The Assassins by Gayle Lynds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have had many thoughts about The Assassins and the characters in this story as I was reading. But, as I was at the last part of the book and the action and story intensified, which is saying a lot given how action-packed and intense the entire book is, I thought it is almost over and I just want to slow down my reading so it lasts longer. I loved it! I received a copy of The Assassins from NetGalley and though I don't always like the books I have to review, I love it when they are great. The Assassins is the 2nd book in the Judd Ryder and Eva Blake series and it just gets better and better.

The Assassins starts a few months after where The Book of Spies left off. Though you could read them alone you miss out on so much by not being introduced to the characters in the first book. Judd has been in Iraq doing community service work and Eva has been training at the CIA farm. Just as Judd arrives home from his trip things go a bit haywire as he sees what looks like his exact double killed in front of his own home. As incredible as that is the story just gets more incredible as six assassins, including The Carnivore that we were introduced to in The Book of Spies, square off against each other.

Judd Ryder is a deep, flawed character who you don't know whether to cheer for or worry about because he seems to be on a precipice between good and bad. At the same time you can't help liking him. He feels pain and strives to do what is right but has some serious shadows in him that make watching him tackle the situations they face worth it. The Carnivore is someone you shouldn't like but somehow you can't help it. Even in The Book of Spies you find yourself drawn to him despite him being an assassin. He has rules that show his humanity even as he is "wiping" someone. Tucker has a huge fight on his hands in this series. He seems to be fighting for everything but his marriage, though he knows his wife is a bit fed up with his always working. His fight gets even more life-threatening in The Assassins and we really see the brighter side of Judd here as he worries for his friend. Eva, we have always worried for her but want her to be ahead. She deserves it after everything we know she has gone through in The Book of Spies. Another reason to read it first is to see the evil normal people can do to each other.

After my experience with these last two books by Gayle Lynds I look forward to reading more by her and definitely to see what Judd chooses for his life.

From Italy With Love by Jules Wake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From Italy With Love is an amazing book. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I can honestly say I loved it. From Italy With Love is the story of Laurie Browne, an adult woman who has been living a half-life without even realizing it. The book starts with Laurie and her boyfriend, Robert, attending her Uncle Miles' funeral where she first sees Cam, a good friend of her Uncle. We learn that something went wrong with Laurie's life and her relationship to her family members. Laurie then receives a classic Ferrari from Miles as an inheritance and the story takes on this beauty of armchair travel across Europe as Laurie follows the stipulations in Miles' will that she follow a specific route and end in a specific Italian town, the birthplace of the Ferrari. Cam is tasked with assisting her in the drive to Italy.

As From Italy With Love goes along we are given a detailed description of beautiful towns, shops and cafes as well as people. The reader has a treat in following along with Laurie and Cam as they make their way through France, Switzerland and an even bigger treat when Laurie goes on to Italy. There were also some colorful people met along the way. We also learn the history of what happened with Laurie's family and how she ended up a "homebody" at such a young age. We also learn more about Laurie's history with her boyfriend Robert. I had some negative thoughts about a portion of the story that relates to Laurie's relationship with Robert and Cam, but it is a large part of the story and I don't want to spoil it for other readers. But, I will say that my negative thoughts were lessened by the end of the book. I do not like what occurred but it did not make me throw my Kindle across the room and it certainly was not something that lessened my regard for the book. That is the mark of a good author I think. When the author can engage the reader, challenge them with topics that are contentious and still deliver it in such a way that the reader wants to leave the experience. From Italy With Love gives us a great romance not only in Laurie's life but also continued romance over and over with anyone that came in contact with the classic Ferrari, sometimes to the point where it was quite funny. But, the best experience with From Italy With Love was watching Laurie grow as a person and a woman because though she was loved greatly by her father, he could not teach her how to be a female or help her grow as a woman and she had no real female role model. I am now an avid fan of Jules Wake and look forward to going back and reading more of her work and seeing what else she releases in the future.

