#Review - Voodoo Shanghai by Kristi Charish #Fantasy

Series: Kincaid Strange (#3)
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Release Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Source: Library
Genre: Urban Fantasy

The third and final installment in Kristi Charish's thrilling urban fantasy series finds beloved heroine and voodoo practitioner Kincaid Strange shanghaied away from Seattle and pursuing the ghost of a serial killer in Portland.

Just when Kincaid Strange thinks her life is back on track and she's finally put her time as a paranormal practitioner with the Seattle PD to rest, her ex (and Seattle cop) Aaron asks her for help with yet another strange and ominous case. Martin Dane, the White Picket Fence Serial Killer who terrorized West Coast families living the suburban American dream, appears to be back at it with a fresh murder in Portland. There's only one problem: Dane has been dead for three weeks.
     Kincaid can't resist a paranormal mystery. Despite her misgivings, she agrees to examine the Portland crime scene. What she discovers is a place of supernatural power unlike anywhere she's ever been--and the reason Aaron had been so tight-lipped about the case details. There's already a voodoo practitioner on the scene: Liam Sinclair, a TV celebrity of questionable talent and dubious intent.
     Kincaid wants nothing more than to finish the job and retreat to Seattle, but the deeper she looks, the less the murder adds up. When she uncovers a much more sinister mystery--missing ghosts, scores of them, whom no one is looking for--there's no turning back.

Voodoo Shanghai, by author Kristi Charish, is the third and final, unfortunately, installment in the authors Kincaid Strange series. As the story beings, trouble is on the horizon for Kincaid. First, she is hired to take care of a problem ghost named Astrid Young. Astrid is desperately spoiled and an angry zombie who her parents are tired of having around. Astrid has been manipulating everyone around her for most of her life. Astrid, unfortunately doesn't understand that people really don't like her or want her around which leads to all sorts of issues for Kincaid.

Second, we learn more about Gideon and why he choose Kincaid. Gideon is the thousand-year-old ghost of a sorcerer who took Kincaid on as his apprentice in the previous book. Before this book, I honestly though Gideon was pure evil. But it becomes clear that he has his own moral code, as grey as it may be, and we get a taste of the past that has made him who he is today. Gideon pushes Kincaid to do things she never thought possible. Like making mirrors for a soothsayer named Richan which leads to a dangerous encounter for Kincaid and a warning from one of his time traveling ghosts. A warning Kincaid really should have taken more serious.

To make matters worse, after Seattle PD Detective Aaron Baal stabbed her in the back, that relationship is finished. Now wants he, and Captain Marks, pretty much orders Kincaid to go to Portland to face a serial killing ghost who appears to be back with a vengeance. That means working with Stephan Wolf (FBI agent) and stopping Martin Dane, the White Picket Fence Serial Killer who terrorized West Coast families living the suburban American dream, appears to be back at it with a fresh murder in Portland. There's only one problem: Dane has been dead for three weeks.

Kincaid can't resist a paranormal mystery or going up against people who are dangerous like Marks, like Richan, and yes, even Gideon. Despite her misgivings, she agrees to examine the Portland crime scene. What she discovers is a place of supernatural power unlike anywhere she's ever been--and the reason Aaron had been so tight-lipped about the case details. There's already a voodoo practitioner on the scene: Liam Sinclair, a TV celebrity of questionable talent and dubious intent. Liam, along with his cousin Isabel, are either going to be helpful, or they are going to be a hindrance. 

Kincaid wants nothing more than to finish the job and retreat to Seattle, and hopefully get approved for her federal paranormal license so that she can expand her business outside of Seattle. But the deeper she looks, the less the murder adds up. When she uncovers a much more sinister mystery--missing ghosts, scores of them, whom no one is looking for--there's no turning back.

*Thoughts* Here's the thing, I do not have Instagram where the author has posted why this is the final chapter in her series. It does appear as though the author did not know what Vintage Canada was going to do with the series. I do know that I am grateful that I am finally able to finish this series after all the bull..... with COVID and not being able to mail anything from Canada to the US. But I am totally and absolutely wrecked. 

Charish throws everything she possible could and somehow it wasn't enough. Shifting the action from Seattle to Portland not only was a brilliant move by the author, but it took Kincaid out of her element and isolating her from her usual support structure, except for Nate and Gideon, while forcing her to face challenges that would make your hair turn white. In all honesty, I really do hope that Kristi is able to come back to Kincaid one day in the future to tie up the loose ends that she left behind.  

