Kim's Book Reviews
| Book Titles |
|---|
| One Touch Beyond |
| Enchanted Holidays |
| Suspicious Minds |
| Suspicious Minds Author Quotes |
One Touch Beyond
From: Paranormal Romance Reviews
"Haunting tales of mystery and love that transcend time and death"
Chris Grover leads off this well-envisioned anthology with Believing in Dreams, the story of a young woman searching for the past she has never known. Her mother's childhood was a blank until after she passes away. Nicole comes across the photo of a house in a small Canadian town, St. Stephans de Pins. From that moment, the house haunts her dreams. She will have no peace until the mystery is solved. Within hours of arriving, she meets a handsome and charming man, converses with a cat, and realizes that she has found the keys to her past and the promise of her future.
Though somewhat distracted by the writer's use of first person for this story, it was well written and perfectly paced. A great way to start you cheering for a happily ever after.
The question in Enigma by Cheryl Hames Torres is why has a beautiful, young blind woman appeared at the scene of several savage murders claiming she has no memory of the events that brought her to the scene? Brace Adams is the cop looking for answers, and falling for the lovely young murder suspect left in his custody. Certain of her innocence, he vows to protect her from the demon that seems to haunt her. Unfortunately, he stands a good chance of becoming the next victim.
I found this story intriguing in that it takes some familiar themes and gives them a quirky twist. The characters shine, and the spark of romance remains bright as the characters overcome horrors of the supernatural kind.
In our third entry, Lana Malloy faces a spirit who threatens her to Get Out or Die. Her job is to help restless spirits, and the families they are haunting, find peace. When she takes the case of the angry spirit haunting the home of Ellie Ramsey, she faces her biggest challenge yet. With the help of her boyfriend and a deceased aunt, she finds the courage to brave the chaos from generations of pain, and bring healing to a home torn by hatred. She also opens her heart to happiness with the man she loves.
The story is smooth and nicely penned. The murder mystery aspect adds a nice touch of intrigue that raises it above average and leaves Kim Cox with a winner.
'Neath Hallowed Halls and Ivied Walls brings us two college sweethearts reunited to solve the mystery of a beloved professor's death. Peter and Stacey are Harvard graduates who have found each other again since they parted after graduation. Both receive a phone call letting them know that their favorite professor has taken his own life. They feel they should be there to honor his memory, and find a reason why a man who had loved life so much would be willing to take his own. The investigation leads then into strange paranormal encounters, and the discovery of evil rituals that may demand the ultimate sacrifice.
A familiar environment and unpredictable plot keep this murder investigation memorable. Harvard is an American landmark, and this tale of obsession spawned terrors behind the facade of higher education makes me a new fan of Maureen McMahon.
Up last is Elizabeth Delisi's short but sweet time travel tale, Restless Spirit. Laura has lost her husband and son. She takes a chance trying to find them using an Ouija board. Instead she meets Rafe, a man who has also lost a loved one, but is still among the living. They discover they are communicating with each other from the same town, in the same room of the same old house. What purpose could speaking with a stranger across time serve to mend their grieving hearts?
A clever plot and a miracle that crosses time to save a child's life let you finish this often intense anthology on a high note. One Touch Beyond is a page turner I can give high marks all the way through.
Reviewed by Miranda Lee
Posted October 21, 2008
From: The Romance Studio
Get Out or Die! by Kim Cox
This is a delightfully comedic story about the adventures of Lana Malloy, a young woman who is able to communicate with the ghost to help them move on. When suddenly ghosts are able to possess her body, things get more out of hand than usual.
Restless Spirit by Elizabeth Delisi
Using her deceased son's Ouiji board, a grief-stricken mother tries to contact him. Instead she reaches a living man using an Ouiji board in the same room in her same house but more than a hundred years in the past.
Believing in Dreams by Chris Grover
When a young woman's mother dies suddenly, she begins having dreams of the grandmother she never knew existed calling her to travel to a hometown she'd never heard of to meet her destiny before it is too late.
Aliens Among Us by Elaine Hopper
Two teenaged heroes have trouble conceiving they are the only ones who realize aliens are taking over the bodies of the townspeople and it is up to them to enlist the aid of a disabled veteran who owns some weapons to save the town and possibly the world.
'Neath Hallowed Halls and Ivied Walls by Maureen McMahon
Two old college buddies who went their separate ways are reunited for the funeral of their favorite professor. His death was ruled a suicide but they believe it was murder. As they investigate the death of their beloved professor, they realize these feelings they still have for each other are love.
Enigma by Sheryl Hames Torres
A policeman falls in love with his suspect. He works to prove the innocence of a young blind woman who has been found every five years, sobbing and covered in blood, sitting beside the brutally butchered, bloody body of a murdered victim. She doesn't know how or why she came to be there.
Each of the stories in the Shivers and Screams, Visions and Dreams anthology were based on a paranormal thread. The book is a showcase of the vivid imaginations of its authors making this anthology a delightfully stimulating read. If you are the least bit interested in Science Fiction or the Paranormal this is a must read. Even those who don't particularly care for the genre will find they enjoy these stories. I highly recommend One Touch Beyond.
Overall rating: 4 1/2 Hearts
Sensuality rating: Sweet/Mildly sensual
Reviewer: Karen H.
March 20, 2007
Copyright © 2007 theromancestudio.com
From: Coffee Time Romance
Rating: 4 cups
Believing in Dreams by Chris Grover
Nicole James had a loving upbringing, but her mother never talked about her family or the man who was Nicole's father. She keeps dreaming of a large log house and a grandmotherly woman.
Alain Martin is trying to make up for his grandfather's crimes against the people of St. Stephan, but they distrust him and his plans.
A friendly spirit is determined to save her town and help her granddaughter find love.
This is a really sweet story with strong characters and a very happy ending.
Enigma by Sheryl Hames Torres
Every five years Amy awakes beside a brutally murdered man with no idea how she got there. Blind since the age of five, she could not have driven to the crime scene and her fingerprints are found nowhere nearby.
Blane, a police detective, is fascinated by Amy and convinced of her innocence. Her involvement with the murders is a mystery to all.
A vicious spirit haunts a blind girl, determined to get revenge. A police detective, in love with Amy, is determined to save her and solve the mystery.
