Review: A NECESSARY EVIL by Christina Kaye!

Release Date: December 11th, 2017.

My Review: I'm typically a romance reader, but sometimes other things catch my interest - and this definitely caught my attention. The story itself - two men, estranged since their teens, are trying to solve the same crime... from different sides of the law. Not only is that a darned good story line, but it's original. It's also a fast read. The pacing and plot pull the reader forward, making this a book you won't want to put down - I definitely didn't want to stop.

It's not perfect, there were a few moments of telling the reader something, rather than showing them, but it was so rare, and so small that it hardly detracts from the depth and suspense of the story.

This book just had so many fascinating levels. You have a definite good guy, and the for-sure bad guy. But what do you do when your other hero is also a bad guy? Everyone loves a good anti-hero, and Frankie will be your next favorite. I would love to see this as a movie - I think it would transfer well to screen. Be sure to get your copy today!

Cover Lovin': A fitting, eye-catching cover.

Recommendation: No prior knowledge necessary.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5)! An excellent thriller, and well worth a read!

Find out more about this book and author HERE!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a copy to review.

Alex makes me want to be a cop. REVIEW of "Credo's Legacy" by Alison Holt

Why this book: Author sent me book one, Credo's Hope (click the title to see my review), for review. And after finishing it, she asked me if I would like to do book two as well. Considering how much I loved Credo's Hope, I jumped at the chance.

Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Series, Fiction, Mystery, Police Fiction, Procedural Fiction, Long Hours, Fighting the good fight

About the book: Alex Wolfe returns in Book 2 of the Alex Wolfe mysteries. Set in the lush deserts and barrios of Tucson, Az, Credo’s Legacy delivers an intricate, interwoven story of deception, hidden agendas, and the occasional murder, punctuated with episodes of laughter and humanity. A sexy Mafia boss and a brassy eleven year old accused of murdering her foster father help turn Alex’s life upside down.

My Review: Occasionally, the second book in a series doesn't even come close to the first - this is definitely not one of those books. "Credo's Legacy" packs just as much punch as "Credo's Hope," maybe even more so! I'm not much of a suspense junkie, but I decided to give this series a chance because hey, we all need something different now and again, and I have never regretted picking up this book. Alex is still the tough chick, passionate about her work and finding the truth in every situation, no matter how much trouble she gets into because of it. And boy does she get into a lot of trouble.

While it is the story that keeps me reading, it's the characters that draw me in, in the first place. And the Alex Wolfe series boasts a menagerie of excellent characters, and equally wonderful character interaction. There are no extra, useless scenes. Even in the moments when it seems like Alex is just having fun with her friends, she's using them to help sort through a few extra details in the case, or they're helping her solve a problem in her life. Alex's friends and coworkers help with the pacing of the book, as well as add in a light element. Alex Wolfe's life can be dark and gritty, especially working on the cases she does, but time spent with her friends gives the reader a few bright moments in the dark.

This story had me hooked from page one. And even better than that, it had me guessing until the very last page. The mystery played its part, I didn't know why the villain characters did what they did, and I had to keep reading to find out. I cared about Alex, Shelley, Gia, and more. The ending was definitely a good one, I felt like I needed so much more. I had to know Alex and the crew would get their happy endings, that even though some of these characters suffered so badly, things would be all sunshine and puppy dogs. I guess I'll just have to tune in for the next book - I hope there will be a next book!
Cover Loving: Good cover. The fiery-ness of it really suits Alex's personality and drive in this novel. And the vague heart shape is perfect, considering Alex's huge heart. Gruff personality sometimes, but huge heart.

Recommendation: Definitely check out "Credo's Legacy," and it's predecessor, "Credo's Hope." I loved both of these, and they really are excellent mystery/suspense novels. There is just so much I love about these books.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Another excellent Alex Wolfe book by Alison Holt. I really love this series, be sure to pick up your copy of "Credo's Hope" and "Credo's Legacy!"

Have you read "Credo's Hope" or "Credo's Legacy" by Alison Holt? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy? Try Amazon.com or Smashwords.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Freeze, it's the police! REVIEW of "Credo's Hope" by Alison Holt

Why this book?: Author requested a review.

Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Series, Fiction, Mystery, Police Fiction, Procedural Fiction, Long Hours, Licky the Carnivorous Puppy, Great Friends, Even better Partners

About the book: Alex Wolfe works for the Tucson Police Department, and if her case load isn't enough as it is, her friend convinces her to take on another one. Alex is already bogged down with work and trying to steer clear of her easy-to-anger boss, now she has to look into an old, closed case to prove a man innocent, hopefully before his final appeal and subsequent death sentence should his guilty verdict hold. Alex has no problem saying he's guilty and leaving everything to the attorney, but some things just don't add up, and she isn't going to rest until everything is tied up nice and neat.

Review: I will gladly shout from the rooftops about how much I enjoyed this book. From page one I was interested in the story and the characters, and couldn't wait to read more. Wolfe was smart and bold, and felt incredibly genuine. Perfect reactions, I'd say she was one of the best, real feeling characters I've read in, well.. maybe ever. I was struck by how accurate Wolfe's police career was portrayed, only to find out the author not only works on the police force, but also offers tips on her blog for authors that want to write accurate police characters. For readers who enjoy comparing characters and book series, I found some similarities between Wolfe and Stephanie Plum, though Stephanie relies almost entirely on luck, and Wolfe has the brains and the guts to solve the case.

I loved the plot, and the mystery was well thought out, with just enough little hints along the way so the ending was a pleasant surprise (I never expected that one!), but not a huge, out-of-left-field kind of shock. My favorite part? When Wolfe's supervisor, Kate, assigned Wolfe to on-call duty as "punishment" for going against her orders. Talk about some great revenge!  But you'll just have to read it and find out why. The only issue that made me stumble when reading "Credo's Hope" was the abundance of side characters. While they weren't technically all necessary, they did add a lot to the story, and I was grateful for their presence. There was an occasion or two where a name was mentioned and I forgot who that was, but generally the context was enough for me to pick it up right away.

Cover Loving: I like it. Short, Sweet, and to the Point.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended! Fans of Procedural/Police fiction and Mysteries will absolutely love "Credo's Hope." I'm not a huge mystery person (just an occasional fan) but this book had me hooked from page one, literally.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Definitely a winning book. The story and characters felt so incredibly real and genuine. Excellent novel, definitely a series and author to watch!

Where to buy the book:
Amazon: Credo's Hope (Alex Wolfe Mysteries)
Smashwords: Credo's Hope

Barnes and Noble: Credo's Hope
FIND THE AUTHOR HERE!

Have you read "Credo's Hope" or another book by Alison Holt? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy? See the links above!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~