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#Review - Cloak of Scarlet by Melanie Dickerson #Historical #YA #Retelling

Series: A Dericott Tale # 5
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Retelling / Historical

She was an orphan of no importance . . .

He was an ordinary knight serving the baron . . .

Suddenly the kingdom depends on both of them.

Violet Lambton never imagined herself as anything but average. Adopted as a young child, she’s content with her comfortable life in her small medieval town with her faith, her books, and her baking . . . and the vivid red cloak her grandmother gifted her. Her one dream: to find a love that is pure and true. Then, her beloved grandmother is robbed by the villainous Baron Dunham. Outraged, Violet finds herself in the midst of the action and determines to put an end to the evil baron’s mis­treatment of the hardworking people.

Sir Merek, a knight in the service of Baron Dunham, has pledged his life to fighting injustice and defending the weak. But when he encounters the spirited and beautiful Violet and discovers the depths of the baron’s treachery, he realizes that serving his employer is not serving the kingdom—and so he sets out on a daring journey to go behind the baron’s back to expose his deceitfulness to the king.

But before Merek and Violet can act to bring the corruption to light, Violet is captured and brought directly to Dunham—where she shockingly discov­ers a secret that shakes her entire world . . . and the future she dreams of. Thrown together in the baron’s quarters in a race against time to save the lives of their loved ones and themselves, Violet and Merek must learn to trust each other to expose Dunham’s treachery to the king—all while suc­cumbing to their growing feelings for each other. Can the two find their happily ever after against all odds, or will the wolves amongst them drive them apart?

Cloak of Scarlet, by author Melanie Dickerson, is the 5th installment in the authors Dericott Tale series. The publisher has sold this as a medieval retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Thus the Cloak of Scarlet title of the story. The story itself takes place in the year 1386. It features Violet Lambton and Sir Merek of Dericott, one of the brothers who was arrested and charged with murder and treason in the first installment of this series. Thankfully, they were all found innocent by King Richard or this wouldn't be a series, would it?

Violet Lambton never imagined herself as anything but average. Adopted as a young child after her mother died, she’s content with her comfortable life in her small medieval town with her faith, her books, and her baking and the vivid red cloak her grandmother gifted her. Her one dream: to find a love that is pure and true. Then, her beloved grandmother is robbed by the villainous Baron Dunham men. Outraged, Violet is unafraid and writes to King Richard, hoping the king will help release the poor folk of Burwelle and the surrounding areas from Baron Dunham's grasp. 

When Violet's letter gets her into trouble with the baron's men, Sir Merek must help her and get to the bottom of Dunham's deceits. Sir Merek, a knight in the service of Baron Dunham, has pledged his life to fighting injustice and defending the weak. But when he encounters the spirited and beautiful Violet and discovers the depths of the baron’s treachery, he realizes that serving his employer is not serving the kingdom—and so he sets out on a daring journey to go behind the baron’s back to expose his deceitfulness to the king. 

Merek believes in the Holy Writ since he and his sister and brothers nearly lost their lives because of the machinations of a evil stepmother. But before Merek and Violet can act to bring the corruption to light, Violet is captured and brought directly to Dunham—where she shockingly discov­ers a secret that shakes her entire world and the future she dreams of. Thrown together in the baron’s quarters in a race against time to save the lives of their loved ones and themselves, Violet and Merek must learn to trust each other to expose Dunham’s treachery to the king. 

Can the two find their happily ever after against all odds, or will the wolves amongst them drive them apart? This is a leisurely-paced YA with clean romance and themes of revenge and forgiveness. While this is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, there is no wolf. The wolf in this instance is a out of control Baron who robs his own people while living high off the hog. While his people are starving, he's holding massive dinners for guests. Whether or not you like Merek, you must understand that his being is based on things that happened to him that made him test his faith, and his faith in doing what's right. 

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#Review - The Last One by Will Dean #Thrillers #Suspense

Series: Standalone
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense

An unputdownable locked-room thriller about family, trust, and survival from the acclaimed author of the “utterly thrilling” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) First Born.

When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends, but when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing.

And when she walks out into the corridor, all the cabin doors are open. To her horror, she soon realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, nobody but her. The Atlantica is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is the only person on board. But that’s just the beginning of the terrifying journey she finds herself trapped on in this white-knuckled mystery. 

