Disturbing the Peace by Tessa Bailey
Series: The Academy, #3
Contemporary Romance
Grade: C+

The 3rd book in Bailey’s Academy series brings us a forbidden relationship that grows complicated their feelings for one another increase. A police academy instructor falls for a recruit; throwing him into a tailspin. Add in she is his younger brother’s bestie along with his own commitment issues and you have a sexy and humorous contemporary romance overflowing with emotional angst and sexual tension. I did feel the story moved a bit to fast and didn’t flow as easily as Charlie and Jack’s stories. There was a sense of urgency to the relationship that and I felt the main conflict dominated in terms of character design and plot, leaving little room for us to see the actual romance developing.  A fun read but not my fav for this series.

Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd
Series: Cape Charade, #1
Romance Suspense
Grade: C

The latest romance suspense series from Christina Dodd is an odd story that offers readers two interesting mysteries as readers find themselves trapped at an exclusive resort where everyone seems to have a secret.  The tagline instantly captivates;

I have three confessions to make:
1. I’ve got the scar of a gunshot on my forehead.
2. I don’t remember an entire year of my life.
3. My name is Kellen Adams…and that’s half a lie.

and hooks you up as the story reveals a mixture of suspense, intrigue, action, and murder. Told from the heroine’s POV, Kellon, we see how she came to the resort and why as she flashes between the past and the present. While Dodd reveals the motives of the various mysteries almost from the beginning; it becomes apparent that there is so much we and the heroine do not know. Multiple plot lines give readers a plethora of suspects and clues to unravel while the obviously unreliable narrative and odd dialogue create an interesting abet confusing paradox of information. The anti-climatic and cliffhanger ending wasn’t expected and left me feeling manipulated and skeptical of Dodd’s intentions. Enjoyable up to a certain point, I think I will pass up the sequel.

Kiss Me Back by Sidney Halston
Series: Panic, #3
Contemporary Romance
Grade: C

A security guard falls hard for a bartender in a popular nightclub but secrets on both sides could stop the relationship before it even starts. Kiss Me Back is the 3rd in a contemporary romance series that started out strong but weakened considerably as the story unfolded.  Very melodramatic and unrealistic in some areas, I found myself struggling to connect to the characters-especially the heroine. The hero grew on me as his secrets revealed. Very insecure due to his childhood, his flashy trappings and boldness stem are nothing more than a protective mechanism. He loves hard and it showed. *swoon* The heroine, on the other hand, was a bit of a diva whose need for independence had her struggling for no reason. Sometimes a helping hand is just that…a helping hand. I also don’t want to spoil but I bartended for over 20 years (small to large clubs) and while I can certainly accept the heroine’s ability to do her job, I found it hard to believe she could keep it hidden from her employers and the staff. Especially by the method she used. Overall not bad but not a favorite.

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao
Literary Fiction/Cultural Heritage
Grade: A

A stunning debut that examines the enduring power of love, friendship, hope, and perseverance. Evocative without being manipulative, Rao writes the story of two best friends with a sure hand and a powerful voice that doesn’t go quietly into the night but rather shouts from the heaven the atrocities that befall them and the amazing tenacity and willpower that allows them to survive. A bittersweet story that is a stunning tribute to women and feminism as through the lens of misogyny and poverty that will break your heart a million times but leave you oddly satisfied in the end. One of my top reads for 2018. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Rao in the future.

Planet Dragos by Thea Harrison
Series: Elder Races #9.8
PNR/Novella
Grade: C+

Harrison takes readers back into her best selling world of shifters, fae, vampires, and witches with a short action-packed novella about the Lord of the Wyrs and his wife, Pia. Weddings, death, and revenge form a potent base when Dragos’ past comes barrelling into their lives, forcing them to address some lingering issues in their relationship and their future. Incorporating certain elements and characters from past storylines and her spin-off,  Harrison not only expands the world but also certain relationships.  I enjoyed seeing a certain someone from Moonshadow and hope we see more of them in this series and the spin-off. I do still have issues with Pia and her diva moments. The moments that cause her to do TSTL stuff because Dragos made her angry. I also felt Harrison rushed the conflict. The villain bordered on comical and their reasons for revenge were underdeveloped. Regardless, the end was certainly unexpected and interesting and I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the future.