R. Barri FlowersCritiques

I enjoyed this intriguing romance. I bought this at a local library sale and I voluntarily chose to review this story. Two people brought together by murder and mayhem. This is not for the under 18 readers and I've given it a 4.5* rating. This has a lot of action and pulls you in very quickly. I just wanted this witness to get these bad buys so much. A very good ending.

This book was so good! I'm usually a fan of the Harlequin Intrigue novels, and this one is a great example of why. It had so many of my favorite tropes happening and the writing was quickly paced with some great action scenes. And, of course, the romance was electric and with the perfect amount of spice. This was definitely a recipe for success! I haven't read the other Hawaii CI books but if they have this kind of tone to them, I'm going to be!

I really liked the mix of a cold case and current homicide coming together. It was kind of like the characters of Caroline and Lance coming together. But some extra dimension is added with Lance's sister being the victim in the cold case and the cold case expert, Caroline, being his ex-girlfriend. Plus Lance is trying to deal with the current homicide and doing what is necessary to prevent there from being anymore. Because if the person responsible for the recent homicide is also the one responsible for the death of Lance's sister, that could mean there is a serial killer out there.

Along with the action and the romance was a really great investigation story. Reading about the steps Caroline and Lance took in order to work the cases and the clues along with talking to the possible suspects was really well done. It helped keep my eyes glued to the page and my mind glued to the story. Usually, I think of the investigation as a small aspect of the story with the focus being on the two main characters. But this one kind of added the investigation as a third main character and had Lance and Caroline weaving their way through it. Which definitely made for an interesting read.

I strongly recommend this book. Especially for anyone who doesn't want a super long novel that takes them forever and a day to read. If you're looking for a mystery to get cozy with that you can start and finish in a weekend, this is the one for you. I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

Good mix of suspense and romance. Daphne is a true crime writer on Maui for a book tour. She is also researching her next book, a murder-suicide that took place on the island the previous year. She seeks out Ken, the lead detective on the case. Ken is a detective with the Maui PD and is currently immersed in the search for a serial killer who stuns and then suffocates his victims.

I liked the first meeting between Ken and Daphne. He attended her book signing and got a copy of her book. She noticed him immediately as a good-looking man who intrigued her. Imagine her surprise the next day when she discovered he was the detective she needed to talk to. Ken was equally intrigued by Daphne. He had read her latest book in one sitting the night before and found it fascinating. I liked their immediate connection and desire to get to know each other better. The time they spent together showed their respect for each other's vocations and their compatibility. Their feelings for each other deepened quickly, but both were wary of saying anything. It took a nearly fatal incident for them to overcome their fears. The ending was good, and I liked the epilogue.

The suspense was good. I could feel Ken and the other task force members' frustration over their inability to catch him. When Daphne gets involved with Ken, she also gets involved with the search because of previous research on serial killers. Each new murder ramped up the intensity, especially after they'd thought they had him. Ken's protective instincts are aroused when he suspects Daphne may be the serial killer's next target because she resembles the other victims. I enjoyed watching the investigation progress, and I was glued to the pages as Ken and the others closed in on the suspect's identity. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist I didn't see coming.

The book was good and kept me hooked from start to finish. It lost a star, however, because of an overabundance of adverbs, mostly describing how a person spoke. People spoke: honestly, calmly, politely, friendly, tersely, lyrically (really!?), stiffly, wryly, eagerly, anxiously, bleakly, flatly, matter-of-factly, and emphatically - and that was just in the first chapter. It became very distracting as I waited to see what new adverb the author would use next. "Maudlinly" struck me as incredibly awkward sounding.

This book sucked me in from the first page and kept me hooked to the end. It opens with a prologue describing the murder of a young woman. Twenty years later, the woman's younger brother, Lance, is a Honolulu PD detective whose latest case has disturbing similarities to his sister's murder. As a result, Bonnie's case is being reopened, and a cold case expert is assigned to work with him. He's surprised to discover that his new associate is his ex-girlfriend, Caroline.