Will Dean's The Last One is a suspenseful thriller that takes place onboard the RMS Atlantica in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. 49-year old cafe owner Caroline (Caz) Ripley has finally found a love in Peter Davenport, who has swept her off for a cruise vacation to the USA. It's all delightful until she wakes up and discovers that he, his luggage, and her luggage is gone. She soon finds all of the cabin doors are open and the rooms empty and luggage gone. As she walks around, she realizes there are no passengers or crew on the ship as it sails along in the middle of the ocean. That means that 1,000 passengers, and 600 crew members have disappeared. 

Then she finds Daniel Cho, they find Frannie, and then there's the mysterious Smith who refuses to tell anyone his really name and seems to be something of a hoarder with lots of secrets. It doesn't seem too bad, really, until the power and lights are cut, they can't get to food or water and there's no combo. Then they're summoned and told that they are part of a reality show called Atlantica where there are cameras everywhere catching everything they do and say. They are required to participate in four different challenges that each contestant is required to finish. If the contestant finishes said challenge, like Caz's water challenge, there is a reward waiting for them at the end. Oh, the key part is that only one person can win the $5 million first place, while the rest walk away with $50,000.

*Thoughts* I think it is best to explain to you that you shouldn't go into this story with preconceived nothings that there are paranormal or supernatural angles to the story. You should also be prepared to suspend disbelief in order to make it to the finish line. I do feel the book could have easily been shorter, leaving out many of Caz's memories of her father, for example. A father who is no longer alive to rail or be angry with. The other contestants are just as mysterious and the more we get into the story, the more the facts come out. This book is also filled with short chapters so they book tends to fly by quickly. My review is based on the ending which leaves readers wondering whether the author was out of his mind when he finished this book. 

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#Review - Cast in Conflict by Michelle Sagara #Fantasy / Epic

Series: The Chronicles of Elantra (#17)
Format: Paperback, 544 pages
Release Date: June 29, 2021
Publisher: MIRA
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Epic

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE, AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER

A Dragon and ten Barrani wouldn’t be anyone’s ideal roommates if a person wants peace and tranquility at home. The residue of three Draco-Barrani wars can make things pretty awkward—on a good day. Kaylin Neya has run out of good days.

In the upheaval surrounding the Academia, the Tower in the fief of Candallar is now without its lord. The Towers were created to protect Elantra against Shadow. Dragon Bellusdeo wants to captain the Tower and continue a war she’ll never be able to abandon. But Sedarias, leader of the Barrani cohort, wants the Tower for the cohort. And Barrani and Dragons don’t negotiate, even when they’re living under the same roof.

If there were ever a time for Shadow to strike, it’s now, when alliances are fractured and the Tower is vulnerable for the first time in centuries. More than ever, Kaylin needs her friends to work together if they’re going to be able to stop the threat to Elantra. 

Cast in Conflict is the sixteenth book in the New York Times bestselling Chronicles of Elantra saga, following detective/mage Kaylin Neya as she struggles to protect the city of Elantra from the darkness that is determined to take root. As the story begins, it appears we can now get rid of the Private before Kaylin Neya, and now call her corporal. Yet, even with a promotion, Kaylin's life is not exactly different. She is still the alleged Chosen, even though nobody has any idea what that means, she still has to deal with magic lessons, which she has no choice but to suffer through.

In the upheaval surrounding the Academia, the Tower in the fief of Candallar is now without its lord. The Towers were created to protect Elantra against Shadow. Dragon Bellusdeo wants to captain the Tower and continue a war she’ll never be able to abandon. But Sedarias, leader of the Barrani cohort, wants the Tower for the cohort. And Barrani and Dragons don’t negotiate, even when they’re living under the same roof. If there were ever a time for Shadow to strike, it’s now, when alliances are fractured and the Tower is vulnerable for the first time in centuries.

Kaylin is re-assigned to escort Bellusdeo, who usually follows her around while she is doing her job along with her partner Severn Handred, while she tries to take the Tower of Candallar which means facing the test of name which Kaylin somehow managed to pass to become a Barrani Lord. More than ever, Kaylin needs her friends to work together if they’re going to be able to stop the threat to Elantra.  The only problem is that halfway thought the book, and all that has happened is that Kaylin has run errands and attended several meetings where some new characters talk to each other. 

It is not until the book seems to be going on, and on, and on, that any action takes place. And that action means that Kaylin once again finds herself in an unfamiliar place, Ravellon, which I do believe is the first time we as readers after visited that dark and dangerous place that was once home to Bellusdeo and her people like Maggaron who is her Ascendant. Even though the previous book spent large parts in the Academia, there are large chunks of this book that are also spent on investigating and talking to different characters who appeared in the previous installment.