Rome in Love: A Novel by Anita Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rome in Love is an amazing, detailed book about a new actress who gets to be the Princess Ann in the remake of Roman Holiday that I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of from NetGalley. She is filming in Rome, Italy (my first love of travel). Rome in Love is about choices and sacrifices for doing the things that are close to our hearts. Amelia Tate, who oddly enough was pre-med in school, somehow is chosen o play Princess Ann in the remake of Roman Holiday. She leaves her long-time boyfriend whom she was already having a long-distance relationship with so that she could pursue her acting career in Hollywood and he could pursue a contract for his business in the San Francisco area. They seemed to be enduring until she was temporarily living in Rome, Italy during the filming of Roman Holiday which placed more strain on their relationship and eventually causes the relationship to fail.

Amelia meets a reporter, Philip, when her life seems to begin to mimic Roman Holiday when she pretends to be a maid at the hotel she where is staying so that she can sneak off and have a bit of peace and quiet and some time to herself. As they both fill their parts in this living remake of Roman Holiday they grow closer. In addition to meeting Philip, she also befriends Sophie, a woman that she begins to explore the city and other areas of Italy. They have a lot in common and create an enduring friendship that is one of the cornerstones of the book. Another of the great aspects of Rome in Love are the fabulous descriptions of Italy. Anita Hughes does a wonderful job of bringing Italy alive for the reader. She also does a great job of making the characters larger than life. There is a fascinating portion of this book that allows the reader to also learn more about Audrey Hepburn and you can't help wanting to run and watch Roman Holiday again. I also learned more about Gregory Peck's life. I do not normally watch classic movies but I have a great love for Rome, Italy so I had to watch Roman Holiday. This book is a great retelling of Roman Holiday and pays great homage to it.

I Am the Traitor by Allen Zadoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am the Traitor. I have followed this story from the beginning of the trilogy when I was first introduced to the Unknown Assassin series. I have always been totally enamored of government assassin books and when they have a nice hook in them like the Unknown Assassin books, well, I am even more ready to jump into the story. I received an early copy of I am the Traitor, book 3, in the trilogy from NetGalley. Honestly, I would pay for this series if I had to and sin they are out on audiobook, I will likely be doing just that for my long commute days and transatlantic flights. Allen Zadoff is a gifted writer. He does a great job with perspective. For example, how a normal child should respond to a situation, versus, a child trained as a soldier. How would an adult soldier respond in combat, even against a child?

In I am the Traitor, we continue the Unknown Assassin story where I am the Mission leaves off with our intrepid child soldier, Zach, in a load of trouble, where he has dragged someone he cares about. Now he has to try to determine how he can work his way out of this situation. His only friend, Howard, is missing. He is pretty sure he knows where he is and he has to figure out how to survive and make sure Howard also survives. Zach also has some pretty serious decisions to make about his role in "The Program". He also has his on investigation to make into his and his family's past. These mysteries help make this series what it is, great! Zach, is this well-developed character that, despite the things he has done, we can't help but cheer for, and keep wishing for him to pull through. Throughout the series we keep trying to determine if "The Program" is good or bad and we never really know for sure as sometimes we see reasons why it can be thought of as both. Don't misunderstand, training children to kill is never a good thing, but giving them a home, educating them and protecting them is always a good thing. What you ask for in kind is the issue. Asking for loyalty is not a bad thing to ask for as we are all loyal to our friends and family, and we are always closer to family that we see as being on our side when things are tough.

In I am the Traitor we continue to question the role of "The Program" and its purpose. I have to admit I always had a hidden suspicion about the whereabouts of what and who Zach was searching for and I was right in my guess but the thing about this story is that even when you think you know what is going to happen there is a twist. I have to admit that I was looking forward to a seriously kick-butt fight between Mike and Zach and I feel a bit cheated at how short that fight was but the outcome was another surprise. The action scenes, as well as the chase scenes, were quite exciting. One of my favorite parts was the way the chapter titles was done. I have to admit that the ending was what I hope is a setup for something great to come and I look forward to seeing what the author does with it.

Susan T. Roos

Guest Blog

Hi, Cheryl! Let me start by thanking you for hosting me today.

