No One To Trust by Lynette Eason

Summary 

(taken from book cover): 

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover? 

The search for her husband- and answers- takes Summer even deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe. 

VIOLENCE: 

Hand to hand combat. Some explosions. People get shot, some at close range. There's an element of domestic abuse, and a recording a child plays with audio of their parent beating their sibling. Not in great detail, however. 

You can expect general violence that comes with the suspense genre, but nothing that gory or graphic. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

A few kisses are shared between our MC's. When the baddies break into the Abernathy's house at the beginning, one of the goons implies his sick intentions for Summer, but doesn't follow through with them. 

CONCLUSION: 

Overall, this book was...underwhelming. The plot sounded great, and I had high hopes for the characters, but apart from a few cool action scenes, this book just didn't cut it for me. 

I found the characters emotionally flat and hard to identify with because of that. 

The MC kept making comments that irked me...like when someone would ask if she was okay, she'd reply "I have to be" or stuff like that. Without being outright whiny, to me it just felt like she was being a baby and a tad bit entitled. It's just not an attractive quality. At all. 

And her being angry with her husband- I can understand the betrayal- but she just seemed like she was being immature about the whole situation- it was annoying. 

The plot was okay, but it didn't jump out and catch me with being fresh or unique. The villain was eh, and there was nothing that really stood out to me about the characters, plot, or writing style. 

Which, while we're on the writing style, Eason's writing didn't seem succinct enough to be suspense fiction. It would have been fine if she'd been writing general fiction or even historical fiction, but with the suspense genre, I was thinking the writing style would be a bit more to the point, using more powerful, eye catching vocabulary, and taking less time to explain certain situations. 

While there were a few cool action scenes, I wouldn't re-read this book, nor would I recommend it to other readers. Of course, the content explained above might not be annoying to another reader, so part of the "problem" with this book is subjective and will change with each reader. 

2 Stars. I didn't hate this book, but there was nothing that made me stand up and root for it. Ages 15 ish + 

Firewall by DiAnn Mills

The synopsis intrigued me immediately with this book...when catastrophe strikes a newlywed (mainly, an airport terminal blowing up enroute to their honeymoon) woman, and her husband may not be who is claimed to be...honestly- this it brought me in immediately. Right from the first chapter- action, intrigue- questions!!! So awesome. 

Forgive the fact that I don't have a nice photo of this book- I read it on my phone, so I grabbed an image off of google! 

PLOT:

Started intense straight from chapter 1, and always kept a good pace and flow throughout the book. This plot was multilayered and COMPLEX, people. There were so many plot strains and levels going on...as each one was presented and uncovered, I was like, whet?!! So impressed. People. This plot was GOLDEN. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Some kissing, attraction, falling in love- that kinda stuff. This book is a romance! As our MC is a newlywed, the first chapter beginning the morning after Taryn and Shep are married, she remembers how passionate their wedding night was, etc etc. but nothing is explained or expanded on. Mentions made to Shep always wondering why she waited for marriage...that kinda thing. 

VIOLENCE: 

There's an explosion in an airport terminal. Lot's of people end up dead, or injured. Hand to hand combat. Someone is taken out via a long distance sniper shot, shot at close range, drugged, etc. A character finds someone murdered in their house, their throat having been slashed and a pool of blood surrounding them. 

CONCLUSION: 

I loved this book. The suspense kept me turning the pages in rapid fire, waiting to see what would happen next, how everything would work itself out- it was marvellous. So many plot twists. So many turns and unexpected events. I enjoyed the characters, the slight romance, the plot, everything. I loved this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the suspense genre. 

5 Stars & recommend this book for ages 17+. Again, some 16 year olds would dig this one, but for some, 18 would be better. It's different for every reader. 

Talon by Ronie Kendig

Book 2 in the Breed Apart series (read review for book one- Trinity, here) follows Aspen Courtland, reeling from the loss of her twin brother, who went MIA overseas. The Marine Corps says he's dead, but Aspen can't accept it as fact. With her brother's traumatized war dog, and a more than mysterious soldier who says he was with her brother the day he 'died', they set out for answers....answers people will kill for. 

PLOT:

Brilliant. Fresh. Action packed. Complex. Everything that should be in an action, suspense, romance book. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Characters fall in love. There's more of an underlying sensual pull between Dane & Aspen, moreso than with most of Ronie's other books, but that suited me fine. Their romance was tastefully written, sweet, kinda tragic and passionate. They kiss a few times. For a cover during an opp, they are married in name only, but nothing happens in regards to bedroom scenes or anything of that nature. A few soldiers make reference to their having made the marriage legitimate, but it's a case of hearsay. 

A soldier's gaze rakes over Aspen, and the context says that he "raped her with his gaze" or something like that. 

Mention is made to someone's father having a mistress (said character is a result of their father having the mistress), and him calling her a whore. 

There may be more references, but as I always say- my point isn't to catch every single one and list it here, it's just to give you a feel as to how each type of content is in the book- and if that is or isn't your jam. 

VIOLENCE:

Typical military/spy/suspense book type stuff. Hand to hand combat, blood, people getting shot- some at close range- people dying etc. There's mention to a character getting beaten as a child, being starved, having no heat or blankets in their room to serve as punishment. Another sub-character is pushed out of a window and falls to their death. 

CONCLUSION:

This book has everything that makes a book a goodie, in my mind. Action, emotion, romance, mystery, emotionally deep characters, a gripping plot- gah! It has it all, people. 

This book would give the Bourne movies a run for their money- but seriously, it would make a fantastic film. 

If you like suspense fiction, or spy type stories...pick this book up and READ IT. NOW. Today! 

5 Stars & I'd recommend it for ages 18+ 

Like watching reviews in video format? You're in luck, I filmed a video review of Talon!

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