Hunted by Jaycee Clark

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to read this once before and gave up as I wasn't in the right frame of mind but I am glad I gave it another try.  I was drawn in from the very beginning, it's quite a shocking opener.  Although this has a romance tag on it, there isn't really a romance as such, not the typical girl meets boy and falls in love, it's more a case of boy rescues girl, helps her with her recovery and they gradually fall into a great friendship that has the makings of being a great romance.

This is a book about abuse, kidnapping, prostitution and human trafficking.  It's also about one woman's rescue and subsequent recovery from a vicious man who wants to own her outright.  He thinks that if he can break her spirit she will finally succumb to his demands and be his wife.  She suffers from rape, abuse, forced drug use and beatings.  She is also forced to watch another girl being murdered. 

When Morgan is finally rescued by a joint taskforce, she is scared and terrified that Jezek will find her and kill her.  With the help of John she finally gets home but it takes her a long time to get to a point where she isn't constantly looking over her shoulder.  Although she hasn't told her brothers exactly what she has been through, they help her with her recovery too.

When someone on the taskforce turns informant and lets Jezek know where all the girls from his brothels have been whisked away to, he starts to kill them off.  When John finds out what is happening he returns to keep Morgan safe.  

Jezek is slowly picking off the girls that got away but he also has to be very careful as the girl he murdered in front of Morgan was the daughter of an Italian Mob boss.  When the Don finds out what really happened to his daughter he is ruthless in his punishment.

The author has handled a very difficult topic with care and attention, although she hasn't glossed over any of the horrors of what it must be like to be caught up in that lifestyle.

I would definitely recommend this book to any one who likes a good thriller with a romantic undertone.

The Trial of Dr. Kate by Michael E. Glasscock III

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little stumped at the title of this book, after reading it I would have thought The Adventures of Shenandoah would have been more appropriate.

Shenandoah Coleman is one of the few Coleman's to get out of Beulah Land.  She flew planes during the war, went to college and became a reporter.  When she heard about her friend being put on trial for murder back in her home town of Round Rock, she talks her editor into letting her go back home and cover the trial.

From the first day there, it is obvious that someone is out to get her.  Her car tyres are slashed and she is almost driven off the road several times but she can't go to the local sheriff as he is holding a grudge from grade school.  

The characters are entertaining, the story is well-written but the first half is a bit drawn out.  When the story finally gets to the actual trial of Dr Kate it seems to speed up.  

There is a bit of a love interest for Shenandoah with a twist at the end and all the strands of the tale are all nicely tied up but not all have happy endings.

This is a great insight into life after the war and the beginning of the end of segregation too.  It also shows a different insight into the way that women were treated too.  Definitely a thought-provoking read.

Unraveled (Woodlands #3) by Jen Frederick

Another great book by Jen Frederick.

I love Gray and Sam, they are a sweet couple even with all their baggage.  

 

Gray has a big decision to make, whether or not to re-enlist or get out of the marines.  He has three months leave and decides to visit Bo and Noah, his old marine buddies.  Whilst there he meets Sam, a young widow whose husband was in the army.  They are both attracted to each other and try to fight the attraction but they can't seem to avoid each other.

With a crap load of baggage apiece, nothing is easy but they eventually get sorted.  

This is definitely more adult themed, the sex scenes are well-written and not over done.  They definitely make the pages sizzle.

Affliction (Anita Blake #22) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Although I've given this a 4 star rating but that's only because I can't give it a 3.5.

There is an actual plot this time instead of pages of sex, don't get me wrong I've nothing against sex but when every page is sex it gets old really fast.  I found myself speed-reading through the last few books.  

I liked the story-line in this book, the action scenes are great and Micah's family are wonderful but I thought the some of the sex scenes were there just to fill the pages.  I was really glad to see Edward and see Anita actually solving a crime and raising some zombies too.  

I thought the ending was a bit of a damp squib, a great build-up and then two pages and it was done.  It was as if the ending was rushed.  I'm not going to be in a rush to get the next book as I was a bit disappointed with this.  I think it's time Anita got back to solving crime and raising zombies again.