Book Review: Merciless ARC

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Books (26 July 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0373775792
• ISBN-13: 978-0373775798

Tall, dark and eligible? That’s all that matters to the women of Jacobsville when it comes to handsome and aloof FBI agent Jon Blackhawk. But if it were up to him, he would never settle down. Luckily, Jon has the best gatekeeper: his efficient and reliable assistant, Joceline Perry. Without her help, he’d be at the mercy of husband hunters — but the more he comes to rely on her, the more he notices how invaluable she really is....

While Joceline can’t deny that her boss is attractive, as a single mother with responsibilities she’s determined to be professional. But when Jon is accosted by a criminal seeking revenge, she comes to his aid — fueling the spark that is growing between them.

As the attempts on Jon’s life increase, Joceline stands by his side. But when the smoke clears, will the man who avoided love realize that all he ever needed was right there all along?

I went into Merciless thinking it would be another romance novel. Colour me surprised when I found out it was so much more than that. Merciless is a crime novel, a mystery, a thriller with a romantic twist.

When a criminal with an appetite for vengeance is released, he doesn’t waste time making his intentions clear. Both Jon and Jocelyn receive threatening phone calls, putting all their families at risk.

Merciless is full of secrets and revenge and double-crossing…not to mention the achingly sweet romance at the heart of it.

The characters of Jocelyn and Jon are at times beautiful to read, at others incredibly frustrating. They are both well written and complex characters, easily carrying the storyline and the reader along with it.  For comic relief there is the ever-loveable Markie. There’s nothing like a tell-it-like-it-is child to bring a laugh to the story. And every story needs a villain in the shape of Mother Dearest.

Merciless delivers a steady thump of fear throughout, adding to the mystery and the whodunit quality. But always on the periphery, is the growing attraction between the leading characters.

This story will get under your skin and stay there long after the book is finished. My mind constantly drifted back to it whenever I wasn’t reading, wondering what would happen next and how the pieces of the puzzle would all slot together.

Merciless is one book not to be missed this summer.

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Book Review: Day of Vengeance ARC

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Templar (1 Aug 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 1848771037
• ISBN-13: 978-1848771031

Schoolboy time-traveller Jack Christie is thrown back to 1940s Nazi-occupied France. With the Battle of Britain and the German Vengeance programme underway, the Second World War is at a crucial point. Jack and his best friend Angus take a more senior role in VIGIL's attempts to prevent intervention in history, attempting to stop the Revisionists from their highly volatile nuclear plan to stop the war. With spitfire dogfights, jeep races and thrilling chases, the boys have their most hair-raising adventure yet, including involvement in an assassination attempt on Hitler himself. Just as all seems lost, Jack's father returns and a nuclear disaster is averted in the nick of time.

In the latest instalment of the Jack Christie novels, there is no short of action and adventure for Jack and his good friend Angus. When VIGIL security is breached, the boys have no option but to travel back in time again – this time landing themselves smack bang in the Second World War.

Jack and Angus find themselves involved in an assassination attempt of Hitler, an underground rebel base in Paris and an extremely risky rescue mission. The boys get themselves in more than a few sticky situations, but the action is nicely balanced by the humour, which is not in short supply.

Day of Vengeance was an extremely enjoyable read. It is very well written, easily throwing the reader into the excitement and danger alongside Angus and Jack. What I enjoyed most, was the connections to the future, and how, unwittingly, the boys contributed to certain things in their present time.

This is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone – boys, girls and adults alike. I cannot wait to see where the author will take Jack and Angus, and me also of course, on their next adventure. 

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July is NetGalley Month!

Over on Red House Books, Emily a.k.a WilowRaven is sharing the NetGalley love!

The goal is simple: read as many NetGalley books as you can in the month of July!

All you have to do is "declare yourself". Preferably, post on your book, Facebook wall, Tumblr - anywhere on the interwebs and link back to the original Red House Books post. Tell all your friends and followers about NetGalley July.

*OR*

Tweet about the event using the hashtag #NetGalleyMonth

But you MUST comment on the original post.

And then the best bit...read as many NetGalley as you can!

There will be prizes - two winners will receive $15 worth of books from The Book Depository :)

Happy reading!

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