There’s so many things we could talk about in my first book release, Girl Spoken for, but let’s touch on a few messages and themes throughout, not only this book, but the series.

Girl Spoken For was born from one simple idea. One simple story; a girl’s rough road when she has a child while in high school. And as the story blossomed into this other world, I intentionally wanted not only Tatum Duncan’s story told, but I wanted to sneak a few messages in along the way. Maybe they’re not so subtle to the reader which would be great.

Some parents typically make a huge mistake (NOT ALL PARENTS) in raising teens.

When a woman gives birth they’re are guilty of having a vision of how their child’s lives will be (yes, I’ve done this too). So you take that picture in your head and never see anything else.

A common picture some parents miss is reality—what’s really happening in their child’s life. Or maybe you’re lucky enough that you were spot on. But most are not.

Is that what happens to parents? From birth they wear blinders? See what they only want to see? Yes. That’s what I believe. And again, NOT all parents are like this.

But in Girl Spoken For, Tatum’s parents were, especially her mother. She ignored how Tatum wanted to broaden her horizons. It can be fun for a parent to watch their child spread their wings, but Tatum’s mom couldn’t. Throughout the book Tatum jokes about how her mother wasn’t happy unless she were dressed like Shirley Temple, the way her mother preferred. Her mother wanted the sweet, innocent young girl who did what she wanted. Again, Tatum’s mother wore the birthing life blinders.

What else does Tatum’s mother have issues with? Mutual respect.

Tatum’s mother didn’t show nor give Tatum much respect. Tatum had that with her grandmother, not her Mom. In the first chapter Tatum reads to her little sister, Toni. A small gesture, but Tatum already knew that since their grandmother was gone they were on their own emotionally. Their mother couldn’t relate to them. Tate’s mother was fearful of her girls growing up, and not being able to control them in the big bad world. So, instead she chose to make them fearful of her. Instead of conversing and relating to how tough it can be as a kid, she took the unhealthy route. Maybe that’s all she knew?

One thing I love about one of my characters is how she provides Tatum with comfort and support. Diane is a great friend to Tatum—no matter what, she’s got her back. Think how much better it is if you have (or had) a friend like that in your teen years. Someone who respects you and makes it clear they’re always on your side.  Parents can be like that for their kids, but Tatum’s mother wasn’t.  Luckily, Diane steps in to fill the void left when Tatum’s grandmother passes away.

 

As former (or current) teenagers, we have some kind of bully story or another. We’ve all had family issues. But the difference is communication and mutual respect. Respect each other’s differences. Respect each other’s growth. Respect each other’s ideas. Respect each other. Period.

Sure, life can suck at times. It’s hard. But respect and communication can make it so much better.

About Girl Spoken For:

I was “spoken for” by a Mob grandson, which was either terrifying or kind of cool – I wasn’t sure which one yet.

When the realities of life shatter her fragile innocence, Tatum Duncan’s courage and resilience are tested. She’s determined to be in control of her future. But the love of her life, Zach Bertano, and his mob family may have other plans.

Will she “speak for” Zach, like he has “spoken for” her? Or will Tatum walk away?

Purchase Link: Amazon  | Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo

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Book Trailer:

Direct Link to Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydm7pta4Hxo&feature=youtu.be

Want to get to know Suzie better? Check out her Dear Reader post on Barclay Publicity's Book Scoop Blog!

 

About Suzie T. Roos:

Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.

She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, CA. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.

Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.

She’s always been an animal lover and animal rights advocate. She is certified by FEMA in IS-00011.a Animal in Disasters: Community Planning. She’s also an active volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri.

Connect with Suzie:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

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Girl Spoken For by Suzie T. Roos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Girl Spoken For is the beginning of a new YA trilogy by Suzie T. Roos that I was granted an early release copy of from Netgalley. I have to admit that I was intrigued by the title of this book. It is what drew me to it and of course the blurb on the back cemented my desire to read this book. I kept going back and looking at the cover and trying to determine what about it kept drawing my attention. Even as I read it I kept going back to it. I finally figured it out after I finished the book and went back to the cover and stared at it like I do pictures in a museum. I won't give it away in case someone else had the same thing happen to them. It is a great cover but something that made me question what it means.