This is an eerie tale with a very surprising ending.
Get Out or Die! by Kim Cox
Lana is an investigator specializing in the paranormal. She also has a fear of commitment to her fiance Tony.
Adam O'Kelly is a ghost. He was murdered, but everyone thinks he committed suicide. He is angry at his murderer and is taking his anger out on the family of his partner, and his godchildren now living in his house.
An angry spirit is determined to keep the family of his business partner from inhabiting his house.
I felt as though I were missing something in this story. The story was very good, but I got the feeling that it was part of a series and that I was missing some essential information. (Note from author: It is part of a series but also stands alone.)
'Neath Hallowed Halls and Ivied Walls by Maureen McMahon
Stacey is a travel writer. She comes home from a harrowing trip to Afghanistan to the news that her favorite college professor has committed suicide. She is comforted by her former sweetheart, Peter.
Peter works for his father's bank and has rediscovered his college sweetheart. He is saddened by Professor Donaldson's death.
Two former students return to Harvard for the funeral of their favorite professor. They find that he is linked to an unsavory cult. They are determined to uncover the cause of his death, while hopefully avoiding their own.
This is a terrifying tale and very suspenseful after a slow start.
Restless Spirit by Elizabeth Delisi
Laura is devastated by the death of first, her husband, and then her son. She procrastinates packing their belongings by playing with Brian's Ouija board.
Rafe is mourning the death of his brother Joshua. Using an Ouija board, he makes contact with a woman named Laura, who is also in mourning.
Two people saddened by unnecessary death make a connection that will change both of their lives forever.
I cannot say too much about this story without giving it all away. Rafe and Laura are great characters and the author puts an unusual twist in the plot that really makes this one stand out.
This is an outstanding collection of ghostly tales. There is something for everyone, from the sweet romance of the first, to the eerie suspense of the fourth. The stories go very well together and each is well written, carefully plotted, and has well developed characters. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the first story, but that would be a very difficult choice as all of them are excellent.
Maura, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Enchanted Holidays
From: Romantic Times Reviews
Rating: 3 stars
This collection of tales from six authors who know how to please sets the tone for several romantic holidays. The blend of ghosts, mediums, prophecy and tragedy -- most of which take place during the Christmas season -- is a pleasant read. (Note from authors: Stories include 2 during Christmas season, 2 set around New Year's, and 2 around Valentine's Day.)
Summary: Kim Cox's Haunted Hearts pits private eye Lana against spirits as she strives to solve the decades-old murder of her aunt. In Mistletoe Medium, Elizabeth Delisi brings together psychic Lottie and the deliciously hunky Sheriff Harkin. Chris Grover's Valentine's Inn uses a ghost to convince Rianna to keep her inheritance.
Alexis must defeat a demon-god in Elaine Hopper's Curse of Osiris." Maureen McMahon's Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne has journalist Stacy in a fight to discover who's haunting her new home. Sheryl Hames Torres' Gemma is a first-rate Scrooge until a tragic accident gives her the most important Christmas wish of all in Fate's Little Trick."
Faith V. Smith
Romantic Times Reviews
From: Fallen Angels Reviews
Fallen Angels Reviews gives ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS 5 Angels
Enchanted Holidays is filled with a wonderful collection of stories set around various holidays. Six talented authors each offer their own version of a holiday romance and all are worth reading.
According to an ancient prophesy Alexis Hart is fated to marry the Egyptian god Seth and be murdered so that he may take over the world in the Curse of Osiris by Elaine Hopper. Zane Ryan has no intention of allowing that to happen; he has come to protect her and he will sacrifice anything to save her. How can a simple man defeat an evil god and why must it be this man that comes to save her; the man who broke her heart four years ago? This tale reminds me of some of the mythology tales I had to study in school, except I found this on more entertaining. Ms. Hopper has a sense of humor but you must read this story to find the irony!
In Fate's Little Trick by Sheryl Hames Torres, Gemma McKenzie Fuller doesn't like Christmas, everything bad that has ever happened to her has occurred around Christmas. First she lost her first love and then years later her husband and daughter and her hearing. Gemma's parents are gone and she is all alone running a small country store and renting vacation cabins. Jared Mittchel and his deaf daughter Emily are on the run. His wife is dead and he believes his in-laws are trying to take his daughter away and they have more money than he can afford to fight. Jared finds Gemma's cabin and hopes it is out of the way enough that they can't be found. He loves his daughter and will not just turn her over to his in-laws. Fate's Little Trick is a wonderful, poignant, story about the hurt some people can inflict on other people. Both Gemma and Jared are wounded souls and none of their pain is of their making; they were wronged and robbed of the opportunity for happiness by the selfishness of another person. Although parts of this story are really sad, it is also filled with hope; hope that love can heal broken hearts. I really liked this tale!
A New Year's ghost story is an unexpected holiday tale but that is exactly what Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne by Maureen McMahon is. Stacey Christian's friend Holly and her brother have inherited their grandmother's old lake house and property and invited their friends down for the New Year's holidays. Holly tells Stacey an old family ghost story and talks Stacey into trying to help her solve the mystery so the ghost can rest in peace. But something more sinister seems to be going on; there are just too many accidents happening to the people at the lake house. Will Stacey, Holly and their friends figure out what is going on before someone is seriously injured or worse? I always like a good ghost story and this one does not disappoint. The ghost is a sad woman who lost her true love unexpectedly and all the couples at the house have love issues to deal with too. Could this be why the ghost is appearing now? Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne is an appealing story about the power of true love so expect to be charmed but it is also a tale filled with suspense for someone alive now is attempting to harm the people at the lake house! Very well done!
Haunted Hearts by Kim Cox is a charming Valentine's ghost story. Lana Malloy is a newly licensed private investigator and her great-aunt Lucy wants to hire her to solve a 20-year-old double murder that happened on Valentine's Day. The only problem is Lucy and her fiance are the people who were murdered. Lucy has figured out that if Lana can solve the mystery by Valentine's Day then she and her fiance will finally be able to leave and be together for eternity otherwise they have to wait another year for this opportunity. I loved this unique Valentine's story. The ghost characters and their living relatives were all delightful and fun. And of course it is a Valentine's story, so there is romance as well as the mystery.
