Review - - A Lethal Betrayal

A Lethal Betrayal

by Lori Matthews

Coast Guard Hawai'i - Book 1

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: May 22, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Chief Petty Officer Dane Landry is injured and burning through his last chance with the US Coast Guard. His new team is tasked with finding stolen military-grade technology, but he finds himself in the crosshairs of an investigation as the prime suspect in the murder of a former teammate. With his career and freedom on the line, his top priority should be clearing his name while navigating the complex web of suspicion and betrayal that surrounds him. Being thrown together with the beautiful investigator is a distraction he doesn’t need.

Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent McKenna Rankin is determined to find out who killed the Senior Chief, but it soon becomes obvious there’s so much more at stake. Her attraction to the prime suspect is an obstacle she hadn’t anticipated, but one she isn’t sure she wants to overcome. As her investigation heats up and tensions run high, Dane and Mac must find a way to reconcile personal feelings with professional obligations while racing against the clock to uncover the true culprit before it’s too late.

PJ's Thoughts:

Lori Matthews keeps upping her game with each book she publishes. A Lethal Betrayal, book one in her new (connected) series, sucked me in, taking me on a wild, pulse-pounding ride from start to finish.

I felt like I was holding my breath for at least 90% of this book. Matthews loads it up with action, danger, suspense, and enough twists to give me whiplash. Tightly plotted, the story offers intense, life or death scenarios that kept me on the edge of my seat, gasping for breath, trying my best to figure out exactly who the villains were and how it would all work out in the end. I did center in on one person from the start and added another into the loop midway through the book but, boy howdy, did she keep the others close to the vest, sending me this direction and that until all was finally revealed. I love it when an author keeps me off balance like that, guessing right up until the end. 

As superb as Matthews is at weaving together breath-stealing suspense plots, so too does she excel at crafting complex, multi-layered, fully-developed characters who engage my emotions. As important as the action and suspense are to this book, the romantic, emotional connection between Dane and Mac holds its own as a counterpoint, adding a necessary emotional depth to their life or death heroics. 

Fans of Matthews' Coast Guard RECON series will recognize a few secondary characters in A Lethal Betrayal but readers new to the author should have no trouble at all beginning with this new Hawai'i series (though I also highly recommend the RECON books). 

A Lethal Betrayal is a fast-paced, action-packed, breath-stealing romantic thriller that kept me reading way past my bedtime. This series is already as addictive as her previous ones. I'm fully engaged and excited to discover which team member will take center stage next. 

Review - - Cease and Desist

Cease and Desist

by Lori Matthews

Callahan Security Series - Book 6

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: February 16, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

One retired SEAL, one former librarian, and one big mystery combine to make one amazing adventure!

Thane “Hawk” Hawkins is feeling lost. His corporate job no longer excites him and he’s missing his SEAL days. His friends at Callahan Security dangle an interesting job in front of him, but require a small favor in return. “Think of it as a trial run,” they said. Their idea of a small favor will send him on his most dangerous and mysterious adventure yet.

Remington “Remy” Tanger is putting the pieces back together after losing her last family member. Running her grandfather’s bookstore is her way of honoring him. But Gramps had a secret life that brings trouble stumbling into her shop and almost gets her killed.

She’s determined to navigate on her own; He’s determined to keep her alive. They’re both determined not to fall in love. Sometimes fate has other ideas.

PJ's Thoughts:

Lori Matthews is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. With Cease and Desist, she has once again penned a high-octane, fast-paced story that reeled me in and refused to let go. 

This book took me places I wasn't expecting. Remy's life is thrown into chaos - and danger - as she unexpectedly comes face to face with her late grandfather's secret life and Hawk, whom she has just met, seems to be the only person she can count on to help her navigate this unexpected journey while also keeping her alive. Even if every ounce of her resents his interference...at least at the beginning. 

