Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Sanctuary Found

SERIES: Pelican Bay #2

AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy

NARRATOR: Michael Pauley

PUBLISHER: Self Published

RELEASE DATE: April 20, 2018

LENGTH: 9 hours, 13 minutes

BLURB:

Coming home should be the easiest thing in the world, but I’ve never felt more lost….

When his stellar military career comes to an abrupt and terrible end, 32-year-old Maddox Kent returns to the town he never planned to step foot into again, hoping to mend the rift he himself caused with the brother he left behind. But coming home means facing some hard truths about himself and his actions. When he has the chance to start making amends by helping his brother with the wildlife sanctuary he runs, Maddox is thrown another curveball when a stranger appears….

As long as we keep moving, everything will be okay. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway….

For 21-year-old Isaac, Pelican Bay is only supposed to be a stopping point on the trek from San Francisco to New York. With his little brother, Newt, in tow, Isaac is just looking to make things right by returning something of value to a person he wronged. But “getting lost” in the next big city proves to be a problem when the brutal Minnesota winter claims Isaac’s car and strands him and Newt at the animal sanctuary. When the owners of the place offer him a job, a desperate Isaac agrees, despite the presence of a man Isaac instinctively knows could be his downfall….

It should be so easy to let him go, but I can’t. And not just because I want to protect him….

Nothing about Isaac makes sense to Maddox. Not his piercings or makeup or flashy clothes. And most certainly not the snarky mouth that doesn’t match the vulnerability Maddox sees in the younger man’s eyes. But one thing does make sense to the hardened former soldier. Isaac is running from something, and Maddox’s gut is telling him not to let Isaac and little Newt go until he can ferret out the truth.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Tramps and Thieves

SERIES: Murder and Mayhem #2

AUTHOR: Rhys Ford

NARRATOR: Greg Tremblay

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: October 10, 2017

LENGTH: 7 hours, 53 minutes

BLURB:

Whoever said blood was thicker than water never stood in a pool of it.

Retiring from stealing priceless treasures seemed like a surefire way for Rook Stevens to stay on the right side of the law. The only cop in his life should have been his probably-boyfriend, Los Angeles Detective Dante Montoya, but that’s not how life – his life – is turning out. Instead, Rook ends up not only standing in a puddle of his cousin Harold’s blood but also being accused of Harold’s murder…and sleeping with Harold’s wife.

For Dante, loving the former thief means his once-normal life is now a sea of chaos, especially since Rook seems incapable of staying out of trouble – or keeping trouble from following him home. When Rook is tagged as a murder suspect by a narrow-focused West LA detective, Dante steps in to pull his lover out of the quagmire Rook’s landed in.

When the complicated investigation twists around on them, the dead begin to stack up, forcing the lovers to work together. Time isn’t on their side, and if they don’t find the killer before another murder, Dante will be visiting Rook in his prison cell – or at his grave.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Murder and Mayhem

SERIES: Murder and Mayhem #1

AUTHOR: Rhys Ford

NARRATOR: Greg Tremblay

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2015

LENGTH: 7 hours, 44 mins

BLURB:

Dead women tell no tales.

Former cat burglar Rook Stevens stole many a priceless thing in the past, but he’s never been accused of taking a life – until now. It was one thing to find a former associate inside Potter’s Field, his pop culture memorabilia shop, but quite another to stumble across her dead body.

Detective Dante Montoya thought he’d never see Rook Stevens again – not after his former partner falsified evidence to entrap the jewelry thief and Stevens walked off scot-free. So when he tackled a fleeing murder suspect, Dante was shocked to discover the blood-covered man was none other than the thief he’d fought to put in prison and who still makes his blood sing.

Rook is determined to shake loose the murder charge against him, even if it means putting distance between him and the rugged Cuban-Mexican detective who brought him down. If one dead con artist wasn’t bad enough, others soon follow, and as the bodies pile up around Rook’s feet, he’s forced to reach out to the last man he’d expect to believe in his innocence – and the only man who’s ever gotten under Rook’s skin.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Sunset Lake

AUTHOR: John Inman

NARRATOR: Randal Schaffer

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2016

LENGTH: 11 hours, 51 minutes

BLURB:

Reverend Brian Lucas has a secret his congregation in the Nine Mile Methodist Church knows nothing about, and he’d really like to keep it that way. But even his Earth-shattering secret takes a backseat to what else is happening in his tiny hometown.