Mistletoe Medium by Elizabeth Delisi is a Christmas romantic suspense tale. Lottie Baldwin is new in town and has met and started dating the local sheriff's deputy Harlan Erikson. Lottie is a psychic and gets periodic images about things, so when Harlan starts investigating a string of strange burglaries, Lottie wants to help. Can Lottie and Harlan work together and solve the crimes; will Harlan be able to believe in Lottie? This is a very cute story. Lottie and Harlan seem like complete opposites. Lottie is a silly, flighty, flirt to Harlan's serious, straightforward type of personality yet they are attracted to one another. I grinned all the way through this lighthearted romp while these two opposites muddled along trying to solve their mystery. This is a fun story!
In Valentine's Inn by Chris Grover, Rianna Gordon is trying to decide what to do with her life now. She was injured in an auto accident that killed her three best friends and law buddies so she has no desire to return to that life. What Rianna would really like to do is just disappear and hide away for the rest of her life, but first she has to decide what to do with the old family inn. The inn has been in Rianna's family for over 100 years but she has an offer from a developer who wants to tear it down and build luxury condos for wealthy retirees. The money would allow her to buy the house of her dreams where she could live comfortably and hide from life, but is that what she really wants? Can she let someone tear down over 100 years of her family history? Valentine's Inn is a really sweet, yet poignant story. I liked Rianna's character and it was interesting to follow her decision making process as she tries to come to terms with what she really wants to do now. And of course there is a little mystery and romance thrown it to make it an even better tale!
All of the stories in this holiday anthology have a paranormal twist and yet are sentimental romances that anyone would enjoy curling up to read.
Reviewed by: Stephanie B.
From: TwoLips Reviews
Rating: 4 Lips
Curse of Osiris by Elaine Hopper
Zane Ryan broke Alexis Hart's heart four years ago, and she wants nothing to do with him. But her adoptive family insist she listen to the still sexy cowboy's warning that he must hide her away as lives are at stake. Adopted by an Egyptian family, Alexis has never known her biological parents but has been lovingly raised in Muslim culture and religion. Supposedly now the Curse of Osiris and the Millenium Prophecy hinges upon Alexis' very existence.
Fate's Little Trick by Sherryl Hames Torres
Gemma's life seems to always collapse around Christmastime. She hears voices, and recognises the current one to be that of a child. This year, Jared is on the run with his young deaf daughter, Emily, to escape the noose of a foregone child custody hearing requested by his wealthy and powerful former in-laws. Jared is totally dedicated to his child but well knows he doesn't have the finances to stand up in court to battle them. Avoiding a snowstorm in the Smokeys, he must stop at Gemma's hunting compound to rent a room.
Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne by Maureen McMahon
Stacey agrees to accompany her friend Holly to her new inheritance, a spooky and reputedly haunted home in New Hampshire. Holly thinks it's also a good time to resume matchmaking for Stacey, without warning her. Stacey proves oddly prone to psychic manifestations.
Haunted Hearts by Kim Cox
Lana is opening a new private investigation business in Charleston, and isn't a bit surprised to discover her first "client" is her own Aunt Lucy, murdered in an unsolved crime two decades earlier. Killed on Valentine's Day, Lucy needs Lana's help in identifying the killer so that she can finally rest in peace and leave her former home.
Mistletoe Medium by Elizabeth Delisi
Lottie almost gets a speeding ticket in North Dakota on her drive to Cheyenne to stay with friend Janet. Deputy sheriff Harlan finds her appealing, and she psychically announces that they will become good friends; as Madame Carlotta, she reads Tarot. Harlan's not so sure, but he is intrigued.
Valentine's Inn by Chris Grover
Rianna must decide whether to sell her great-great-grandfather's Lake Ontario lakefront property to a condo developer. The inn had been owned by her family for a century, and it was Rianna's childhood home as well. When fate brings her a new male interest and a half-starved, freezing, black kitten while she is walking the property, life begins to add some new dimensions to the painful decision about selling her land.
Enchanted Holidays is an enticing and inspiring collection of tales set around different holiday seasons. Readers will thrill to each and every one of these tales, with their varied backgrounds and settings. Contemporary to paranormal, the plots are intriguing and the characters well-rounded and appealing. The romance is gentle and subtle in the background, yet never taking a back seat to the plot. The six authors of the Enchanted Holidays Anthology have delivered a sure-fire winner for year-round reading enjoyment.
From: Coffee Time Romance
Paranormal / Anthology
Rating: 5 CUPS
Haunted Hearts by Kim Cox is the story of Lana Malloy and Tony Calabria, a couple who want to help their family members rest in peace. Lana's great-aunt, Lucy, along with Tony's grandfather, Davide, were murdered twenty years before. Now these two will do whatever it takes to find out who killed them.
Lana was great. She is a woman trying to live with her dead aunt haunting her; and Tony is trying live with his dead grandfather haunting him. Then these two fall in love with each other while being annoyed by the ghosts and figuring out who killed them. As the drama unfolds, there are moments of total chaos.
Mistletoe Medium by Elizabeth Delisi is the story of Lottie Baldwin, a psychic, and Harlan Erikson, Deputy Sheriff. Lottie has come to Cheyenne to start over after leaving her ex-boyfriend, Jack. Upon meeting Harlan, things start to get weird. After being robbed by a burglar and Jack breaking into her house, Harlan decides to get Lottie a security system. Lottie now has to live with getting visions of tarot cards, and it has something to do with all the break-ins and unexpectedly falling in love with Harlan.
Lottie has been through a lot but has decided to do something about it; and when you bring Harlan into the mix, well things start to heat up. I loved how these two were able to build their relationship with everything that was going on around them and also catch the person responsible for the burglaries. For Harlan to understand Lottie is something I found incredible but then love comes like that for some.
Valentine's Inn by Chris Grover tells the story of Rianna Gordon, a lawyer. Rianna has been asked whether she would sell the property on which stands Valentine's Inn. There she meets Josh Byford who wants her to re-think her position about selling the Inn. Taking time to consider her options, Rianna will make a decision that will change her life.
Reading this story has given me the opportunity to see things from a different prospective. Helped along the way by Josh, Rianna is not sure how to cope with everything in her life. Now things are about to be put right and love is sure to follow.