I could not turn the pages of this book fast enough. It's such a tightly-woven, suspenseful, passionate, and danger-filled journey littered with surprising twists, moral dilemmas, and life-changing decisions. The characters are complex, multi-layered, and intriguing. Both Remy and Hawk undergo unanticipated evolutions as they each reach a crossroads where the choices they make will have a profound, and unalterable, impact on the rest of their lives. I love how Matthews slowly unveils their layers, especially Remy's, challenging her and infusing her with the strength to claim her man, her rightful inheritance, and all that entails. 

Speaking of layers, there are side characters - one in particular - with multiple layers and less than honorable back stories who I need to know more about. I sense a new series in the future.

While this is the sixth book in the Callahan Security Series and characters from the earlier books make appearances in this one, Cease and Desist stands well on its own. Readers new to Matthews should have no trouble beginning with this one. 

If high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled, emotion-packed romantic suspense is your jam, you'll want to add Lori Matthews to your reading list. 

Review - - Subverted

Subverted

by Lori Matthews

Coast Guard RECON - Book 4

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

After an abandoned ship is found in international waters, Team RECON is summoned by Homeland Security to find answers. Finn Walsh has massive reservations about boarding the empty US Navy ship. His worst fears come to life when they find all the navigation equipment and electronics disabled, smashed, or gone. But when Finn finds a hidden stash of dead bodies, and the boat begins to sink because of a violent storm, he can’t get off the ship fast enough.

Homeland Security analyst Victory Stanhope evaluates foreign and domestic terrorist cells from the safety of a desk in Washington D.C. After a dangerous stint with the CIA, that’s exactly how she likes it. But when a ‘request’ to investigate an abandoned ship comes from the Director himself, Tory heads back into the field only to discover that one of the Coast Guard team she is overseeing is a man she slept with once at a low point in her life and she’s never forgotten him.

In the interest of national security, Tory sidelines her strong attraction to Finn and throws herself into the riddle of what happened to the crew of the Oceanus Explorer and who is selling government secrets to other nations.

The stakes get even higher when Tory realizes that the sinister mastermind of the treasonous plot is closer to home than she thought possible.

PJ's Thoughts:

I woke up at 2:00 AM this morning and couldn't fall back asleep so I decided to read a chapter or two of Subverted, the newest Coast Guard RECON book by Lori Matthews that downloaded to my Kindle yesterday. At 5:00 AM, I was still wide awake and deeply immersed in the life or death intensity of this compelling story. Matthews has once again delivered intriguing characters who engage my emotions, edge-of-my-seat suspense, thought-provoking scenarios I hope never happen but am well aware could, and complex, multi-layered storytelling that kept me up - literally - all night.

If you enjoy romantic suspense thrillers that grab your attention from the start and hold it securely until you turn that final page, you won't want to miss this book. It includes crossover characters from the first three books in the Coast Guard RECON series (which I also highly recommend) but also stands well on its own. I loved it. 

Review - - CONFLICTED: A Romantic Suspense Thriller

CONFLICTED: A Romantic Suspense Thriller

by Lori Matthews

Coast Guard RECON - Book 3

Publisher: Lori Matthews

Release Date: May 17, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Meet Elias Mason of the US Coast Guard’s TEAM RECON. As in reconstructed. As in broken and needs fixing.

Team RECON has a new headquarters now—Miami, Florida, which also happens to be Elias’s hometown. He’s been avoiding his past like the plague, but there are some things you can’t outrun. Like the death of his best friend, his past involvement with the local gang, and his first love, Andrea Torres.

Andrea has been on a path of vengeance for years. Now an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Andy is determined to take down Santiago, the main runner of guns, money, and drugs in Miami, and the man who killed her sister. Her current undercover assignment has her so close to caging Santiago, she can taste it.

To stay on top, Santiago has to turn to buying guns from the Russians and selling them to militia groups. Elias and Andrea will need to bury their animosity and ignore the fiery chemistry between them to run a game of deception as insiders for Santiago. 

Pretending to be the couple they once were in order to bring their common enemy to justice would work if only the Russians didn’t have other plans.