Girl Spoken For is told from the point of view of a 15/16 year old teen in the 10th grade, Tatum. It chronicles her daily life and how she ends up "spoken for" by the grandson of a mob boss. It also gives an in depth portrayal of how the normal trials of being a teen affect her. But, there are also some things most of us wish were not trials for a teen that she experiences that we watch her handle. These trials would shake up most adults so experiencing them with Tatum really draws you into the story. One of the best parts of Girl Spoken For is her inner dialogues as she reflects on conversations and events. I always reflect on events and conversations in my life and wondered if others had these same inner dialogues and even used to put them on paper until they were discovered by someone I wished had not discovered them because taken out of context most of our reflections might seem negative when read by the person who they are about even when they are not meant to be negative. Sometimes Tatum's thoughts spilled out on her friends and I was surprised and delighted by her friends' responses which reflected on how much they really cared for an understood her and her situation.

Tatum is extremely complex and I have to admit that I fell in love with her little sister, 6 year old Toni, and her responses to meeting Tatum's friends. She is so vibrant and innocent and there is this contrast I saw where Tatum also started with that same innocence and light until she starts experiencing some negative events. But, in school as she is internally dealing with these events her friends still were drawn to her and missing her light. We also see how a teenage girl goes through a relationship with her mother and those of us that had a contentious relationship with our mothers as teens can see from the outside how this might have looked and it was spot on. You hope that she comes out of it knowing that a lot of this is the teen not understanding the mother's role and just the conflict because the mother is the disciplinarian and the person guiding them through what they know a teenage girl can go through even if all they are doing is worrying because of their past experiences. Teens tend to see this as dislike by the parent when it is concern and the desire to protect. We also experience Tatum's thoughts and processing of her relationship with Zach. It was at times comical and at other times we cheered it on because of how much he cared for and protected her. You also worry about it because of his family. We only get a cursory glance at the structure and politics of his family towards the end of this part of the story which means I cannot wait for the next book and have already jumped on the author's website to see what I could learn about what was coming. Happy to see the next book, Girl Divided Two is coming soon.

Revive by Tracey Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Revive...an action packed thriller about Sophia, a girl with some pretty amazing gifts like speed, agility, ability to compute things in her head that most would need a computer program to work out and some really serious fighting skills. I was able to obtain an early release copy via the wonderful NetGalley in exchange for a review. We meet Sophia as she is coming out of a stupor with a good chunk of her memory missing. She is in what appears to be some sort of mall with a food court and there are men chasing her but she does not know who they are or quite what they want. The reader is along for the ride as Sophia tries to remember her past, who she really is and what she is doing with a young man named Kyle in the mall. She is also injured and cannot recall how she has become injured.

As the story moves along we move back and forth between current day and the time just before Sophia arrives at her college. We learn who she is and why she is there along with Sophia as she starts to regain her memory. So much of this story revolves around this process that I don't want to give anything away but suffice it to say that there are some really great surprises along with some pretty good fight scenes. We are also introduced to Sophia's friends, both at home and at college. For the most part the ones at college seem pretty basic, but, the ones she grew up with help make this story such a great one. They each have their own strengths and gifts as well as quirks that make you like them. They are well developed and make the reader want to get to know them better. I am not sure how the other stories will flow in the Red Zone series, i.e., whether it will always follow Sophia's point-of-view. But, it looks like it will at least continue where Revive left off. I can say that I had a bit of trouble sometimes knowing when the book was looking into the past because in some spots we don't know she is remembering something as opposed to currently living it other than the passage seems out of time with what was previously occurring. Then the end of the passage helps the reader clue in on the fact that what was previously read was a memory and not what was currently happening. This occurred a few times in the book. The other thing is a "trope" that I am not a fan of and I will leave that for the other readers to find out because it is a large part of the development of the story.