Curse of Osiris by Elaine Hopper is the story of Alexis Hart and Zane Ryan. Reborn in the reincarnation of Princess Nepththy's, chosen betrothed of Seth, Alexis and Zane are now trying to escape Egypt and Seth himself. Seth must wed Alexis by midnight of the new millennium and she must still be a virgin. However, Zane is about to help Alexis out and also take her virginity. Now the race is on to survive Seth and also the danger that lies ahead.
Alexis has trouble complying with anything Zane says after he left her years before, but now Zane is back to rescue her and hopefully save all of mankind. Still in love with each other but not having the trust in themselves, Alexis and Zane are about to put their cards on the table and admit what they each want.
Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne by Maureen McMahon is about Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield. Brought together for the holiday season by their friend Holly, these two will try to figure out whether they will have a relationship or not. Because Stacey loves a good mystery, Holly has told her about an ancestor of hers' that died around the Christmas holidays. But that is not all, their may be more danger than they first thought with someone playing tricks on them and all of them struggling to fix or find the romance in their lives.
There is more to this story than just people trying to repair relationships or create new ones. It tells of a love that even death cannot stop. With twists and turns throughout it, they must stop someone from achieving their nefarious ends, help a friend figure out what they really want, and fix their own romantic liaison.
Fate's Little Trick by Sheryl Hames Torres tells about Gemma McKinsey Fuller. Gemma has retreated from the world after the deaths of her husband and daughter. Jared Mitchell is hiding from his in-laws, certain they want to take his daughter from him. Coming across Gemma, he wants an explanation as to why she left him years ago. However, Gemma has not let anyone touch her in years, and she will now have to face the demons from her past before she can have a future.
With Gemma hiding away from everything that has hurt her, coming face to face with Jared again; she is afraid of facing the future and is tired of trying to be strong. Jared has never forgotten her, and now he is demanding answers. This time they will work things out and "hopefully" salvage a future for themselves.
Enchanted Holidays is a book about not only the Christmas season but of finding and rekindling romances that have needed healing in some way. It is about defeating all the demons that have chased them through their lives and relationships. I have found that this book to be tender and caring and in some ways rewarding for these characters. This is a book filled with action packed scenarios, caring and romantically filled chapters, and some that are heart wrenching. But, all in all, this is an anthology written by superb authors with romance in their hearts. For me this was a fantastic and inspirational read.
Sheryl
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Suspcious Minds
From: Loves Romances
"A young man set out to avenge the death of his sister finds more than he bargained for when he meets Natalie Southard.
Natalie Southards life has changed forever since finding out that her father, Sam Southard, has dealings with crime boss Nick DeMarco. To her eyes her father has always been a hero. Now that he is in some dangerous dealings she has whatever faith she had in her father more than ever. More than ever is the unexpected death of his secretary, Shelly Donatelli, who is found raped and strangled. What she did not suspect was that Nick DeMarco would want to get her also? With the death of Ms. Donatelli there were some papers that could send both Sam and Nick away to jail if they are found. Thinking that Sam has the papers, Nick gets rid of him only complicating the deal more than ever. Now that both of them are dead there is only one person who can possibly have the papers, and it could mean the end of Natalie Southard.
Ryan Donatelli, a.k.a. Tom Randolph, is a person who has a mission to solve. Finding the man who killed his sister is just one mission that he cannot forget. His main goal is putting Sam in prison, and his hidden agenda is taking down Nick DeMarco as well. This task must not be interfered with even if it's a woman that has gotten under his skin. Natalie could destroy his plans if she learns his real identity. Only she is the key to finding not only Shelly's killer but also the evidence that could end Nick Demarco's dealings. The only problem now is that somebody killed Sam, and now he is a suspect. Only one person knows the real truth to all the lies, secrets, and deaths that have been happening. Together they team up to find the person while also trying to keep their attraction from exploding into more than a sexual attraction. They set ought to find the real truth only they can solve, the crime that could lay Shelly to rest and avenge Natalie's faith for her father.
Suspicious Minds to this reviewer was truly a romantic suspense to read about and enjoy from the beginning. Kim Cox weaved a tale full of lies, betrayal, murder and most of wrote about a woman who is persistent in finding the truth of her father's secret life. Ryan Donatelli is your typical hero who is stricken by the death of his sister and coming to grips of finding the killer. What he never suspected in finding the killer was Natalie. Everything she does or talks about are things that Ryan would have wanted to have. Having a deep attraction to each other is something neither of them thought to have. Murder though is behind their back and a dangerous man is set out to kill them both. Only working with each other will they find out the main guy through all this and live a life with each other."
Reviewed by MELINDA
From: Scribes World Reviews
"4 1/2 Stars . . . From the intriguing Prologue, to the very end, SUSPICIOUS MINDS is a captivating read from a fresh new author. Natalie Southard is determined to protect her family's business so that someday she will be able to take over her birthright as CEO. Yet, her father, normally a cautious and honest businessman, seems to be endangering everything by dealing with Boston Mafia boss Nick DeMarco. Why would he be doing this? What does DeMarco have on him, if anything, or is Southard losing touch with reality?
He won't listen to her concerns, brushing them aside as if she has nothing to worry about, but she knows he's keeping secrets from her--, as is her boyfriend, Thomas Randolph, who also works for Southard.
Who can she trust? And when her father is murdered, whom can she turn to? Caught within a web of deceit and intrigue, Natalie and Thomas are forced to run for their lives while still trying to ascertain who is responsible for what, who is lying, who is not, and when all is revealed, will Natalie even be able to trust the man she loves?
A fast-paced, well-written Romantic Suspense, Ms. Cox has come up with a winner. I recommend SUSPICIOUS MINDS without hesitation. My only reason for deducting half a star results from some awkward dialogue that appears to be leading the reader, not very subtly, to draw certain conclusions. This propensity will undoubted be cured by more writing experience. Kim Cox is an author to watch." ~Judy Gill at ScribesWorld Reviews~
From: The Romance Studio
"Ryan Donatelli, a New York Times reporter, goes undercover as a stock broker at Southard & Southard in Boston to find his sister's killer. FBI agent Shelley Donatelli was working undercover at the firm when she died in a tragic fire. Ryan, posing as Thomas Randolph, quickly builds a list of suspects: the firm's owner Sam Southard, a goon with suspected mafia connections by the name of DeMarco, Southard's Vice-President Albert Lawrence, and Southard's daughter Natalie. To get him closer to the case, Ryan, posing as Tom, begins dating Natalie. Although she voices her own concerns about DeMarco to Ryan, he can't completely trust Natalie. And she suspects him of working with DeMarco. Neither can help falling in love.