Caroline is a cold case specialist who recently solved a forty-year-old murder. She never expected to be working with Lance and is wary of spending time with the man who broke her heart. But Bonnie's case has intrigued her since she learned of it from Lance, and she welcomes the chance to bring closure to him.

The suspense of this book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The idea that a serial killer would kill once and then wait twenty years before killing again was unheard of. Still, the similarities between the cold case and the recent murders were undeniable. I was fascinated by the steps in the investigation as Caroline and Lance interviewed witnesses and suspects from the past and present. Are there links between the murders, or does a copycat carry out the current murders? The tension ramps up when Caroline receives threats warning her to back off from her investigation. There were plenty of twists and turns in this case that kept me guessing right to the end. Just when it looked like the cases were solved, an unexpected revelation called part of the case into question. I was on the edge of my seat as Caroline found herself in mortal danger and Lance racing to the rescue. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I loved that Caroline played a significant role in her own rescue.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Lance and Caroline. Lance has regretted his actions every day of the two and a half years since their breakup. He would love a second chance but has no idea if it is possible. Caroline is wary of spending time with him and starts out determined to keep things business-only. However, it doesn't take long for her to realize that she never stopped loving him. I liked that she didn't make it too easy on him. Lance had to do some serious explaining and groveling before she let him off the hook. I liked the epilogue and seeing where they were a few months later.

#netgalley

Good story. I liked the mix of suspense and romance. The book opens with the scene-setting death of an undercover DEA agent investigating drug trafficking on the island paradise of Kauai. This is followed by Dex and his fellow law enforcement officers setting up as more undercover agents to investigate her death and whether the resort and its owner are involved. Dex and his K-9, Barnabas, pose as a PI moonlighting as a piano player at the resort.

Widow Katrina works hard to keep her resort going after her husband's death. She's drawn to her new piano player but isn't sure if she's ready to do anything about it. When she receives a mysterious and vaguely threatening note, she hires PI Dex to investigate it. When she gets a second note claiming that he isn't who he says he is, Katrina wonders if she can trust him.

I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Dex and Katrina. The sparks between them are evident from the start, but Dex is there to do a job, not get involved with a possible suspect. Fortunately, he is quickly convinced of her innocence and can confide in her about his identity. As they spend time together looking for the truth behind her husband's death and that of the DEA agent, their attraction continues to grow. I liked how they found they had much in common and enjoyed spending time together outside the investigation. But Katrina is rooted to her lodge, and Dex travels a lot in his work for the DEA. Is it possible to have a successful relationship under those conditions? When Katrina's life is in danger, both realize that being together is what's important. I loved the ending and seeing how they overcame the obstacles.

The suspense of the story was good. I liked following the investigators as they tracked leads and tried to connect the dots. The threats against Katrina kept her and Dex on edge, while hints of her husband's actions led to other revelations. The intensity increased as they closed in on the ringleaders. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist Katrina didn't see coming. I loved seeing her strength as she stood up against her captor. The resolution was good, and the epilogue was a great wrap-up.

An enjoyable and entertaining read featuring likable lead characters Detective Logan Ryder and Grief Counselor Elena Kekona, interesting secondary characters (I especially liked Elena’s brother Tommy), a surprising mystery, and a wonderful setting on Hawaii’s Big Island.

This is a difficult book to review. I loved the Hawaiian setting and thought the suspense was well done. But the romance was a little too insta-love for me. The story opens as Logan, and fellow members of the Hawaii PD go over two murders with disturbing similarities, leading them to believe they have a serial killer on their hands. When the meeting is over, the police chief informs Logan that he's made an appointment for Logan to meet with a grief counselor. It has been three months since Logan's partner was killed during a domestic violence call, and it is affecting Logan's work. He's not thrilled with the idea, but he goes.

Elena enjoys her work as a grief counselor. Having lost her husband unexpectedly three years earlier, it feels good to help others through their grief. She lives alone in the house she shared with her husband, though her younger brother lives in a smaller house on the property. Though she hasn't given up on the idea of loving again, she hasn't been in any hurry to start dating.

