The Book: Imbroglio

The Author: Alana Woods

The Story: What drives a person to extreme actions? Actions that others, if they knew, would have difficulty understanding.

What’s in Noel Valentine’s past that impels her to save a stranger’s life knowing that it could endanger hers?

In hot tropical Australia, Noel pulls one man from a burning car but is unable to save his passenger. When the stranger she saved shows up back in her home town of Sydney and asks for a place to stay, why does Noel agree? Especially given he could have been an assassin hired to kill his passenger. Especially given that she’s pitching to win as a client the medical technology company that seems to be central to whatever is going on. A company that both assassin and victim had connections with. A company with questionable markets and equally questionable front men.

Imbroglio is an understatement for the mess she very quickly finds herself in.

Review by John L. Work: You probably won’t finish this novel in one sitting. You’ll have to pay close attention to keep track of all the different players in the programme. If you relax your concentration for a moment, you’ll have to go back and do it again or be lost.

Alana Woods has written a tale that is filled to the brim with deception, criminal impersonation, betrayal, greed, exploitation, sexual manipulation, murder, and some just plain pretty rotten people. There’s only one character in the entire bunch that I’d consider inviting over for Sunday dinner. You’ll have figured out who it is when you get toward the end of the yarn.

In short, it’s exactly what any card-carrying crime fiction fan is looking for.

With her portrayals of human beings at their basic instinct worst, I completely believe the part of Ms. Woods’ resume which tells us she was once a certified Court reporter. The reader gets this story straight from the lady who heard it all and wrote it all down for the record, in real life during sworn testimony.

So, by all means, enjoy this journey, hand in hand with Alana Woods, through the wilderness of well-financed criminals, laboring hard at their nefarious work. But it’s a treacherous, winding, narrow path. Be careful. It’s hard to tell who’s really who.

Review by Richard O’Hara: I have just finished reading Imbroglio by Alana Woods. Imbroglio is an intricately drawn story that centres on the main characters working to uncover what they perceive to be inconsistencies in the running and operation of a medical equipment company. The subsequent uncovering of a money laundering scheme places them in some very compromising and life threatening situations.

I liked a lot of things about Imbroglio, and among them was the way the author seamlessly weaves into the story subtle clues underpinning the actions and emotions of one of the main characters, Noel Valentine.

I found “Imbroglio” a thoroughly absorbing read, and I continued to think about the believable and likeable characters well after I had turned the last page.

The Book: A Murderous Game

The Author: Patricia Paris

The Story: Betrayal. Passion. Second Chances. When Murder’s a game…Be Careful how you Play.

Abby Carpenter is a woman with a few problems: a little red diary that has a way of showing up at the worst times, a creepy coworker trying to sabotage her career, and a philandering ex-husband who won’t stay dead—and now, the CEO of the largest account to land on the doorstep of the marketing firm she works for, happens to be a man she made a complete fool of herself over fourteen years ago. Abby’s convinced if he recognizes her the firm could lose the account, and she could lose her job.

Gage Faraday can’t shake the feeling his new account manager, Abigail Carpenter, reminds him of someone, he just can’t place who. As he begins working with her to develop a marketing plan for his company’s new development, he realizes they’ve run into a snag—he’s developed a major attraction for his new business associate—but, he’s a man who goes after what he wants, and he wants Abby.

Just when Abby begins to think things may finally be going her way, her ex turns up dead—very dead—and she becomes the primary suspect in the murder investigation. Now she’s being pursued by a relentless detective, a sleazy tabloid reporter, and a man who won’t take no for an answer. Will the forces working to tear Abby and Gage apart prevail, or will destiny have its’ due? Find out in this sexy, sassy, romance with a touch of suspense.

Review by Mrs. J. Lobb: Abby Carpenter dreams up different methods of killing her ex-husband, so much so, that she even discusses it with friends. But nobody is more astonished than her when his dead body is discovered, thrusting her into the limelight as a murder suspect.

Through work she re-kindles an intense friendship with Gage, who turns out to be one of her late husband’s rivals, more evidence to boot. As the story progresses and she protests her innocence, more and more evidence unfolds linking her to his death. Can Detectives find the killer, before police charge her for murder? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Paris layers her characters beautifully as she deftly inserts twists and turns into the plot to keep the reader guessing. Wonderfully woven prose, alongside positively sizzling romantic scenes will demand that you flick those pages to the last letter. A gripping read.

Review by Sweet Falene: This is my third book that I’ve read by Ms. Paris. I have to say that her skill with both a complex plot and character (not to mention the sexual tension! Phew!) has increased with each subsequent book.

A Muderous Game follows Abby and Gage as they meet many years after a teenage debacle that almost saw Gage charged with rape. Throw in a conniving, slimy ex-husband, spicy, mouthy best friend and a fantastic crew of supporting cast members and I wasn’t able to put the book down. I felt like the story revolving around the murder, how it came about and who was involved was well played out so that even though I thought I knew what was happening, I kept second guessing myself.
The sexual tension and emotion between Gage and Abby was HOT, SMOKING HOT, and I loved every minute of it