The stakes get higher when Sam Southard is murdered in his own home. As Natalie and Ryan dig around in the company hoping to uncover documents that they discover Southard was keeping on all of his dealings with DeMarco, Ryan realizes that someone is stalking Natalie. Through the entire story, which keeps you on the edge of your seat, you never know who to trust or where the plot will turn next. The suspense builds with murders, fires, kidnappings, and plots that lead Natalie and Ryan into danger and each other's arms. And leads Natalie to discover Ryan's true identity and the lies he had felt forced to tell her. Just when you think nothing else can possibly happen, the couple is thrown into yet another tragic circumstance that tests their love for each other.
Ms. Cox weaves a story with nail-biting excitement and a romance that is fun and refreshing with enough intrigue to keep you guessing right up to the end. I can't wait to read her next offering.
Overall rating: 4 1/2 Hearts
Sensuality rating: Mildly Sensual
Reviewer: Susan Lanier-Graham
From: Writer's Unlimited
"Ryan Donatelli was in the morgue. His stomach ached, and acid scorched his throat. Ryan was there to identify his sister. The body on the table looked nothing like her; it had been badly burnt. The only way he had to identify her was a necklace that had been found with the body. "It's Shelly" Ryan said. He could no longer deny that it wasn't her. His baby sister was gone. What would he do without her?
Natalie Southard wanted to know what her father's relationship with Nicolas DeMarco was. DeMarco had been in the news for a lot of things, and none of it had been for anything legal. He had been arrested for everything from illegal gambling to murder. Nothing had ever stuck though. Whenever Natalie would ask her father Sam about their relationship he would tell her that DeMarco was just an old friend as well as a client. Natalie thought whenever DeMarco came in to the brokerage firm he acted like he owned the place. Sam told Natalie not to worry about his client. Natalie would not take that for an answer. She decided to look through her father's files to see if she could find anything on DeMarco. Natalie asked her friend Alyson if she would help her by being a lookout. If anyone came down the hall Alyson would call the phone in Sam's office and Natalie would hide.
Natalie had looked though all the desk drawers except for the one that was locked. She was looking for something to unlock it when the phone buzzed. She had to find somewhere to hide. She chose the closet deciding whoever it was would not be going in there. She cracked the door just enough to see what was going on in the room. Someone was reassembling the phone. Were they bugging the phone? When Natalie made a noise her boyfriend Thomas Randolph discovered her in the closet.
Ryan Donatelli had gotten a job at the Southard brokerage firm, as Thomas Randolph, because he knew that somehow Sam Southard and Nicolas DeMarco were responsible for his sister Shelly's death. When he finds Natalie hiding in her father's office, he wonders if she could help him find out what he needed to know. He hadn't been honest with Natalie because he wasn't sure whose side she was on. But finding her snooping around her father's office in the dark made him think maybe she was someone he could trust.
Natalie wasn't sure she could trust Thomas. Was he a plant for DeMarco? She would have to be cautions until she found out. Natalie decided the only way she could find out about Thomas was to keep him near her by continuing to date him until she knew for sure.
Kim Cox's story is one that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Natalie and Ryan are not sure that they can trust each other, but the attraction between them seems to overwhelm them. They know they shouldn't get involved but it is happening just the same. The two of them are thrown into more danger when Natalie's father is killed. They now have two murders that seem to lead back to Nicolas DeMarco and no way to prove it. Can they prove that he did it? Can Natalie forgive Ryan when she finds out about his deceit? These are a few of the many questions that get answered in this fast-paced story. Get this story, sit down and buckle yourself in for a very bumpy and fast paced ride as these two set out to find the truth, and live to tell about it."
Lydia Funneman
From: Word Museum
"From the intensely riveting cover art, into the prologue and driving straight through to the end Suspicious Minds will pull you in and keep you pinned to the story line like a butterfly on a peg board.
The unusual protagonist, Natalie, begins her investigation of organized crime ties to her family's business like the Keystone Cops. In her very first 'undercover' activity she is discovered hiding in a closet. The author likens Natalie and her friend/accomplice, Alyson, to Lucy and Ethel; a detail that not only gives us a fun insight to these characters but also is easy for all ages to relate to.
We have a cold, uncaring father who has as much feeling for his daughter, Natalie, as most people have for a paper clip. He is the owner/head of a brokerage firm who may or may not be involved in the murder of an FBI agent, Shelley. Shelley's murder brings her journalist brother, Ryan, into the mix. A romance between Ryan who is known to Natalie as Tom, a financial broker in the firm and Natalie is compelling and anticipatory. You find yourself rooting for them to 'get it on!' But is Tom/Ryan just using Natalie to uncover his sister's murderer or are his feelings genuine? Is Natalie just using Tom as a tool in her desire to rid the firm of the organized crime influence or are her feelings genuine? I'm reminded of a statement from Staying Alive when Laura tells Tony, "everybody uses everybody." Ryan and Natalie remain ambivalent in their feelings for each other but independently decide that they are better off as a team. However, as time goes on they find themselves deep in murder and mayhem while their ambivalence begins to turn into lust, then love.
When Natalie's father suddenly dies, we are off on the roller coaster ride of our lives. All positions are now moved up one. Natalie must take care of her distraught mother. The mother must take care of Natalie as she deluded herself into believing that her husband had done. Ryan has to take care of his sister's murderer. Organized crime has to 'take care' of Natalie and is the household help 'fer us or agin us?' Just as we begin to relax a little in the denouement, we are treated to another thrill ride as the tension once again accelerates.
The sides keep changing but Kim Cox writes with such clarity that we are never confused. She creates immensely likeable characters and treats the reader to a plot that is anything but shallow. Much like the great Agatha Christie who wrote mysteries without divulging information too early and thus boring us for the finish, so writes Kim Cox. Suspicious Minds gets a huge 'OH YEAH' and five exclamation points."
