Crime and Passion Book Review (Tomoson)

I read Crime and Passion by Chantal Rhondeau, in exchange for review from Tomoson.

Book description: (copied from Tomoson). 

New release of a romantic suspense/mystery novel. Ebooks will be provided through a coupon at Smashwords. A decorated police officer, more intent on justice than following the letter of the law, lands in trouble when a schoolteacher finds a dead body on the beach. Officer Donovan Andrews knows how to have a good time—ask any woman in town. But when it comes to men abusing their wives or children, Donovan takes it upon himself to make them regret it. Madeline Scott is unlucky in love. All she wants is a quiet place to heal, away from cheating, womanizing men. However, her life is far from peaceful once she stumbles across the body and witnesses someone fleeing the scene. Terror spreads in Pleasant View when the small community hears a killer is on the loose. All evidence points to Donovan, and he realizes someone is trying to frame him. When troubling suspicions from his past surface, even fellow officers believe he’s guilty. Madeline might be the only person who can clear his name, but first he has to win her trust. The body count rises and no one is safe. The murderer makes it clear Madeline is next. Soon, Donovan’s whole world is focused on protecting her and keeping himself out of prison. The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to fight his growing attraction. Since she’s been burned by love, convincing Madeline he’s interested in something more than hot sex may prove harder than keeping her alive.

My Review:

I liked the book. The opening scenes were written well. Madeline, a dog walker, finds a body along the beach, while walking a dog. She calls the authorities. The man, who died, is not liked within the community, and many people wanted him dead, maybe his widow or his kids. The police were called to the victim's house the night before because he hit his children. Donovan, the cop at the scene, is also worried he may be accused of the crime.

I liked the book



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

On the edge book review and tour

I read On The Edge, in exchange for review from Sage Publications. The book is written by Dick Hannah. 

Book Description: (copied from the media kit)

After Joe Malone was run out of the Marines due to debilitating agoraphobia brought on by a fire fight Iraq he was forced to turn to his former Marine father for help. Having made some strides back to normalcy, Joe’s rocky relationship with his father is destroyed when he fires Joe after one their clients is found brutally murdered during a class at their military style fitness boot camp. Things only get worse when a second client is murdered right in front of Joe three days later. Joe is forced to decide what he wants more, the safety and security of staying at home working as a model builder for his old friend Kathy or the chance to reclaim his father’s respect and potentially own the boot camp business by tracking down the killer. Determined not to let anymore of his friends get hurt, and desperate to return to his father’s good graces, Joe agrees to accompany a group of their clients on a trip to West Texas for a three day adventure race. The challenges Joe expected to face are magnified during the train trip across Texas when he finds that his boss, Kathy, is along for the ride. The dangers continue to escalate the farther west they go, with Joe no longer sure of who to trust, with Kathy having to join a team on the race, and with his brother and father shadowing him across the state. Add to this that Joe’s own personal nemesis, Horne, shows up with his own team of adventure racers and is overtly trying to endanger Joe. Joe is forced to find the motivation to continue the trip, the personal dedication to overcome his fear of crowds and of open, even when his past and the associated memories keep rising to the surface and threaten all the gains he’s made since returning from the war. The adventure race is the least of Joe’s concerns. The rafting, climbing, rappelling, biking, running and other obstacles are nothing compared to the personal challenges Joe is forced to confront. The race comes to an abrupt end when Horne is killed during the rappelling portion of the race. With his death, however, Joe is able to see the connection between all the murders and understands that it is two of his own clients who are the murderers. With Kathy and his father, Joe confronts the two murderers and is able keep them from escaping. The novel ends with Joe working full time for Kathy, eschewing his father’s business in an effort to break away from the manipulations of his family so he can focus on building a life of his own.

LINKS:
• https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/235892
• www.puborperish.blogspot.com
• http://www.amazon.com/On-Edge-Dick-Hannah/dp/1301821411

My Review:

The book starts out with Joe leading exercise boot camp. Joe eventually realizes 10 recruits are missing. He broke a rule: never split the force, but Joe still went looking for his students.  Chapter 1 was a good intro into the book. Start of a great mystery. In Chapter 2, 9 of the recruits was finally found, which means one was still missing. The mystery continues. What happened to that 1 student? Chapter 2 started with a question: What happened to that one student and ended with a bang. Very intense. 

The book was a great read. 

About the Author:

Imagine Dick Francis listing toward adventure races instead of horse racing. Or Diane Mott Davidson writing about triathlons inlieu of catering. With a background in adventure races including competing in the Army Best Ranger Competition Dick Hannah provides a fresh voice and real world glimpse into the world of adventure racing and fitness in his thriller novels. Prior to starting his writing career he spent four years as a Ranger team leader and continues to stay sharp by working as a fitness consultant at a fitness bootcamp. When not racing or writing, Dick works full-time as technical writer, business analyst and trainer. Dick followed up Toe the Line, his first full-length novel, in 2013 with On the Edge. He has already started on his third thriller, Vapor Trail, which he plans to release in 2014. He can be contacted through his blog at Puborperish