PJ's Thoughts:

Talk about conflict; this book is steaming with it! Lori Matthews continues her string of intense, tightly-woven, suspense novels with another page turner that I devoured in one sitting. 

First of all, I loved the setting. Matthews really captures the South Florida vibe, placing me squarely in the center of her lush, tropical section of town that teems with diverse neighborhoods and pulsing nightlife while barely hiding a drug-infested, life-or-death underbelly. The essence of cut-throat criminals and the agents determined to take them down led me on an edge-of-my-seat journey with my heart in my throat most of the way. And the twists. So many twists! 

Then there are the human characters. Matthews really excels at creating complex, multi-layered characters who pull me in, engaging my emotions even when I fight against it. She makes them relatable, intriguing, and gives them nuances in shades of gray. In short, she makes them feel real. I connected with Elias and Andrea almost immediately, even though they were enemies at the start, both having good reason to mistrust the other. There's that conflict again. Matthews leads them through a complicated and difficult journey, both physically and emotionally. The suspense/action/danger of their joint mission takes the lead but their emotional evolution was not overlooked. Only with growth (on both of their parts) would a reconciliation be possible. Only with communication and deep introspection could soul-baring apologies be offered...and accepted. 

This is the third book in Matthews' RECON series. All of the team members are present in this story though the teams' mission and Elias and Andrea's romance are both begun and concluded within the book. This is a series where we see all the team members in each book but each book really does stand on it's own. Although I prefer to read books in order, I do think readers would be able to start anywhere and not feel confused or as if they were missing vital information. Having said that, I do recommend all three books currently published and am already eagerly anticipating more. 

COAST GUARD RECON:

Diverted

Incinerated

Conflicted

Review - - Incinerated

Incinerated

by Lori Matthews

Coast Guard RECON - Book 2

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: March 15, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

Meet Axel Cantor of the US Coast Guard’s TEAM RECON. As in reconstructed. As in broken and needs fixing.

When a cargo ship gets stuck in the Suez Canal and an American journalist on board ends up dead, Axel is sent in to investigate. He didn’t count on running into Sloan Bishop another reporter and the love of his life. Or maybe the hate of his life. Ever since he ended up in one of her articles.

Sloan is a driven reporter and will get the story at any cost. She’s on board the ship to document the first-ever female pilot to navigate the canal. But it all goes sideways, literally. The female pilot is blamed but Sloan knows there’s more to the story. When her best friend and fellow journalist, Eddie, is murdered, it becomes personal.

As the body count rises on the stuck cargo ship, the Sea Jewel, both Axel and Sloan will have to lower their defenses to work together to figure out what is really going on. There is something much bigger at play here, so big that Axel has to call in reinforcements – his fellow RECON teammates.

PJ's Thoughts:

Matthews continues to bring the action, danger, and romance in this second book of her Coast Guard RECON series. The suspense is intense and intricately woven throughout the book. The romance is second-chance (one of my favorites) though it took a back seat to the suspense for me, likely due to the heroine. While I adored Axel, it took me a long time to warm up to Sloan, mostly due to her "get the story at all costs" attitude. She does finally realize the error of her ways - and they get their happy ending - but it does take a while.

Matthews' research is impeccable and brings the locations in her books to life. In this one, she made me believe I was on a ship grounded in the Suez Canal. The sights, smells, and sensations of being trapped on a boat controlled by mercenaries had me experiencing emotions right along with the characters. Full immersion into a story is one of the facets of writing at which this author excels. 

The suspense/action/danger portion of this book was 5 stars all the way for me, keeping me on the edge of my seat with heart racing pretty much the entire book. The characters were fully developed, engaging my interest and emotions. Where it fell a little bit short for me was in the culmination of the romantic arc (it felt rushed) and a few threads related to the suspense storyline that were left hanging. I don't know if those threads will be picked up later or not but I wanted more closure. Other than those two issues (minor in the grand scheme of things), this was another high octane, glued to the pages, romantic suspense thriller from an author who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. If this type of story is your cup of tea, Lori Matthews is definitely an author you'll want to check out. 