Cheri L. Ahner
From: All About Murder Reviews
"Natalie Southard and Ryan Donatelli are perfectly matched lovers. And though the attraction between them is instantaneous and sizzling, their minds are caught up in suspicions of each other. In the beginning, Natalie doesn't even know Tom/Ryan's real name. How can she trust him?
Both Tom and Natalie are seeking the same answers. Natalie who works in the family firm wants to know the truth of her father's dealings with the mob. Ryan, because his sister, an FBI agent, is killed while working as Nat's father's secretary, is searching for that same truth.
Ryan wonders about Natalie. How can he trust her when her father probably caused his sister's death? Could Natalie be involved in the dealings with mob boss? But after Nat's father's death, Ryan and Natalie join forces against the mob.
This is an action packed read with no time to catch a breath, no place to lay the book aside. There isn't a page you can afford not to turn. All the characters are vivid and alive. The plot is tight and engrossing. The ending is spectacular. Ms Cox will have to work hard to top her debut book. I can't wait to see if she manages to do it. Somehow I think she will."
Review by: Lyn Morgan
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All About Murder
Reviews
4 1/2 daggers
From: Huntress Reviews
4 Stars!
Ryan Donatelli was devastated at the death of sister, Shelley. She had been an agent for the FBI, trying to apprehend mobster Nick DeMarco and business tycoon Sam Southard. Ryan vowed vengeance. Not only would he finish Shelley's work, but he would also print it all over the front page of the newspaper. He became Thomas Randolph and infiltrated the company of Southard and Southard. Then he began dating Natalie Southard, Sam's daughter, in hope of using her for information. However, he never expected to care for her.
Natalie knew her father and DeMarco was up to no good. She was not blind to her father's dark side. But she still loved him. She also knew that her father would keep secret files on DeMarco and she was determined to find them. As much as she was coming to care for Tom, she could not help but be suspicious of him. He kept popping up at odd times and snooping around in areas he was not allowed to be in.
Neither trusted the other. The bodies began piling up. Unless they could figure out how DeMarco was linked with the company and expose him quickly, they would become the next corpses!
**** This one has a strong plot that keeps the reader guessing. It is packed to the brim with danger, betrayal, and excitement! This novel will not disappoint! Recommended! ****
Debra Fitch at HUNTRESS REVIEWS
From: Simegen
Rating: * * * * * 5 stars
Romance - Suspense
When the FBI become suspicious that Sam Southard is laundering money for the Mafia through his company Southard and Southard, they send in an agent, Shelley Donatelli, to work undercover as a secretary. When she finds the evidence that supports the suspicions of a money laundering scheme, she tells her brother, Ryan. But someone else must have been listening because she is found brutally raped and murdered the very next day, her body burned beyond recognition in a house fire. The police are not too concerned and write it off as an accidental death.
However, her brother Ryan, a reporter for the Times, knows differently. He decides to avenge her murder by bringing the guilty people to justice. He is sure DeMarco has mob connections and ordered his sister's murder. He changes his name to Thomas Randolph and applies for a brokerage job with Southard and Southard so he can work undercover there. Once established, he begins dating Natalie, Southard's daughter, only to find out inside information about the firm. But soon his feelings change and he falls in love with Natalie and becomes her fiance.
Natalie isn't too happy with her father especially the abusive way he treats her mother and she's certain he's involved in the Mafia. When she tries to investigate the files in his office, she catches her fiancee bugging her fathers telephone. Just who is this man who proclaims to love her? Can he be trusted? Ryan, too, begins to wonder about Natalie's trust when he overhears a conversation she has with DeMarco.
When Natalie's father is found murdered in his office, Ryan becomes the chief suspect. How will he prove his innocence? Was Southard having DeMarco launder money for the mob? Now that Southard is dead just who is hiring people to murder those who get too close to the truth?
After her father's death, Natalie and Ryan realize they are in grave danger and decide to team up to investigate. They end up running for their lives from the Mafia. Will they escape with their lives and their relationship in tact? Who can they trust? How many more people will be murdered before the truth is known?
SUSPICIOUS MINDS will keep you reading right to the end. Kim Cox's characters are so well developed that you feel like you know them. The plot contains enough red herrings and spine-tingling chills to keep you rooted in the story.
Kim Cox has set her star high with her *first* book, SUSPICIOUS MINDS. I only hope that Kim is a fast and prolific writer.
Cathy Gladstone at Simegen
From: Knowbetter.com
Kim Cox explodes onto the romantic suspense scene with her dynamite debut novel Suspicious Minds.
When rich Bostonian Natalie Southard investigates the strange happenings going on in her father's firm, she never expects to discover danger, the Mafia, love . . . or betrayal.
Reluctantly, she teams up with one of her father's employees, Thomas Randolph, uncertain he doesn't number among the enemy. Despite suspicions that her handsome partner isn't being completely upfront with her, she can't keep herself from falling in love with him.
Intense, Suspicious Minds wove a bewitching spell over me that kept me reading into the wee morning hours. I bit my nails wondering how a person could withstand such pain and suffering as Natalie was forced to endure on her quest for the truth and justice. I enjoyed the vivid imagination behind this tale and look forward to a long, successful career by this new star on the horizon.
Elaine Hopper at Knowbetter.com
Elaine Hopper is the author of fourteen published books, among them
Lion's of Judah at Novel Inc.
From: Mystery Women Reviews
Natalie Southard is suspicious. Certain that her father's business associate is using the firm as a front for various illegal activities, Natalie dabbles in some amateur sleuthing to find the proof. All attempts, however, are thwarted by her co-worker/boyfriend, Tom Randolph. Natalie suspects Tom of nothing, to his relief.
Tom Randolph, mild-mannered broker, is actually Ryan Donatelli, passionate "Times" journalist. Tom/Ryan is also suspicious of the shady dealings going on at Southard's company, and his determination to expose Southard's mob connections is fueled by the murder of his sister, who died trying to collect said proof. When the elder Southard is also found murdered, Tom/Ryan and Natalie join forces to find the killer, and suddenly all suspicion is cast upon them by Southard's business associates.
