage - A Review

Detective Avery North has a lot on her plate. She's a single mom raising a preteen daughter, she's trying to find a murderer of a Jane Doe, she's trying to solve her brother's murder as well, and she's pursuing a relationship with handsome Medical Examiner Jackson Bryant. Avery doesn't have time for cases that aren't simple. Especially when a second Jane Doe is murdered in a similar fashion to the first. The leads are suddenly going no where, and danger is escalating. Will she and her team be next?

I've never read anything that Lisa Harris has written. I'll be honest. This book took me a long time to get into. In some ways, it was very similar to other romantic suspense books I've read. It was also similar to some of the TV shows I've enjoyed (CSI, NCIS, NCIS LA to name a few). But I had a hard time really connecting to the main character. I would like to read other books in the series and see how she develops. I'd also like to see how the author develops as a writer. The overall mystery was a bit choppy and the clues didn't come together very easily. The last several pages, it really ended rather abruptly. Would I read others in this series and by this author? Yes. I do want to see how this author develops.

I received this book for free from Revell Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

Rating - 3.5 stars, which will be 3 stars on Amazon.

Available September 2013 at your local bookstore from Revell Books a division of Baker Publishing Group.