NOTE FROM NICUnurse

For a while, it seemed as though blogs were trending out as social media exploded in the book world. However, it seems the tide may be turning back toward blogs. So we’re trying something new with a weekly wrap-up.

Enjoy!

It’s no secret that Jay Crownover is one of my favorite authors. She had me at Rule years ago, and I’ve never looked back. If you haven’t read her Marked Men and The Point series, do yourself a favor and drop what you’re doing and read them all…like right now! Needless to say, she’s also one of my automatic 1-click authors. For a very long time, she swore there would be no return to the Marked Men series. But for whatever reason, she changed her mind. And I, for one, am positively giddy over her decision. I still reread both series from time to time, so seeing where she’s taken the next generation’s story has been a fun journey. What I like most about Ms. Crownover is how she writes what she wants to write when she wants to and not a moment before. No matter when or what she writes, her words never fail to suck me into the story immediately, and nine times out of 10, I can’t put it down until all is said and done. While it was a bit disappointing to hear there wouldn’t be a 2nd generation series for so long, she continued producing books that kept her on my automatic 1-click list because they are diverse and follow no patterns, which keeps them relevant and exciting.

On to Son of a Gun. First off, you can read this as a stand-alone title. I love the Marked Men and The Point series books and will recommend them to my dying day. But you do NOT have to read any of them to enjoy this book. The balance between backstory and information dump is a fine line, and as in all things, Crownover walks it well. It’s an enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract story. Daire and Campbell are both intense characters struggling with serious mental health issues. Still, in true Crownover style, she deals with them honestly, authentically, truthfully, and with great attention to detail. Their story is heartbreakingly beautiful as they wrestle with discovering who they truly are as individuals and, eventually, as a couple. And no one writes a morally grey yet lovable hero better than this author. Son of a Gun was the perfect crossover, and it has me dying for a reread of both series yet again.

 

NICUnurse’s Rating: 5 out of 5 propellers

Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/SOG

As a self-proclaimed romantic suspense junkie, I’m officially a hard-core Juno Rushdan fan at this point. I simply haven’t found a book of hers that I didn’t devour in only a few hours. I always know her books will be full of action, suspense, twists, turns, and thrills and will leave me begging for more. Wyoming Cowboy Undercover is the fifth book in her Cowboy State Lawmen series, but you can read it as a complete standalone. However, some crossover characters and plot points might be slightly confusing. Since I love all of her books, I highly recommend reading the books in order. I’m completely hooked on this series and can’t wait for all the books to release. 

Wyoming Cowboy Undercover is full of action almost from the outset. With lots of suspense, twists, and turns, the fast-paced story immediately sucked me in and didn’t let go until the final page. If I had to pick a favorite part of the tale, it would be watching Mercy come into her own despite all the odds stacked against her. This book is yet another reason I reach for Juno Rushdan’s books when looking for well-written, complex suspense. She’s thoroughly cemented herself as a great romantic suspense author and ranks among the top of my automatic 1-click authors’ list.

NICUnurse’s Rating: 5 out of 5 propellers!

Get your copy here: https://junorushdan.com/book/wyoming-cowboy-undercover/

I’m a huge romantic suspense junkie. (Thank you, Nora Roberts, for spawning my addiction!) Tee O’Fallon’s Federal K-9 series cemented her as one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, so I was extremely excited to dive into her K-9 Special Ops series. Mostly, I enjoyed the hero and heroine, but I had a more challenging time connecting with Gemma. Brett’s issues with relationships were more understandable than Gemma’s. Except for her trouble with a former coworker, she didn’t have much of a reason to keep her family at arm’s length and seemed a bit too wishy-washy for me much of the time. The story’s pace was a little slower than most of this author’s previous books, but there was a lot to unpack with the plot, so I wouldn’t necessarily put that in my con column. It was simply different. And as always, the end was quite explosive with a twist I didn’t see coming. All in all, while not my top favorite book from this author, Burning Justice was highly entertaining and kept me returning when I had to step away because life intruded on my reading time. Romantic suspense fans, it’s hard to be disappointed in a Tee O’Fallon book, so I wholeheartedly recommend Burning Justice as well as all of her Federal K-9 series books and any of her backlist.

NICUnurse’s Rating: 4 out of 5 propellers

Get your copy here: https://teeofallon.com/burning-justice/?fbclid=IwAR1MitAl6mdSngKVK5li_p0Q4isHEPjLCi2If3fnBeV6wHz419cF_dYRxnA

I’m a long-time fan of Kristen Proby’s writing, so it would take a lot for me to be disappointed in anything she releases. And with Cherry Lane (and the entire Huckleberry Bay series), her winning streak continues. It’s a standalone novella, but for fans of the series, it’s a fun way to catch a glimpse of our favorite characters. It’s a quick read full of anger, miscommunication, misunderstanding, and a little jealousy, along with lots of friendship, forgiveness, acceptance, and love. 

NICUnurse’s Rating: 4 out of 5 propellers

Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/cherrylane

I’ve been a fan of this author’s writing for quite some time. As usual, this new release is solid, but the plot has a lot to unpack. It’s a small-town contemporary romance with themes of regret, forgiveness, redemption, and love. The reader has a front-row seat to Talulah’s desire to make amends, despite the challenges those bring. Her character growth is the story’s main focus, and along the way, I found myself cheering each time she learned to stand up for herself. Talulah’s Back in Town is a must-read for those who love character-driven plots full of emotional ups and downs.

NICUnurse’s Rating: 4 out of 5 propellers

Get your copy here: https://amz.run/6uEr