Incinerated can stand on its own but as the members of the RECON team feature prominently in both books I recommend beginning with Diverted (click to read my review) before moving on to Incinerated. 

 

Review - - Diverted

Diverted

by Lori Matthews

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: November 2, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Nick Taggert was injured on his last assignment for the Coast Guard. Now, too hurt to return to his former position and not wounded enough to be benched, he’s assigned as the new Coast Guard team leader in…Panama. They’re there as part of a drug interdiction unit, but really, they’re Team RECON. Recon as in reconstructed. Each of the four men is like him; a Humpty Dumpty. Except they were trying to put themselves back together so they could do what they loved best, kicking ass, and taking names.

Dr. Carolina Alvarez had moved on from research and was working for Doctors Without Borders. A chance meeting with her old boss set her on a dangerous mission to deliver much-needed medicine to South America. Her failure would mean the sure extinction of a tribe clinging to their ancient ways.

Nick should have realized from the instant Carolina walked back into his life things would not go according to plan. But harbored resentment still clouded his vision. Now they were on the trail of the missing vaccine, and the assignment just turned deadly.

PJ's Thoughts:

A word of advice: do not begin this book unless you have plenty of reading time at your disposal. I started reading it in bed last night, continued until I fell asleep at 2:00 AM (still holding my Kindle), and dove right back in as soon as I awoke this morning. It's compelling, action-packed, edge-of-the-seat romantic suspense that grabbed from the get-go and refused to let go. I loved it!

Lori Matthews has become one of my favorite authors writing romantic suspense. Her stories are tightly crafted, with fully-developed characters who engage my emotions. She brings them to life on the pages and then places them in impeccably-detailed settings that put me in the heart of the action. I didn't just read about Carolina's, Nick's, and the Coast Guard team's journey through Panama and Ecuador, I felt like I was walking through the jungles with them, dodging gunfire, deactivating bombs, and balancing undeniable attraction with necessary caution, all while fighting for my life. It's an interactive experience Matthews brings with each book she writes. She fully immerses me in each of her stories, leaving me eager for more of the same each time I reach the final page. 

Diverted is the first book in a new series, one I hope will be long running. I'm already invested in the entire Coast Guard Special Ops team!

Review - - Evade and Capture

Evade and Capture

by Lori Matthews

Callahan Security Series - Book 4

Publisher: Wild Coyote Press

Release Date: April 20, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Can Jameson Drake save his sister and the woman he loves?

Spencer Gordon wasn’t expecting the call from Kathleen Drake, a woman she’d spent years keeping safe as part of the Witness Protection program. The terrified woman begged Spencer for help. Taking a leave of absence from her job with Homeland Security, Spencer hurries to her friend’s side. But the threat to Kathleen is larger than Spencer bargained for, forcing a call for reinforcements. She didn’t count on being attracted to Kathleen’s arrogant, annoying, and sexy as hell brother.

Searching for his sister has been a driving force for businessman and multimillionaire Jameson Drake. When a woman approaches him out of the blue claiming to know where his sister is, he has no choice but to go along. He’d imagined all kinds of wild theories about what happened to Kathleen but the truth is more shocking than even he’d ever guessed.

Forced to work together to keep Kathleen safe, Spencer strikes an uneasy alliance with Drake, wavering between wanting to shoot him, and needing to kiss him. Other than their mutual attraction, the one thing they do have in common is their desire to keep Kathleen safe. If only the mob didn’t have a different agenda.

PJ's Thoughts:

Talk about your wild rides! Lori Matthews cranks up the danger, action, suspense, and romance in this fast-paced, non-stop fourth book of her Callahan Security series. I could not put it down.

If you're a fan of this series, you know Jameson Drake has never stopped searching for his sister. It's been the driving force in his life for the past sixteen years and a common, secondary thread through the first three books of this series. I was hopeful for a positive resolution to his search but, come on, it's been sixteen years, right? I couldn't figure out how Matthews was going to bring Kathleen back into his life and keep it realistic or how she would manage to pull off a happy ending for everyone once we got into the heart of the story but that's exactly what she accomplished...while keeping me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what would happen next, and flipping pages for all I was worth from beginning to end. 

