LAST SEEN ALIVE by Joanna Schaffhausen

Title:  LAST SEEN ALIVE
Series:  Ellery Hathaway #5
Author:  Joanna Schaffhausen
Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date:   01.25.2022
Category /Genre:  Mystery & Thrillers
Recommended for:  18+
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  St. Martin’s Press
Goodreads link: Last Seen Alive
Date completed: 09.21.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition—Reed must bring him Ellery.

Now the families of the missing victims are crying out for justice that only Ellery can deliver. The media hungers for a sequel and Coben is their camera-ready star. He claims he is sorry and wants to make amends. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask, and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it.
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LAST SEEN ALIVE is the fifth book in the Ellery Hathaway series.  This is a series of mystery, suspense, crime novels featuring Ellery Hathaway.
 
Though I know this is a continuation of a series, I was not lost for even one minute.  This story will stand on its own, but I *really* wish I had read the previous books.  The characters are too intriguing, too perfectly flawed, and too real to not want more.
 
Children are told that if they don’t listen, the boogey-man will get them.  Girls don’t outgrow the frightening beasts the same way that boys can.  We are always vulnerable 
 
Ellery’s personal boogeyman has returned!
 
Chillingly real suspense that had me sneaking away for another chapter as often as possible throughout the day.  I could not put this down!
 
Reading about a fictional serial killer allows me to indulge my own curiosity in the subject in a safe place.  I loved my Criminal Justice class in college because I want to know “why.”  Stories like this help me look for more whys…and to realize that sane people will never understand the crazy ones’ rationalizations. 
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Ellery Hathaway Series:
1.      The Vanishing Season
2.      No Mercy
3.      All the Best Lies
4.      Every Waking Hour
5.      Last Seen Alive
Also from Joanna Schaffhausen:
Detective Annalisa Vega Detective Series:
1.      Gone for Good
2.      Long Gone
 

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NELLIE'S REDEMPTION by Sylvia McDaniel

Title:  NELLIE'S REDEMPTION 
Series:  Bad Girls of the West #4
Author:  Sylvia McDaniel
Publisher:  Sylvia McDaniel
Publish Date:   09.24.2021
Category /Genre:  Historical Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  A – near perfect
Received from:  Sylvia McDaniel (as an ARC gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Nellie Redemption
Date completed: 09.21.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Can the Bad Girl be Tamed?
Nellie Robinson’s sharp tongue and scheming ways have done more harm to the debutantes in Fort Worth, Texas, than even the newspaper's scandal-loving social columnist. But when Prince Randolph Schmidt comes to town, she is determined to become his princess. But not everything is as it seems.
 
Pinkerton agent Daniel McClintock is no Prince Charming, but neither is shyster Randolph Schmidt who cons women into believing he will take them to his kingdom to be his queen. Looks like he’s found his next mark—Nellie Robinson. When Schmidt leaves town with her trust fund, Daniel goes after him.
 
When Nellie becomes a one-woman posse determined to get revenge and her money back, she finds herself in danger as she tangles with a man who wants her heart and one who wants her dead.
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NELLIE'S REDEMPTION  is the fourth book in the Bad Girls of the West series.  If you haven’t read any other books in the series this will stand on its own, but you won’t “get” some of the inside jokes – like the fact that Nellie CAN swim… very well.  I didn’t find that out until I read the teaser for one of the other books that is offered after reading Nellie and Daniel’s story.
 
So, not knowing Nellie, I didn’t know how much redemption she needed.  All I knew was what was presented in this story.  To me she was a spoiled, selfish, stuck-up, princess with a huge chip on her shoulder for no apparent reason.
 
Daniel is immediately likeable.  He sees through the tantrums to the hurt person underneath Nellie’s bravado.  He is patient.  Remember that I said she had no APPARENT reason.  He doesn’t rush her.  He becomes her friend.  He gains her trust and learns the reason for that chip that lead to the walls she built.
 