Suspicious Minds is a romantic suspense story of great intensity. Cox injects moments of passion, humor and terror at all the appropriate moments, giving the story a magentic flow. Tom/Ryan is convincing as a man torn between his duty in the name of justice and his growing love for Natalie. The guilt that plagues his being as he continues his deception is compelling to read, and Cox's eye for such detail will win many romance readers.
Kathryn's Mystery Women Reviews
From: Romantic Times
Natalie Southard gets the surprise of her life when she goes sleuthing for clues into her father's mysterious business activities and runs smack dab into her beau, Thomas Randolph.
Tom is angry for allowing Natalie, who may have some involvement in his sister's death, to catch him bugging her father's office. He has to convince her that he's not the enemy.
Together they work towards a common goal: to put the man responsible for money laundering and several murders behind bars.
Will they succeed in their quest, or will evil triumph? SUSPICIOUS MINDS is exciting down to the last word. A wonderful, suspenseful read.
Faith V. Smith at Romantic Times Magazine
From: Writer's Club Romance Group
Natalie Southard is hoping one day to take over Southard and Southard, a brokerage firm that her father, Sam Southard, has made a success. Natalie knows her father is bossy and sometimes abusive where her mother and she are concerned, but she still loves him. What she doesn't like and what she is suspicious of is his relationship with Nick DeMarco, a man suspected of being a Mafia kingpin.
Ryan Donatelli is a reporter for the New York Times whose sister, Shelley, was an FBI agent. Shelley had been working undercover at Southard and Southard as a secretary before she was killed. Just before she was killed, Shelley showed Ryan documents proving Sam Southard was laundering money for DeMarco. Shortly after their meeting, Shelley is found dead. The police think it is a botched robbery, even though Shelley had been raped before she was killed. Their primary suspect is Smoothie Barnes, a small-time crook. Ryan suspects Southard had ordered the hit for DeMarco, and Ryan goes undercover as Tom Randolph, a new broker at Southard and Southard.
Ryan/Tom begins dating Natalie as a way to find out what she knows about her father's connection to DeMarco. The night he decides to search Southard's office and place a bug in the telephone, he discovers Natalie hiding in the closet. Natalie can't figure out why Tom would be bugging Sam's telephone but she decides to continue to date him. Before Ryan or Natalie can get more information or find the documents Ryan knows are somewhere in Southard's office, Sam Southard is killed in his office. Ironically, Ryan ends up as the prime suspect. After Ryan overhears a conversation between DeMarco and Natalie, he doesn't know if he can trust Natalie or not.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is filled with interesting characters and a few twists. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what is coming next. Natalie and Ryan are great characters that have to trust each other, including their attraction for each other. The action is fast-paced giving the reader a conclusion that is not expected.
Reviewed by Hattie Boyd at Writers Club Romance Group
From: The Word on Romance
In Kim H. Cox's book, SUSPICIOUS MINDS, New York Times reporter Ryan Donatelli is out to get the people responsible for the murder of his sister. He suspects Sam Southard, the owner of Southard and Southard, of having a hand in it. Shelley Donatelli, an FBI agent, was undercover at the brokerage firm at the time of her death, trying to get evidence of their suspected ties to the mob. Taking up where his sister left off, Ryan gets a job there as Thomas Randall. As he investigates the company, he meets the owner's daughter, Natalie, who works for the company and keeps showing up in unexpected places. She claims to be trying to clear her dad's name, but is she just trying to cover up for him - or herself? Sparks fly between them, but they don't trust each other, even as they give in to their sexual attraction. So many questions stand between them. Is Natalie involved in what's going on in the company? Does Tom dare tell her who he really is? Who's stalking Natalie - and why?
A good story, with lots of suspense and conflict, SUSPICIOUS MINDS does a pretty good job of holding the reader's attention from page to page. I look forward to seeing what Cox can do as her writing matures.
Betty Winslow at The Word on Romance
From: Romance Reviews Today
Natalie Southard suspects her father is in deep with the mob. His investor, DeMarco, has been arrested for illegal gambling and other, more serious charges, like murder. One evening Natalie decides to snoop around her father's office to find out more. His business, and her inheritance, is at stake, and she won't let her father stay close-mouthed about this.
A few minutes after her stint as investigator extraordinaire begins, Natalie hears a sound and hides in her father's closet. Her fear of exposure quickly turns to astonishment when she learns the intruder is none other than her new boyfriend and employee at Southard and Southard, Tom Randolph.
Tom Randolph is actually Ryan Donatelli, and he's not a businessman; he's an investigative reporter trying to uncover the truth behind his sister Shelly's death. Ryan is working undercover as a broker, trying to find the killer and nail Southard and DeMarco. He intended to foster a relationship with Natalie for his own gain, but Natalie stirs emotions in him he hasn't felt in a very, very long time. Still, to be safe, he remains quiet about his true motives, and one lie quickly turns into another.
When Sam Southard is found shot dead in his office, the stakes suddenly become much higher for both Natalie and Ryan. Their need for each other intensifies while they separately pursue a way to get DeMarco. Natalie learns she must work under her father's vice president for a year before she can take over the company, and she doesn't trust the man for an instant, knowing DeMarco has him in his pocket.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is an apt title for this fast-paced romantic suspense. Natalie is a smart and ambitious heroine who seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place. She yearns for the love she is experiencing with Tom, but can her trust survive when she learns his true identity and motive? Ryan is a tough hero who is similarly conflicted between avenging his sister's killer and his growing attraction to Natalie. The secondary characters are, for the most part, either good or evil and are both interesting and well-crafted, with sufficient dimension to provide entertainment but not detract from the main story line.
Ms. Cox has created a highly suspenseful, action-packed tale with plenty of romance to satisfy those of us who like well-written and enjoyable reads. Give SUSPICIOUS MINDS a try.
Reviewed by Astrid Kinn at Romance Reviews Today
From: Reader to Reader Reviews
Debut author Kim Cox dishes up a thrilling romantic suspense that will at times, have you biting your nails. Ryan Donatelli, New York Times newspaper reporter, goes undercover at Southard and Southard brokerage firm, after his sister Shelley, an FBI Agent working as a secretary is murdered. Ryan, using the name Thomas Randolph, gets close to Southard's daughter and partner, Natalie. He doesn't know whether she is in with her father and Mafia bigwig Nick DeMarco, and plays it coosuspicious of her father and tries to find out what is going on by searching her father's office where she meets Ryan one night. He can't risk telling her the truth about who he is and she isn't willing to confide her suspicions with him, thus a cat and mouse game is set in motion.