Murders usually do that.

Brian’s “close friend”, Sam, is urging a resolution to their little problem, but Brian’s brother, Boyd, the County Sheriff, is more caught up in chasing down a homicidal maniac who is slaughtering little old ladies.

When Brian’s secret and Boyd’s mystery run into each other head on, and Boyd’s 15-year-old son, Jesse, gets involved, all hell breaks loose. Then a fourth death comes to terrify the town, and it is Brian who begins to see what is taking place in their little corner of the Corn Belt. But even for a Methodist minister, it will take more than prayer to set it righ

Reviewed by Annika

This is a Series Review of  The Art of Murder Series (Books 1 – 2 )

AUTHOR:  Josh Lanyon

PUBLISHER:  JustJoshin Publishing Inc.

NARRATOR: Kale Williams

TITLE:  The Murmaid Murders

LENGTH: 7 hours, 31 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  October 7, 2016

BLURB:

Special Agent Jason West is seconded from the FBI Art Crime Team to temporarily partner with disgraced, legendary “manhunter” Sam Kennedy when it appears that Kennedy’s most famous case, the capture and conviction of a serial killer known as The Huntsman, may actually have been a disastrous failure.

For The Huntsman is still out there… and the killing has begun again.

TITLE:  The Monet Murders

LENGTH: 8 hours, 57 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  September 20, 2017

BLURB:

Jason West and Sam Kennedy are back!

All those late night conversations when Sam had maybe a drink too many or Jason was half falling asleep. All those playful, provocative comments about what they’d do when they finally met up again.

Well, here they were.

The last thing Jason West, an ambitious young FBI Special Agent with the Art Crimes Team, wants – or needs – is his uncertain and unacknowledged romantic relationship with irascible legendary Behavioral Analysis Unit Chief Sam Kennedy.

And it’s starting to feel like Sam is not thrilled with the idea either.

But personal feelings must be put aside when Sam requests Jason’s help to catch a deranged killer targeting wealthy, upscale art collectors. A killer whose calling card is a series of grotesque paintings depicting the murders.

Reviewed by Christian

TITLE:  The Distance Between Us

SERIES: Wilde’s Book 2

AUTHOR:  L.A. Witt

NARRATOR:  Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER:  Lori Witt

LENGTH:  5 hrs and 34 mins

RELEASE DATE:  february 26,2018

BLURB:

After 10 years together, Ethan Mallory and Rhett Solomon are calling it quits and are ready to move on. Thanks to Seattle’s depressed real estate market, though, they’re stuck living as roommates with a hefty mortgage hanging over their heads. In an effort to speed things along, they decide to bring in some extra money by renting out the spare bedroom. Wilde’s bartender, Kieran Frost, moves in, and suddenly, the only thing Ethan and Rhett both want more than getting away from each other is getting close to their single, young, hot roommate. Kieran doesn’t mind the attention from both, and he certainly doesn’t mind sharing. Their combined chemistry ignites something else that Ethan and Rhett had thought was long dead – the mutual attraction that drew them together in the first place. Except bitter jealousy over Kieran could push them even farther apart….

Reviewed by Lisa

TITLE:  A Boy and His Dragon

SERIES:  Being(s) In Love #2

AUTHOR:  R. Cooper

NARRATOR:  Guy Veryzer

PUBLISHER:  Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH:  10 hours, 1 minute

RELEASE DATE:  October 11, 2014

BLURB:

Arthur MacArthur needs a job, and not just for the money. Before he dropped out of school to support his younger sister, he loved being a research assistant at the university. But working for a dragon, one of the rarest and least understood magical beings, has unforeseen complications. While Arthur may be the only applicant who isn’t afraid of Philbert Jones in his dragon form, the instant attraction he feels for his new employer is beyond disconcerting.

Bertie is a brilliant historian, but he can’t find his own notes without help – his house is a hoard of books and antiques, hence the need for an assistant. Setting the mess right is a dream come true for Arthur, who once aspired to be an archivist. But making sense of Bertie’s interest in him is another matter. After all, dragons collect treasure, and Arthur is anything but extraordinary.

Reviewed by Chris

TITLE:  Coach’s Challenge 

SERIES:  Scoring Chances #5

AUTHOR:  Avon Gale

NARRATOR:  Scott R. Smith

PUBLISHER:  Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH:  6 hrs 50 mins

RELEASE DATE:  December 26, 2017

BLURB:  

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds out the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks have Troy thinking inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if he’s set to retire at the end of the season.

Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon, and with a team that doesn’t trust him, Troy, or each other. Despite his determination not to get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Loving Jay

SERIES: Loving You #1

AUTHOR: Renae Kaye

NARRATOR: Dave Gillies

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: December 31, 2014

LENGTH: 6 hours, 24 minutes

BLURB:

One thing Liam Turner knows for sure is that he’s not gay – after all, his father makes it very clear he’ll allow no son of his to be gay. And Liam believes it, until a chance meeting with James “Jay” Bell turns Liam’s world upside-down. Jay is vivacious and unabashedly gay – from the tips of his bleached hair to the ends of his polished nails. With a flair for fashion, overreaction, and an inability to cork his verbal diarrhea, drama queen Jay must have a screw loose.

An accident as a teenager left Liam with a limp and a fear of driving. He can’t play football anymore either, and that makes him feel like less of a man. But that’s no reason to question his sexuality… unless the accident broke something else inside him. When being with Jay causes Liam’s protective instincts to emerge, Liam starts to believe all he’s known in life has been a convenient lie. From intolerance to confrontations, Liam must learn to overcome his fears – and his father – before he can accept his sexuality and truly love Jay.

Reviewed by Annika

This is a Series Review of All’s Fair (Books 1 – 3)

 AUTHOR:  Josh Lanyon

PUBLISHER:  Carina Press, Harlequin Audio

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TITLE:  Fair Game

NARRATOR: Sawyer Allerde

LENGTH: 6 hours, 49 minutes

RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2010

BLURB:

A crippling knee injury forced Elliot Mills to trade in his FBI badge for dusty chalkboards and bored college students. Now a history professor at Puget Sound University, the former agent has put his old life behind him, but it seems his old life isn’t finished with him.

A young man has gone missing from campus and as a favor to a family friend, Elliot agrees to do a little sniffing around. His investigations bring him face-to-face with his former lover, Tucker Lance, the special agent handling the case.

Things ended badly with Tucker, and neither man is ready to back down on the fight that drove them apart. But they have to figure out a way to move beyond their past and work together as more men go missing and Elliot becomes the target in a killer’s obsessive game….

Amazon

Audible

TITLE:  Fair Play

NARRATOR: J.F. Harding

LENGTH: 7 hours, 20 minutes

RELEASE DATE: September 8, 2015

BLURB:

Fifty years ago, Roland Mills belonged to a violent activist group. Now, someone is willing to kill to prevent him from publishing his memoirs. When ex-FBI agent Elliot Mills is called out to examine the charred ruins of his childhood home, he quickly identifies the fire for what it is – arson. A knee injury may have forced Elliot out of the Bureau, but it’s not going to stop him from bringing the man who wants his father dead to justice. Agent Tucker Lance is still working to find the serial killer who’s obsessed with Elliot and can’t bear the thought of his lover putting himself in additional danger.

Straight-laced Tucker has never agreed with radical Roland on much – “opposing political viewpoints” is an understatement – but they’re united on this: Elliot needs to leave the case alone. Now. Tucker would do nearly anything for the man he loves, but he won’t be used to gain Elliot access to the FBI’s resources. When the past comes back to play and everything both men had known to be true is questioned, their fragile relationship is left hanging in the balance. See how Tucker and Elliot’s relationship began in Fair Game.

 Amazon

 Audible

TITLE:  Fair Chance

LENGTH: 7 hours, 43 minutes

NARRATOR: J.F. Harding

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2017

BLURB:

One final game of cat and mouse…

Ex-FBI agent Elliot Mills thought he was done with the most brutal case of his career. The Sculptor, the serial killer he spent years hunting, is finally in jail. But Elliot’s hope dies when he learns the murderer wasn’t acting alone. Now everyone is at risk once again – thanks to a madman determined to finish his partner’s gruesome mission.

When the lead agent on the case, Special Agent Tucker Lance, goes missing, Elliot knows it’s the killer at work. After all, abducting the love of Elliot’s life is the quickest way to hurt him.

The chances of finding Tucker are all but impossible without the help of the Sculptor – but the Sculptor is in no position to talk. Critically injured in a prison fight, he lies comatose and dying while the clock ticks down. Elliot has no choice but to play this killer’s twisted game and hope he can find Tucker in time.

Amazon

Audible