Thoughts: Not one of my favorites in this series, and yes I have read this series from the beginning and am one book away from being totally caught up. The most curious aspect of this book is the relationship between Bellusdeo and Lord Emmerion as well as Mandoran. With Bellusdeo itching to get back into the war against the shadows that took her home world, it will be interesting to see if the author allows a personal relationship to develop which means a new dragon clutch in the near future. Kaylin has pretty much ignored any feeling she may have for Severn which is getting old. Kaylin is trying to grow as a character, but she still has issues with magic, she still has issues of not understanding her place in the universe, or what being chosen means. 

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#Review - Blue Bloods: After Death by Melissa De la Cruz #YA #Paranormal

Series: Blue Bloods # 9
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: July 4, 2023
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

After defeating Lucifer and saving the world, Schuyler Van Allen woke up in an entirely different reality and learned she had to do it all over again. Find the villain, take him down, save the world. But after losing her only allies, Jack Force--who ran off to protect her--and Kingsley Martin--who was captured and killed by the enemy, Schuyler has to face facts. She's going to have to do this alone . . . or is she?

When a mysterious new girl named Eoife shows up at Duchesne Academy, Schuyler at first thinks she must be yet another enemy, but she soon finds out that Eoife could be the answer Schuyler's been looking for. A member of an ages old secret society of heroes called the Palladins, Eoife is here to help--and she has friends--lots of them. United with another unlikely ally in Max Force, the group might just have a fighting chance--if they can find and rescue Jack, get Max's Blue Blood powers back, solve the theory of chaos magic and take down a friend turned foe. Oh, and fight off an army of Silver Bloods and otherworldly monsters led by the devil himself.

Can Schuyler finally put an end to the war between heaven and hell? Or will she have another world to save each time she opens her eyes? 

After Death, by author Melissa de la Cruz, is the Ninth installment in the authors Blue Bloods series, not to be mixed up with the TV series on CBS called Blue Bloods. This follow-up to After Life (2022) completes the Blue Bloods series offshoot duology. This story keys in on 3 main characters: Schuyler Cervantes-Chase, formerly Van Allen, Jack Force, and Max Force, formerly Mimi Force. Timeline wise it has been two months since Jack and Schuyler stopped Lucifer from killing all the Red Bloods in Manhattan under the disguise of a pandemic. 

But it came with a huge cost. Jack has disappeared into the clutches of something that shouldn't exist in this world and refuses to let Jack go, while Max has become a prisoner of the silver bloods aka corrupted vampires who owe allegiance to Aldrich Duncan formerly known as Lucifer after losing his bondmate Kingsley Martin in the previous installment. After defeating Lucifer and saving the world at the end of book #7, Schuyler woke up in an entirely different reality, in a different body where her parents in this world are alive (Stephen & Aurora) and learned she had to do it all over again. 

Find the villain, take him down, save the world. But after losing her only allies, Jack Force--who ran off to protect her--and Kingsley Martin--who was captured and killed by the enemy, Schuyler has to face facts. She's going to have to do this alone or is she? When a mysterious new girl named Aoife Hayward shows up at Duchesne Academy, Schuyler at first thinks she must be yet another enemy, but she soon finds out that Aoife could be the answer Schuyler's been looking for. 

Aoife is a member of an ages old secret society of heroes called the Palladins, and she has lots of friends that are willing to help Schuyler stop Lucifer, and the monsters that he has unleashed on this world before he uses Max's blood to destroy all the worlds. United with another unlikely ally in Max Force, who wants to find a way to save Kingsley from Purgatory, the group might just have a fighting chance--if they can find and rescue Jack, get Max's Blue Blood powers back, solve the theory of chaos magic and take down a friend turned foe. 

Thoughts: I understand that I might get hate mail over these part, but so be it. I do not think this series needs another book. I think the author has worn out what she can do with Schuyler, and unless she wants to write about Aoife, who I really liked, and her Paladin, especially Megan, she should put this series to bed. Also, I am clearly stating that I do not like when an author intentionally writes off a past character, or changes said character into a entirely different person.

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#Review - Hunted by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight # 2
Format: Kindle, 196 pages
Release Date: July 30, 2023
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy, Romance

To escape my fate, I fled to Earth... now I'm stuck here.

Earth isn't a safe place for the Fae, but it had to have been safer than staying in Arcadia where some horrible monster was about to end my life... right? So, I made a snap decision, opened a portal, and threw myself, Valerian, and Tallin through it.