Redemption it turns out is what both Nellie and Daniel need in their own hearts.  Trust in each other is the balm that provides it.
 
I loved this story and I am glad I didn’t know the mean girl before I met her on the trail to San Antonio.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Bad Girls of the West Series:
1.      Scandalous Sadie
2.      Ravenous Rose
3.      Tempting Tessa
4.      Nellie’s Redemption
Also from Sylvia McDaniel:
·         A Brother’s Betrayal (Mail Order Bride Tales #1)
·         Ginger (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #11)
·         Katie:  Bride of Virginia (American Brides #1)
·         Love Across Time
·         My Sister’s Boyfriend
·         Quinlan’s Quest (The Alphabet Mail Order Brides #17)
·         The Relationship Coach
·         The Reluctant Santa
·         A Scarlet Bride
·         Secrets, Lies, & Online Dating
·         The Unlucky Bride (Bride, TX #2)
·         The Wanted Bride
Burnett Brides Series:
1.      The Rancher Takes a Bride
2.      The Outlaw Takes a Bride
3.      The Marshal Takes a Bride
4.      The Christmas Bride
Cuvier Women Series:
1.      Wronged
2.      Betrayed
3.      Beguiled
Debutantes of Durango Series:
1.      The Debutante’s Gamble
2.      The Debutante’s Revenge
3.      The Debutante’s Scandal
Lipstick & Lead Series:
1.      Desperate
2.      Deadly
3.      Dangerous
4.      Daring
5.      Determined
6.      Deceived
Lipstick & Lead 2.0 Series:
1.      Nailing the Hit Man
2.      Nailing the Billionaire
3.      Nailing the Single Dad
Magic Mirror Series:
1.      Touch of Decadence
2.      Touch of Deceit
Racy Reunions Series:
1.      Paying for the Past
2.      Her Christmas Lie
3.      Cupid’s Revenge
Return to Cupid, TX series:
1.      Cupid Stupid
2.      Cupid Scores
3.      Cupid’s Dance
3.1  Resisting Cupid
3.2  Cupid’s Revenge
4.      Cupid Help Me!
5.      Cupid Cures
6.      Cupid’s Heart
7.      Cupid Santa
8.      Cupid’s Second Chance
9.      Cupid Charmer
10.  Cupid Crazy
Scandalous Suffragettes of the West Series:
1.      Abigail
2.      Bella
3.      Callie
4.      Faith
5.      Mistletoe Scandal
Western Historicals:
1.      A Hero’s Heart
2.      Ace’s Bride
3.      Second Chance Cowboy
4.      Ethan
 

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ART OF THE HUNT by Tami Lund

Title:  ART OF THE HUNT
Series:  Gods of Thunder MC #9
Author:  Tami Lund
Publisher:  Tami Lund
Publish Date:   08.19.2021
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Chick Lit
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content.
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused.
Received from:  Tami Lund
Goodreads link: Art of the Hunt
Date completed: 07.18.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, is bored. She’s tired of hanging out at the Gods of Thunder Motorcycle Club, tired of partying with her bestie, tired of everything feeling so very meaningless.

She needs action. She needs to go back to saving the world. So she hops onto her Harley and rides off into the sunset.

She ends up in Chicago, where she helps very, very sexy Detective Hunter James crack a case—not that he’s particularly thrilled by her interference, as he calls it.

That’s okay, he’ll come around.

But when he does, will she be able to handle it? Because Hunter reminds her an awful lot of Orion, her one true love, and she swore two thousand years ago that she’d never go down that road again.

Not even if he is Orion reincarnated.
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ART OF THE HUNT is the ninth book in the multi-author Gods of Thunder MC series.  Each stand-alone paranormal romance in the series has one of the Gods from Mount Olympus finding their true fated mate on Earth.
 
Artemis turns out to be one goddess not interested in just laying around and enjoying the perks of immortality.  Her personality requires adventure and assisting the humans.  Just because they don’t worship her, doesn’t mean she’s ready to forget them.
 
