contemporary - No Apology Book Reviews

Elise’s Review – Don’t Look Back by Dawn Ryder

October 6, 2018October 5, 2018

Book Review by Elise Cooper Don’t Look Back by Dawn Ryder ends the “Unbroken Heroes Series” with a bang. This suspenseful story is full of political intrigue that started six books ago. The plot relies heavily on events from previous books in the series, basically wrapping up the loose ends of those operatives in the covert organization Shadow Ops. “I wanted the Shadow Ops team to take on messy cases. They understand absolute power corrupts absolutely. They see how ambition …

Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose

November 6, 2019September 29, 2018

Title: Edge of Darkness Author: Karen Rose Series: Cincinnati #4 A powerfully realistic and moving story Sweet Baby Jorge, I love Karen Rose. Her work continues to awe me. I don’t know if it’s her or her editor, but I almost never find any flaws in logic. Every plot point is methodically positioned and relevant and it all makes so much sense. And the level of detail, especially in police/FBI procedure—it simply astounds me. And the feels! I don’t know …

The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard

November 5, 2019September 25, 2018

Title: The Woman Left Behind Author: Linda Howard Series: n/a Plot’s a tad messy, hero’s a stranger, heroine had her moments Goodreads says this is part of a series called Go-Team that includes Howard’s last novel, Troublemaker, but I haven’t seen this information anywhere else, e.g. Amazon or Fantastic Fiction; most notably, it’s listed on Howard’s own website as a standalone (since when does she have a website?). It’s certainly possible that these books are related somehow, but don’t worry …

Review – Maybe for You by Nicole McLaughlin

October 6, 2018September 15, 2018

Book Review by Elise Cooper Maybe For You by Nicole McLaughlin is a very emotional storyline. The theme allows readers to understand how to cope with loss and handle grief. It is also a friends to lover’s story. Many say that a guy and gal cannot be friends. This story seems to prove that point. The different dynamic relationships play a part in how people react to each other. Friends usually are able to be direct and let their guards …

Interview with Laura Griffin (Desperate Girls)

October 6, 2018August 25, 2018

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin is a captivating novel, combining a suspenseful murder mystery, police procedural, with a touch of romance. She has the unique ability to write compelling plots that highlight caring and realistic characters. Former prosecutor Brynn Holloran has turned to the dark side, becoming a defense attorney. Everyone knows she is a superstar in the courtroom, although a failure in her personal life. She now must contend with a vicious murderer, …

Interview with Marta Perry (Shattered Silence)

October 6, 2018August 18, 2018

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Shattered Silence by Marta Perry flawlessly intertwines a mystery with contemporary themes, while giving a sprinkling of the Amish culture. She illuminates the differences between the Amish community and the larger urban society. The plot begins with new divorcee Rachel Hartline attempting to touch base with her ex-husband, Paul, to discuss putting their home up for sale. After catching him trying to download some sensitive company information things go very awry for her. First, …

Interview with B. J. Daniels (Hard Rustler)

October 6, 2018August 12, 2018

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Hard Rustler by bestselling author B. J. Daniels brings to life the Montana countryside in her latest novel. Readers will enjoy the characters, setting, and mystery. The plot is a modern-day version of past Westerns. The story begins with a city gal, Annabelle (Annie) Clementine, traveling back to her home town of Whitehorse Montana. After high school, she decided to escape the monotony to become a famous model, leaving her love interest behind. Now, …

Interview with Amy Meyerson (The Bookshop of Yesterdays)

October 10, 2018July 15, 2018

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson is part mystery and part drama involving family dynamics. It is a shout out to those who love books and bookstores since the main mystery is centered around both, and comes about with riddles from book quotes. Clues to the scavengers’ hunt are found in the classics of the past, The Tempest, Jane Eyre, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Frankenstein, Fear of Flying, Persuasion, The Grapes of Wrath, …

Interview with Libby Shaw (from The Prince by Katharine Ashe)

October 10, 2018June 20, 2018

Find an interview with the author HERE Elise Cooper: You are pretty single-minded about achieving your goal to become a doctor even though the social norms emphasized women lacked the physical and moral nature to be physicians or surgeons. But it is obvious you could not do it without Ziyaeddin Mizra who is your greatest supporter and advocate. Thanks for the interview. EC: So why do you want to be a surgeon? Libby: The human body is absolutely fascinating, especially …

Lost Innocence by Jannine Gallant

August 15, 2019June 6, 2018

Title: Lost Innocence Author: Jannine Gallant Series: Siren Cove #2 Well constructed but I didn’t care for the characters Thank you to Jannine Gallant for reaching out and asking for a review, and thank you to Lyrical Press/Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to give this work three or four stars. Structurally and mechanically, it’s excellent. There were some minor typos which I trust will be corrected for the final …