Totally thought that through. There's no way that decision wasn't going to come back to bite me in the butt. Only it did, because now we're stuck here, in London, where my mother used to live.

I'm lucky my grandmothers didn't forget who I was after the mess I got into with that crone. If not for them, we would have nowhere to go, no way of recharging our magic, and no way of getting home. As it is, things are looking dicey at best... and Valerian still doesn't know I'm the reason he's stuck here, too.

Who would have thought the two of us would have a Fate Bond?

All the signs were there, but maybe I didn't want to know.

Hunted, by author Katerina Martinez, is the second installment in the authors Daughter of Ice and Moonlight series. This series is a direct spin-off of the authors The Coldest Fae series. In the previous installment, Princess Amara made a bad choice when she was approached by a crone after running away from the Royal Selection because she did not want to end up with someone who she had no feelings for. Because of that choice, Amara, as well as Royal Selection participant Valerian have been chased all over Arcadia by a spooky monster likely sent by fate to erase their existence.

In a while move that may have temporarily saved their lives, Amara opened a one way portal to the Earth realm and found sanctuary with her three grandmothers Evie, Helen, and Pepper who run a magic shop in London. Now Amara, Valerian, and Tallin, her trusty sprite, have to figure out how they can rewind time and correct the mistake that Amara has made where nobody knows who she is, and it appears that someone else may have been put in her place. With the help of her quirky grandmothers, who we only briefly met in the first series, who now play important parts in trying to protect their granddaughter before something bad happens to her.

Thoughts: I normally would say at this point that you should have some knowledge of The Coldest Fae series, but in this book, none of the characters from the first book may an appearance. I appreciate that the author uses the grandmothers in order to teach Amara some humility as well as the understanding that while Amara lives in Arcadia, she is still part human on her mother's side. They are also allowed to tell Amara that she literally screwed up; BADLY. Ergo, she may have some useful tools to partake in defeating the crone who basically destroyed her life. I like that the author has slowly brought Valerian and Amara together, and not rushed it as love as first lust. This book ends on yet another cliffhanger ending, but in this case, I think you will find it one of the best parts of this entire story. End.

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#Review - Deadlock by James Byrne #Thrillers #Suspense

Series: Dez Limerick # 2
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense

In this sequel to the highly praised The Gatekeeper, Dez Limerick, one of the best new thriller heroes returns.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.

Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s specialty is not just to open doors, but keep them open—and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.

More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. Now, the two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but of the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshalls. Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.

Deadlock, by author James Byrne, is the second installment in the authors Dez Limerick series. Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives. 

It should be noted that this story actually begins in Chechnya where Dez is ordered to help a US/UK group to retrieve notes, computers, and sample from a chemical weapon facility. It should be noted that I mention this because one of those characters, Arabella Satti, of MI5, will return later in this story to assist Dez with a problem that he encounters. Also, another character, who I won't spoil, also returns leading to a heart racing finale to the story that leads into the next installment. Thank you James!

If you haven't yet started reading this series, let me kindly introduce you to Desmond Aloysius Limerick. Dez is what's called a Gatekeeper. He opens doors to let people in to do their jobs, he holds the doors to make sure nobody can interfere in his job, and he closes the door behind making sure nobody is left behind. But in Chechnya, Dez had no choice but to exfil with his team after one of the members disappears without a trace, much to the chagrin of Arabella. Fast forward....

Jaleh Swann, is a business journalist in Portland hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked and all her research is stolen. It seems that someone doesn't want what Jaleh uncovered about a powerful company to go public. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. 

At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s specialty is he can open any door, keep said door open as long as necessary, and ensures no one enters or exits without his express permission.  Now Dez takes on the job of protecting Jaleh & Raziah while exposing Clockjack’s secrets. More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. 

The two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshal's who somehow lost track of the men involved in the attack on the sisters. The conspiracy may be deeper than Dez could imagine. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.

Thoughts: Dez has quickly become one of my favorite characters, and I am happy that James Byrne took time out of his busy schedule to let me know that yes, a third book is in the works. Dez is a curious character in that he is a rather small man with a big physique. He talks the talk, and walks the walk. Dez always seems to find himself at the right moment at the wrong time which leads to some action packed scenes that will leave you blown away. I do want to see what happens next between Dez and Arabella since she was really made at him for such a long time, and now they kind of got squared away. Just in the nick of time!! No spoilers! 

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