The development of the relationship between Logan and Elena was incredibly fast. The sparks between them were evident when they met, though they kept things professional during his two sessions with her. Once that was over, they were free to see each other on a personal basis. It didn't take long for Logan to make the first move, and they quickly moved to the stage of being unable to keep their hands off each other. I didn't see much in getting to know each other though deepening their relationship is on both minds. There are a few bumps in their road, such as her brother coming under suspicion as the killer and Logan's worry about Elena being able to handle his job. Logan is concerned about her safety while the killer is on the loose, and he is right to do so. But when everything is over, it's only a short time between when they meet and the "I love you, will you marry me?" moment.

The suspense, on the other hand, was terrific. The serial killer is careful to leave no clues behind, making it difficult for the police to produce any leads. Their frustration was understandable as each task force member applied their specialties to stopping the killer before they could strike again. The intensity increased with each new murder, and I was glued to the pages as I waited to see what would happen. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Elena fell into the killer's clutches just as the task force got a break in the case. I never saw that angle coming. The ending was exciting, and I loved seeing Elena's actions.

My biggest problem with the book is that some writing felt very awkward. Some word choices felt odd, such as when Logan laughed "generously" followed by Elena laughing "jovially." And "exchanging tasty tongues" while kissing sounded ridiculous. There were also a few occasions where I felt there were needlessly detailed descriptions. Who cares that Elena's bedding was "a double-brushed microfiber duvet" and a "sateen-cotton sheet"? Just pull back the covers and be done with it!

I will still read the next book in the series.

#netgalley

Listened to audio narrated by Jane Boyer. The first eight chapters are about Nora with her husband and children and their idealized life, before they are taken from her. Nora and her family are portrayed as this perfect family, all about the love they have for each other and their hopes that they have many years ahead to share. The author does an excellent job conveying the shock and loss. After the violence, the story again becomes a romantic fantasy. The characters are all understanding, kind and sweet, even Robert's cheating ex-wife, is all understanding and wishing Robert well with Nora. It's a sweet romance, a good storyline but the characters were too sweet for me and I felt the narrator was too monotone.

This book was a good overview of the crimes of Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck. It is a short book, and not in-depth, but it is good and gives the facts. At the end, there is a bonus of short previews of R. Barri Flowers other book, including a fiction novel based on Jack the Ripper. The short preview was quite intriguing. I did enjoy this book as well.

Being a literature review-cum-collection of statistics about the named topic, plus considerable information about male prostitution, making the title a partial misnomer, not a good start. The book is clearly designed for researchers, not general readers, despite the author's inclusion of the odd, and gratuitous, bit of titillation in a few places. The book is rather repetitious, since Flowers organizes by the prostitutes' demographics and geography, and the statistics don't vary that much between groups. Very few of his conclusions are counterintuitive or surprising in any way, so Captain Obvious makes frequent appearances. He often slips into a rather shrill, and extremely repetitive, advocacy about the hazards of the life of the prostitute which calls into question how objectively he has chosen his statistics and digest of research. The most interesting part of the book, by some distance, is the final quarter, which summarizes international conditions. Since this book is not for general readers and his then state-of-the-art statistics and review of research are twenty years old, it's difficult to recommend an audience for this book.½

A sweet and sexy read. Although the plot had very little conflict and not much depth to it, I really liked the main couple (hotel guest relations director Sloane, and bed and breakfast owner Gene). The romance was easygoing and there was plenty of sex. The tropical island paradise of Maui was gorgeous and provided a wonderful setting and made me wish I was there.

i didn't need this book to be written like a narrative or voyeuristic fiction, but i would have appreciated something more than what was given. this is a book that is just filled with statistics, and i would have preferred the entire thing just be given in bullet points, since there was no analysis of anything. it's hard for me to rate this because it has some important information in it, but it's presented in such an unapproachable way, and, quite frankly, much of it is written in an offensive way.

I found this collection to be a big book of meh, but to be completely honest, my lack of reaction is likely due to the fact that I already know so much about all the murders discussed in this book that it was old hat. To a novice reader of true crime, this collection may be deeply interesting.

