River of Desire by J.K. Winn

Synopsis:

Imagine traveling deep into the Amazon Jungle, where every step is a struggle through thick undergrowth, any rock or tree may mask a venomous creature and somewhere, at some time, you will run up against a mysterious Ebola-like Hemorrhagic Fever.

River of Desire tells the tale of Leah Roberts, a reporter on assignment in Peru, who hires professional guide, Dylan Hart, to escort her into the Amazon jungle on the trail of a deadly disease. On the river, Leah and Dylan encounter treacherous rapids and carnivorous creatures, but what they fear most is the attraction growing between them. Their travels finally lead them to a reclusive doctor who holds the answer to the sudden appearance of the lethal viral strain.

Don’t expect the ordinary when you begin a trip down the River of Desire. So, hop on board the boat and take a thrilling, sometimes life threatening, but always action-packed ride down the mighty Amazon with Leah and Dylan, who face daunting adventures, but know that love is the most amazing adventure of all.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this book. I haven’t read many romance novels, and I was a little worried that it was going to be super cheesy and turn me away from it. I am a big fan of J.K. Winn’s other novels, so when I was approached to review this one, I couldn’t turn it down.

I was not disappointed. River of Desire has an interesting and action filled plot that keeps you turning the page.

The chemistry between Leah and Dylan makes the read even more enjoyable as well. They work well together, and their dialogue flows really well and never becomes boring. You can tell that their attraction is growing throughout the novel and it is only a matter of time before they end up together, but that is about the only predictable thing in the book.

I did not expect it to turn into a deep novel with stories about family lines and war. It came out of the blue, but was written to fit perfectly into the story.

The action will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the relationship between Dylan and Leah gives it a nice soft side.

Fans of romance novels will surely enjoy it.

4/5 Stars

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Asbury Dark: Haunting Tales From the Jersey Shore by Lori Bonfitto

Synopsis:

A telekinetic teenager. A doomed ocean liner. A haunted bed & breakfast. A zombie-fighting real estate developer. These are but a few of the eerie people, places and things that go bump in the pages of Asbury Dark: Haunting Tales from the Jersey Shore.

Spanning six decades, Asbury Dark will thrill and delight anyone who’s ever ridden the rides on the fabled boardwalk, searched for Bruce at The Stone Pony, or shambled along in the Zombie March.

Mystery and suspense author Lori Bonfitto delivers seven unforgettable tales of fright and fantasy, transforming Asbury Park from a nostalgic playland into a world fraught with obsession, reincarnation, and the paranormal.

This was a very, very entertaining read with eerie twists and turns woven into each story.

What made this collection unique to me was that every story was centered around the same town and most of them took place there. It was easy to imagine that somehow all of the different stories were woven together. It was like meeting a bunch of different neighbors that live on the same street and hearing their stories. That made it super cool for me.

There was also never a time where I felt like I had to skip a story. When I am reading a collection, I sometimes find that a story in the middle of it is less interesting than the rest, and I will skip it to get to the better ones. That wasn’t the case here. I genuinely enjoyed all of the stories that were a part of this collection in their own way.

They were all different, but as I stated before, they all seemed wove together, and they fit together well.

For short story lovers who want a hint of creepy, spine-tingling fun, I would definitely suggest you grab a copy.

4/5 Stars

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I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

Synopsis:

Can Alex Cross survive his most chilling - and personal - case ever? Pulled out of a family celebration, Detective Alex Cross gets awful news: A beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Vowing to catch the killer, he quickly learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington, D.C.'s wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim . . .

The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Soon they confront some very important, very protected, and very dangerous people who will do anything to keep their secrets safe. As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable - a revelation that could rock the entire world.

This book was refreshing after the last Cross book that I wasn’t a huge fan of. I was hooked from the first page.

The story was really interesting and it kept me guessing until the very end. I didn’t even guess who the murderer was until it was revealed. I loved that it kept me guessing and didn’t give it away early in the book. It kept the suspense up and kept me turning the page.

It was also nice to see a bit more of Alex and Bree’s relationship dynamic. I hope that Bree is around longer than Alex’s past love interests. I really enjoy her character and think she complements the other main character very well.

This was a very family-centric book. Most of the Cross books have some sort of family story-line. But this one had more than usual. It began with one of Alex’s relatives dying and carried on into other occurrences. It is always nice to read about how close his family is. It is refreshing.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It has been a positive in the series.

4/5 Stars

Memorable Quote: “Will I ever learn? Probably not in this lifetime.”

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