Review: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

 

The Spy Coast (The Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen

Publication Date: November 1st 2023 by Thomas & Mercer and Brilliance Audio

Pages: 341

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 23min

Narrators: Hillary Huber and Brittany Pressley

Source: Purchased Audio & e-copy (Kindle Unlimited)

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Maggie Bird enjoys her quiet life in Purity, Maine, running her farm, and meeting up with friends. From the life she leads now in her 60s, you’d never know she hasn’t always led the sedate kind of existence, and her past has come crashing into her present when a woman shows up at her door bearing some disturbing news on a past mission.

 

I absolutely enjoyed The Spy Coast! This first installment alternated between events in Maggie’s past and how it spilled into her present. A murder investigation and some attacks have made the local police chief and long-time resident, Jo Thibadeau suspicious about the new-ish residents in town. I have to say, while I thought the events in the past were important for setting up the story and series, I enjoyed the chapters in the present more. I felt so bad for Maggie when all about her past was revealed. While Maggie has settled in and seems contented, I have hopes for a romance in the future! I really liked Jo, the police chief, too! She had a sharp mind, and I can see her making connections and friends with Maggie and her friends! My first read by Tess Gerritsen and now I want more! I can’t wait for the next installment!

 

Hillary Huber and Brittany Pressley narrate, two favorites, which definitely added to my enjoyment!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

Review: Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee

Be Your Everything (The D'Angelo's #2) by Catherine Bybee

Publication Date: November 15th 2022 by Montlake Romance

Pages: 347

Source: Publicist

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | The Book Depository | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Chloe and Dante have crushed on each other from afar for years. Chloe had no idea Dante was attracted to her, and she’s been off limits to Dante since she’s his best friend’s younger sister. However, all these feelings come to a head when they’re off in Las Vegas celebrating her brother’s pending nuptials. After a night of drinking, they wind up married. Can they have a future starting everything backwards or should they undo their hasty decision?

I’m a fan of the unrequited love trope, because after longing for someone so long it’s satisfying to see them happy together. I thought Chloe would be happy to be married to Dante, but there were other things at play, such as the reactions of her family. Being Catholic she worried about disappointing her family, mother mostly, by not having a big church wedding, and then Dante was worried Chloe’s brothers would be seriously ticked after warning him off of her for years. Dante had a reputation of being a player, so I get that. Also, there was some questions in Chloe’s mind about Dante’s true feelings for her, so some insecurities had to be dealt with.

I enjoyed seeing them gradually open up and settle in together. The family was another issue, and I was happy they presented a united front while smoothing ruffled feathers.

There was also an element of danger to Chloe as some unusual things started happening to her as soon as she got back from her trip. It was easy to guess the culprit, but there were some tense moments when I worried for her!

I’m enjoying the D’Angelo series! The big Italian family, the setting, both in the US and out, and the romances. Chloe and Dante’s romance steamed up the pages, but also felt like a real relationship, not just something based in fantasy and wish fulfillment. I look forward to the next one!

Be You Everything is available to purchase now and is also available through Kindle Unlimited “Read & Listen for Free” with the program. Love that option!

4 Stars

Book Description:

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has the both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off limits. Only he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince her that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

About the author:

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also  graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-six beloved books that have  collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages. 

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing  bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban  emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most  Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com 

Review: A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot

A Merciful Death (Mercy Kilpatrick #1) by Kendra Elliot

Publication Date: January 17th 2017 by Montlake Romance
Pages: 352
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

About the book: 

FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land—and off the grid—in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event. But the crime scene details are eerily familiar to an unsolved mystery from Mercy’s past.

Sent by the FBI to assist local law enforcement, Mercy returns to Eagle’s Nest to face the family who shunned her while maintaining the facade of a law-abiding citizen. There, she meets police chief Truman Daly, whose uncle was the cave man’s latest victim. He sees the survivalist side of her that she desperately tries to hide, but if she lets him get close enough to learn her secret, she might not survive the fallout…

My Thoughts:

Mercy is an FBI agent called back to her hometown to investigate the murders of two preppers. She hasn’t been back home to Eagle’s Nest for fifteen years, hasn’t even had contact with her family since then.  The hurt runs deep and it’s awkward explaining her relationship to Eagle’s Nest to her FBI partner and the new town sheriff. But solving the murders is her main focus.   Mercy’s rattled to find similarities between the current cases and two previous murders from fifteen years back.  Especially, since the attacks years ago are intertwined with a secret she’s kept and worried about all the years since.

While I doubt I’d ever do anything drastic, I found the prepper life fascinating! I’ve always loved the idea of being self-sufficient just in case disaster strikes. You never know when the zombie apocalypse is coming, lol!  The philosophies as presented here almost felt religious.  The people were devoted to their beliefs of being self-sufficient, and the idea that eventually governments and order as we know it will end. With the way things are going sometimes, it’s not such a far-fetched idea.

Mercy’s past is slowly revealed, and you can understand the hurt and resentment she feels.  While she had doubts start to creep about the prepper philosophy while Mercy was a teenager, she probably wouldn’t have left the life had there not been a rift between her and her father. The fact that Mercy’s family backed her father’s decision and shunned her is a pain that cuts deep, but there’s a healing that starts when she faces her brothers and sisters now.  There’s also a budding romance between Mercy and Sheriff Truman that I’m fully on board with! 

A Merciful Death was an exciting read and an excellent start to the series!  A few twisty reveals, danger, and the mysteries of Mercy’s past kept me on the edge of my seat.  I’m wondering about the next chapter of Mercy’s life with how it all turns out.  I’ve already downloaded the audio copies of books two and three, excited to continue Mercy’s story!

Teri Schnaubelt’s performance was pleasant and low key. She did a great job with both male and female characters. I’d gladly listen to any book she narrates.

4 Suns