This book is so nerve racking at points because dealing with the Mafia can mean death to any that cross them, and Ryan and Natalie have some hair-raising scares in store for them. There is an excellent cast of supporting characters who add depth and excitement to this fast-paced romantic thriller.
Excellent writing by a gifted new writer.
Review by Suzanne Coleburn at Reader to Reader Reviews
From: MyShelf.com
Reviewed by Mary Lynn
Natalie Southard, a broker in her father's firm, is determined to find out why her father Sam is associating with a known criminal. One night she enters his locked office to search for a clue as to what he's hiding from her. She doesn't get very far before she's interrupted by another would-be sloop. To her amazement, it's her new boyfriend and fellow broker, Tom Randolph, who claims he was inspecting her father's phone for bugs, but Natalie knows that he actually planted the bug. Unaware that his name isn't actually Tom Randolph and that he has a hidden agenda, she decides to continue seeing him in an effort to learn what she can from him.
Before long, both Tom and Natalie find their attraction to each other rapidly increasing. Tom longs to confide in Natalie, but fears that might endanger his plans to take down her father. When the elder Southard is murdered, Tom finds that he is a suspect. Although he can't regret Sam Southard's dead, he does want to comfort Natalie. In the midst of trying to unravel the mystery behind Sam Southard's death, Tom and Natalie succumb to their mutual desire. Soon after, they both have reason to fear for their own lives.
On reading the prologue of this book, set in a morgue, I immediately knew I was in for an intriguing read. I was not disappointed. Suspicious Minds is a fast moving, suspenseful, and romantic novel. Ms. Cox has done an excellent job of giving each of her characters, including Sam Southard, rich, detailed personalities, so that all of their motivations felt real to me, even when I didn't agree with them. Readers looking for a good suspense novel and tender yet passionate love story combined in one book, need look no further than Kim Cox's Suspicious Minds.
Author Quotes:
"Suspicious Minds is a romantic suspense that leaves
you gasping, smiling and falling in love--all at the same time. It's a story of
family loyalty, spine-tingling suspense and a hot romance all rolled into one
and sure to keep you turning the pages late into the night."
~Karen White, author of In The Shadow Of The Moon, Whispers Of
Goodbye, Falling Home~
"Destined to be a winner, Kim Cox delivers this roller coaster ride of a story
that keeps you guessing at every turn!"
~Pamela Johnson, Unfinished Dreams~
"A fast-paced love story, Suspicious Minds blends
suspense and romance into a great read!"
~Holly Jacobs Fuhrmann~ author of DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?,
w/a Holly Jacobs, Sil Rom, 11/01--READY, WILLING AND...ABEL? and RAISING CAIN,
w/a Holly Jacobs, Har. Double Duets, 1/02--MIRACLES FOR NICK,
w/a Holly Fuhrmann, ImaJinn Books, 9/01~
"Kim Cox has e-penned a caper filled with action, romance, and a smart woman
who finds love in the middle of death and chaos. Natalie Southard, stockbroker
and heir-apparent to her murdered father's firm, is a Grace Kelly-type heroine
with money, brains, and pluck, while her hero, Tom Randolph (aka Ryan Donatelli),
is more than her match in the Cary Grant role. Suspense, sex, and a surefire
happy ending deliver as successfully as a Hitchcock film at its best."
~Tracy Dunham, author of "The Last Campaign, On the Terror Trail, and Morgan's
Land " (Hard Shell Word Factory)~
"Ryan Donatelli will never forget having to identify the badly burned body of his younger sister Shelley. Shelley was an FBI agent and had stuck her nose into the wrong case. Determined to avenge her, he goes after Sam Southard, the man he feels sure is responsible for her death. He goes undercover as Thomas Randolph and assumes a position in Southard's company, biding his time until he finds the evidence he needs.
Natalie Southard is suspicious about her father's business dealings with known crime boss Nick DeMarco, and decides to investigate, thinking he's being taken advantage of. Little does she know that her boyfriend, Tom Randolph, is searching for the truth also--but for a far different reason than she. When she discovers Randolph's real identity and motive, the sparks fly. Will she turn him in--or will she help him?
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is a thrilling romantic suspense
that will keep you turning the pages, desperate to know if Natalie and Ryan
will emerge with their lives--and their love--intact. There are just enough red
herrings to keep you guessing until the end. This exciting debut novel from
Kim Cox is not to be missed!"
~Elizabeth Delisi, author of "MIRROR IMAGES" (DiskUs Publishing, March, 2001);
"SINCE ALL IS PASSING" (Avid Press, Oct. 1999); and "FATAL FORTUNE"
(Petals of Life Publishing, Sept. 1998)~
"In an untrusting world, intertwined with lies and fabricated tales,
Suspicious Minds takes the reader into a world
where the main characters don't know who to trust, not even each other.
Author Kim Cox has crafted a tale that keeps the reader turning the pages,
rooting for Natalie and Ryan to find that belief in one another before all
that is good is destroyed."
~Patricia A. Rasey, author of "Deadly Obsession," "Kiss of Deceit," and
"Facade" (RFI West Publishing)~
"Edge-of-your-seat suspense will keep you up all night reading
Suspicious Minds until you turn the final page. I
couldn't put it down."
~Elaine Hopper, author of "Secrets" (New Concepts Publishing), and
"Lions of Judah" (NBI, Inc.)
"As Ryan Donnetelli identified the charred remains of his sister's body, he made up his mind then and there to make the person or persons responsible pay, and pay dearly. Armed with a false identity and a mind full of clues, he set out to find the murderer. What he didn't count on was falling in love with the daughter of the man to whom all clues pointed. How could he possibly have a life with the woman if he put her father away?
Kim Cox has created a romantic thriller with rich characters, intrigue, and
a clear glimpse into the shady business world that will keep you reading long
past bedtime."
~Sheryl Hames Torres, WRW Secretary, Excerpts Co-editor at The Pen is Mightier
... and author of The Masquerade from Seasons of Romance Anthology
(Awe-Struck Books)