Still, some of this collection does justify blah feelings. Some of the writers were simply not particularly good story tellers, or at least they were not good story tellers in a short format. I bought this book specifically because it included a look at the Keddie murders - a largely overlooked mass murder - and because Katherine Ramsland wrote an article for the collection.

Sadly, the article Ramsland wrote was about Leonarda Cianciulli, who killed women as sacrifices in order to protect her son, who was entering the military. She turned her victims into soap. A lurid story, but once one knows about it not even Ramsland has the skill to make it seem fresh and interesting.

The article about the Keddie murders - Nightmare on Spanish Creek by Robert Scott - was interesting but somehow did not manage to capture the sheer horror of the case. In 1981, Sue Sharp was murdered, along with her son and one of his friends, in the cabin she was renting in Keddie, California. Her youngest child, Tina, was also killed but this was not immediately noticed because she had been removed from the crime scene by the murder(ers). But the article brought nothing new to the table for anyone (like me) who has seen the Cabin 23 documentaries about the case. But if this is the first you are hearing about the case, it likely will be a deeply interesting and saddening read.

This collection also has two other "big names" attached to it. Carol Anne Davis wrote a fascinating story about a British arsonist with a large body count. This was the first I had read of this particular killer and Davis is an excellent writer. Harold Schechter wrote about a young woman who was killed in her bathtub, a crime almost a century old. Schechter is an old hand at true crime so even though this was not one of the more lurid cases discussed in the book, it still managed to interest me.

Another excellent article was from Camille Kimball called "The Trophy Wife." This tells the sorry story of a lovely young woman who meets a charming grifter. She takes care of him - he is the trophy wife in the story - and he runs roughshod over her until she holds little use for him. Laura James also tells the story of a fascinating Russian femme fatale from the turn of the 19th century that is very much worth a read.

Otherwise, the rest of these true crime tales were unremarkable and not worth discussing. Like I said, perhaps a newcomer to true crime will find more to like in this book but I found the rest of the stories to be less than compelling, likely because the writing was not stellar. I feel full of meh, but this is not the worst true crime collection I have ever read, so that counts for something, I think.

Dude wants to get with a girl just because she’s hot, despite hundreds of warning signs that would make even the most besotted 17 year old run. And he’s a veteran of divorce court, who’s world weary tone should give him a clue. Flowers uses some awfully trite physical descriptions too: Her complexion was like maple syrup over buttered waffles. A) Food descriptions of skin tone are tiresome. B) Maple syrup I can see as a skin tone. Smooth and brown. On top of buttered waffles? Have you ever looked at buttered waffles after pouring syrup on them? They are blotchy, greasy and pockmarked. This is not attractive. Tasty and delicious in a waffle, but not so much for a complexion.

When her son is accused of murder, a prosecutor must race against time to clear his name and find the real criminal.

In Eagles Landing, California, Assistant District Attorney Beverly Mendoza has been selected to prosecute a disturbing case: the brutal murder of a local judge and the rape of his wife. The defendant, Rafael Santiago, once vowed to get revenge against the judge for sending him to prison, and the judge's wife picked him out of a line-up. It seems like an open-and-shut case. But appearances can be very deceiving.

At the same time, homicide detective Stone Palmer is investigating the rape and strangling of a young woman. Career criminal Manuel Gonzalez is in custody for the crime, but he pulls the rug out from everyone when he claims he's the one who murdered the judge. Could it be a case of mistaken identity? Or two desperate, violent men out to manipulate and beat the system?

There is a killer on the prowl, terrorizing the streets of Portland, brutally beating men to death. Each victim was recently on trial for domestic abuse, but each was released. The press is having a field day with the new vigilante killer, but it's up to Detective Sergeant Ray Barkley and his partner, Detective Nina Preston, to stop the killer.

Among the suspects is Criminal Court Judge Carole Cranston, who presided over the trials of each victim. As the case heats up and the body count rises, Ray sees signs pointing toward Carole as the killer--but he also begins to realize he might no longer be objective where she is concerned. But neither is Nina. She's determined to prove Carole is the killer for hidden reasons of her own.