This whole series is FUN, but this book has some great lines that definitely cracked me up.  Artemis – the Goddess of the Hunt – is determined to help Detective Hunter James.  He has not desire for a partner … on the job or at home. 
 
I loved the play of her name in mythology and his name.  It’s also great fun to note that she is the Goddess of Chastity (and childbirth), but that’s doesn’t mean she is – or has been – celibate at all times.
 
I loved how the author took the time to research – and it shows – about Artemis.  So many of her religious designations are brought into the story.  When a story can educate as well as entertain, I’m completely on board!
 
This is a detective story as much as it is a romance.  The whole plot is beautifully thought out and well written.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Gods of Thunder MC Series:
1.      You Can’t Fight Lightning (Lisa Manifold)
2.      Sign, Steal, Deliver (Carrie Pulkinen)
3.      Dead Ringer for Love (Julia Mills) – releases 07.29.2021
4.      Warrior’s Passion (T.L. Reeve & Michele Ryan)  - releases 08.02.2021
5.      Trident True Love (Paisley Tate) – releases 08.05.2021
6.      Goodness Gracious, Great God of Fire (Kinsley Adams) – releases 08.09.2021
7.      Drunk on Love (Mila Young) – releases 08.12.2021
8.      Not His Biker Goddess (Corinne O’Flynn) – releases 08.16.2021
9.      Art of the Hunt (Tami Lund) – releases 08.19.2021
10.  Hell Hath No Fury (Kerri Keberly) – releases 08.23.2021
11.  Bad Hera Day (Celia Kyle & Marina Maddix) – releases 08.23.2021
12.  No Apollo-G Necessary (TL. Reeve & Michele Ryan) – releases 08.26.2021
 
Also from Tami Lund:
·         Art of the Hunt (Gods of Thunder MC #9)
·         Baby, I’m Home
·         The Bartender
·         Candy Crush
·         Dark Moon Falls:  Benjamin
·         Eternity (Blood Courtesans #25)
·         Gift of the Gods
·         Love & Warlocks (All’s Fair #)
·         Love Gumbo
·         Lyall
·         Mirror, Mirror
·         No Jerks on Monday
·         Resist:  Anya (Blood Courtesans #10)
·         Separation Anxiety
·         Tough Love
·         Vampire Ghost (Immortal Keeper #7)
All’s Fair Series:
1.      Love & Warlocks
Bryant Brothers Series:
1.      Racing Home
2.      To Love & Protect
3.      The Right Tool
4.      Picture This
Detroit Mafia Series:
0.5 Paid by the Mob
1.      Trapped by the Mob
2.      Freed from the Mob
3.      Born into the Mob
4.      Controlled by the Mob
5.      Return to the Mob
Lightbearer Series:
            0.5  First Light
            0.7  Broken Light
1.      Into the Light
2.      Dawning of Light
3.      Light Beyond the Darkness
4.      Change in the Light
5.      Cupid’s Light
The Resort Series:
1.      The Resort
2.      Artist’s Obsession
3.      Holiday in Dallas
4.      Valentine’s Day at the Resort
5.      Summertime at the Resort
Sexy Bad Series:
1.      Sexy Bad Neighbor
2.      Sexy Bad Daddy
3.      Sexy Bad Boss
4.      Sexy Bad Escort
5.      Sexy Bad Halloween
Taming the Dragon Series:
1.      Dragon His Heels
2.      Hungry Like a Dragon
3.      Dragon in Denial
4.      Bewitching the Dragon
5.      Let Go My Gargoyle
Tough Love Series:
1.      Naked Truth
2.      Undercover Heat
3.      Delicious Deception
Twisted Fate Series:
1.      Of Love and Darkness
2.      Prim and Proper Fate
3.      Prisoner of Fate
Which Witch Series:
How I Fell into Bed with a Demon
1.      The Demon You Love
 

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