Review: Horses and Heroin by Bev Petterson

Title:  Horses and Heroin
Author:  Bev Pettersen
Genre:  Romantic Mystery
Book Size:  306 pages (Amazon didn't show the eBook for some reason. I purchased this book in 2015 and just now got around to reading)

Jockey School Is Not What It Seems.

A talented rider disappears without a trace.
His frantic sister poses as a student.
A private investigator's plans for quiet recuperation are shattered.

Megan is determined to find her missing brother even though no one else at the illustrious California Jockey School seems to care. Her only ally is a recuperating PI who unfortunately is the owner's best friend. Soon she is caught between a blossoming romance and a far-reaching conspiracy...and misplaced trust can be deadly.

I almost passed on this book because of the title. Yes, I'm against hard drug use, but that's not the reason why. Frankly, it's just a stupid title when another could have worked better. That said, I'm glad I read the book's description because that's what sold me to click the BUY button.

This is my first novel by Bev Petterson and I'd be interested in reading others. I like horses. I like horse racing. Put the two together and she wrote an outstanding, fresh story. There were slow sections of the story where I admit to quickly skimming over to get back into the action. Especially the part authors call "The Sagging Middle".

The heroine Megan enrolls in jockey school (I didn't know there were such things) to investigate the disappearance of her brother. Enter the hero, Scott. He's a P.I. who'd been grazed by a bullet to the head during his last job and he needs to recuperate away from the hustle of his busy P.I. office. Of course, any man in his right mind who'd recently been shot in the head would naturally choose to hide-out at jockey school that just so happens to be owned by his buddy. (who just so happens to need a drug addict instructor)

Throw in the Mexican drug cartel, a few bad jockeys, a few goofy sidekicks, and this turned out to be quite an enjoyable read! I was never quite sure "whodunit" until the author divested the truth. Good job on the part of Bev Petterson and her superb writing skills.

Mystery, suspense, sexy characters as well as despicable ones, and plenty of Thoroughbred racehorse track action to keep you standing in your stirrups until the very end.

**** Four Stars
 

Review: Prophecy's Healing by Brenda Dyer

Title:  Prophecy's Healing, Book 5, The Prophecy Series
Author:  Brenda Dyer
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Book Size:  904 KB / 322 Pages

Her love for him has spanned time.

After years of betrayal, Julia Murphy is starting over and attempting to leave her broken-hearted past behind. As a waitress at The Green Tree nightclub, she’s working to save enough money to finally take the college courses that will kick-start her new future. But fate has other plans. When two men viciously attack her, a tall, menacing stranger comes to Julia’s aid and thrusts her on a wild journey into a past that death has erased and a world she didn’t know exists.

His past and future collide

As the deadliest vampire warrior in the Surrey squad, Ace is feared and avoided, which is fine by him. He cares for nothing and nobody, including himself. But when he rescues a pretty waitress from a deadly attack, he can’t deny he’s drawn to her. However, this newfound attraction comes with consequences Ace never could have foreseen. He comes face to face with his tormented past, and Julia is the link. Now, he must decide whether he’ll fight for a love that’s spanned the ages, or if he’ll allow centuries old hate and betrayal to destroy their futures.

This is Book 5 in the Prophecy series and while it could be read as a stand-alone, it probably wouldn't make as much sense unless you read the whole series in order.

Throughout the series, Ace has always been grouchy and mean. He wasn't mentioned a whole lot, but the other books weren't about him. Fair enough. In Prophecy's Healing, we find out why he acts the way he does. Two hundred years ago in the past, he'd been betrayed by a woman he loved. A cliche' story plot, but fun to read nonetheless. In the end, her betrayal gets her killed and Ace lives with the residual effect of not only the betrayal, but the fact that he'd been the lucky soul who killed her.

Fast forward to present day Surrey, BC. Julia is working in a dive bar hustling drinks and hates it. Why she works there and not flipping burgers at a greasy spoon or making change at Wal-Mart is unknown, but that's beside the point. The author had to put them together and does so in a way that's enjoyable to read. I mean, what's better than a super tall, super muscular, long-haired, bad-ass alpha male vampire rescuing a weak human female from two drunk brutes after last call? Again, cliche', but well written.

Throughout the story there's all sorts of angst - should she? No! Should he - Hell no! Back and forth, push and pull....I almost quit reading because the overdone melodrama of it all. But again, the author's talent kept me turning the virtual pages. Kudos to Ms. Dyer.

Prophecy's Healing is a good book. I recommend reading all the books in order, however.

**** Four Stars

 

Review: Ghost Hunter by Lori Brighton

Title:  Ghost Hunter

Author:  Lori Brighton

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Book Size:  739 KB / 291 Pages

When Ashley Hunter inherits the Inn where her father mysteriously vanished years ago, she jumps at the chance to finally uncover the truth about his disappearance. But soon after taking ownership of the decrepit building, Ashley realizes she’s in for far more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited answers to many sought-after questions, she’s also inherited spirits, demons and even fallen angels! Then Cristian arrives, a gorgeous man who insists he merely needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing...

As a fallen angel destined for a life of servitude, Cristian Lucius is relegated to protecting earth from unwanted spirits. But he can’t accomplish this daunting task alone. He requires assistance from the very woman who frustrates him as much as she intrigues him. Cristian is determined to ignore his intense attraction for Ashley, and focus on his mission. If they don’t work together, they won’t have a chance in hell of defeating the demon threatening their lives. The problem is getting Ashley to trust him. No easy task, considering Cristian is the very man responsible for her father’s disappearance.

 Ghost Hunter is a great story with characters whom I immediately liked. The heroine Ashley has been treated mentally insane all her life because she can see and speak to ghosts. I was a bit lost in the beginning, not understanding exactly what powers Ashley held. It was a long time into the story before it became firmly stated. Keeping me on the edge of the seat, if this was the author's intent, didn't work for me.


So, American Ashley inherits a rundown home from her aunt in England, that she calls a Pub. I don't know why it's referred that way since I don't recall any reference made to it being a drinking establishment. So, again, that part threw me off each time the reference was made.

The hero is a well-rounded character named Cristian, who turns out to be a fallen angel trying to make it back into the good graces of Micheal, the head angel and his boss. While he doesn't have wings that outstretch like I'd been hoping, he does have tattoos of wings on his back - which I found as a bit of a letdown. Again, personal opinion. With the build up of what was to come between the demon who plagues the Pub and this avenging angel, I thought there'd be more excitement or fear or something once the cat was let out of the bag, so to speak.

The ghosts who live in the house/pub that Ashley comes to think of as family start disappearing one by one. Perhaps the description of her feelings for the ghosts was too strong because when the last ghost disappears, she really isn't all that upset. Kind of made me go, "huh!".

There are the usual side characters that helped round out the story, but I never understood why everyone kept the "Big Secret" from Ashley. Especially when the reader finds out what the big secret is, and I didn't think it was all that big after all. Though I must admit, I like the twist on Who the big secret turned out to be.

*** 3 Star Review