Fatal Intent by Ryshia Kennie - Double Review

Goodreads Summary:

An expedition into the Borneo rain forest is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for entomologist Garrett Cole. It’s this trip that could finally make her a star in her field. But when her team’s guide is found dead and headless on the banks of the river, Garrett’s dream trek suddenly becomes a nightmare. Lost in the heart of the jungle, she must fight to maintain her composure while leading a panicked team of scientists to safety.

When sexy and rugged Aidan arrives in the jungle looking as if he belongs, Garrett has no choice but to accept his help. But Aiden is more than she bargained for – a man of few words and fewer answers, as comfortable in the jungle as the mysterious native tribesmen. As the days pass and passion flares between them, Garrett wonders if Aiden’s good intentions are just another of the jungle’s illusions.

In a land rife with predators and a killer still on the loose, can she trust the one man who claims to be their rescuer?

Wendy’s Thoughts:

It has been a long time since I have read a romantic suspense, but I really enjoyed this one. It was great to be able to travel to the Borneo Rainforest within the pages of this book. I was more captivated by the mystery in this book, or the "who-done-it" rather than the romance. I was kept guessing and it took me awhile to figure it out. Overall this was a good read and I would read it again.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Jen’s Thoughts:

It was nice getting to read a book set in such a beautiful yet extreme location with many many dangers. Can you imagine being with a group in the rainforest and then realizing you no longer have a guide?! I don’t know how I would react but I would hope I’d do half as well as the main character, Garrett. She was the rock for the group when they all knew there wasn’t much hope of finding their way to help.

This book has a good storyline and the mystery aspect of it kept me guessing up until the point where two major hints were dropped. I do have to nitpick just a bit though. While the storyline was good I was just a little disappointed with the book. I felt like I was just reading it instead of experiencing it. I didn’t feel the tension or the danger like I wanted to.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Fatal Intent on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Ryshia Kennie's Website

Shelf Candy Saturday (40): The Assassin's Curse & Tempestuous

Shelf Candy Saturday is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books.

The Assassin’s Curse (The Assassin’s Curse #1) 
by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.

And when assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse – with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

The Assassin's Curse on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Cassandra Rose Clarke's Website

 

Tempestuous (Twisted Lit #1) 
by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes

Recently banished, unfairly, by the school’s popular crowd, former “it girl”, Miranda Prospero, finds herself in a brave new world: holding dominion amongst a rag-tag crew of geeks and misfits where she works at the Hot-Dog Kabob in the food court of her local mall. When the worst winter storm of the season causes mall workers and last-minute shoppers to be snowed-in for the night, Miranda seizes the opportunity to get revenge against the catty clique behind her social exile. With help from her delightfully dweeby coworker, Ariel, and a sullen longer named Caleb who works at the mall’s nearby gaming and magic shop, Miranda uses charm and trickery to set things to right during this spirited take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Tempestuous on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Twisted Lit Website

 

I love blue covers (Maria, I'm sure you'll appreciate these covers too!) and these are two very unique blue covers. Both sound like good books too!

 

The Assassin's Curse - I like the detailed frame and the sillouette aspect but I think my favorite part of this cover is the title font!

 

Tempestuous - How awesome is the thought of a tornado in a water fountain?! I like the texture of the blue back ground and how the title seems like it's being swept away but the tornado.

Baked Alaska Blog Tour: Double Review

Tour Schedule

Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.




Reviews

Jen's Thoughts:

Baked Alaska is the 9^th book in the Culinary Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone, which is what I did, but I don’t really recommend it. The characters are likeable but I didn’t feel like I knew them as well as someone reading the entire series would. Some of the connection was missing as well as the background stories that were referenced.

Aside from the missing connections and background I did like the book. It’s an interesting mystery with a couple unexpected twists. I especially liked the parts where the suspense was ramped up and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it would play out.

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5



Wendy's Thoughts:

I enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing. There wasn't as much romance as I would have liked but it was still enjoyable. I thought the addition of the recipes throughout the book added to it, but I prefer them at the end or beginning of the books. Overall I liked the storyline and probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books in the series first.

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

Purchase
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

S adie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series

Author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.

Website * Twitter

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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