I loved how Drake's character evolved in this book, showing us a softer side along with well-hidden facets of the millionaire businessman that I never would have guessed. I wasn't sure how I felt about him in earlier books (his character really isn't fleshed out until this book) but he ended up being one of my favorite characters of the series. I didn't know what to make of Spencer at first but she won me over with her staunch loyalty to Kathleen and her kick-ass, take no prisoners attitude backed up by well-honed skills. She also is a character who evolves over the course of the book and I really enjoyed her growth from beginning to end.

If you enjoy fast-paced romantic suspense with intriguing characters, snappy dialogue, sizzling romance, breath-stealing danger, unexpected twists and turns, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters, at least for the good guys, give Lori Matthews' Evade and Capture a try. I highly recommend it.

*Evade and Capture is the fourth book in the Callahan Security series. While heroes from previous books are instrumental in this story and Drake's search for his sister is introduced early on in the series, his own story really doesn't take off until the beginning of this book. Evade and Capture can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone. 

Spotlight & Giveaway - - Lori Matthews

Since her debut book, Break and Enter released in February of this year,  Lori Matthews has been busy writing, with each successive book cementing her place on my auto-buy list of romantic suspense authors. Her books are fast-paced, passionate, and overflowing with action and adventure. And her complex, well-developed characters have me firmly in their corners. After the successful launch of the three full-length novels in her Callahan Security series, Matthews didn't miss a beat, turning her writing focus to novellas set within Amazon's Brotherhood Protectors World. The first, Justified Misfortune, takes readers to a small town in Montana for a second-chance romance that's filled with all the danger, passion, and unexpected twists that have sent all of Matthews' books straight to my keeper shelf. Read my full review of Justified Misfortune here. 

Justified Misfortune: Brotherhood Protectors World

by Lori Matthews

Publisher: Twisted Page Press

Release Date: October 13, 2020

 

Hudson Riggs has returned to his family’s ranch after years spent traveling the world. The former Navy SEAL accepted a position as a Personal Security Specialist, a job that didn’t leave much free time. He never expected his visit to his hometown to turn into another job. His former High School flame has been arrested for murder but Hudson’s gut instinct is she didn’t do it. All he has to do now is prove it.

For Sunny Travers, being back in Canyon Springs is bittersweet. She desperately misses her life in California but her grandmother needs her. Sunny’s world flips upside down when she’s arrested for killing the local hero. Now the citizens of Canyon Springs have turned against her and she’s forced to accept help from the man who broke her heart all those years ago.

Hudson knows Sunny hasn’t forgiven him. Hell, he hasn’t forgiven himself for how he left things but all his emotions take a back seat when someone tries to kill Sunny. Can Hudson protect Sunny long enough to apologize to her and right old wrongs or will the killer get to her first?

Justified Burden: Brotherhood Protectors World

by Lori Matthews

Publisher: Twisted Page Press

Release Date: December 1, 2020

Former Navy SEAL, and Personal Security Specialist Rhys Bennett is in Canyon Springs to mend after being shot on his last assignment. His wound has healed and it’s almost time for him to go back to work, but he’s worried. The sixth sense that’s kept him alive so far is MIA.

For Scarlett Jones, being in Canyon Springs is her chance at a fresh start after a devastating tragedy. She’s desperate for her design business to be successful. But when things keep going wrong on her latest remodel, panic sets in. Is someone sabotaging the worksite on purpose or is it all in her head?

Realizing the distracting Scarlett is in trouble, Rhys puts aside his self-doubt and volunteers to protect her. Watching over the beautiful redhead won’t be too difficult. Or so he thinks until a body is discovered and the mystery surrounding Scarlett turns potentially deadly. Will Rhys be up to the task of keeping Scarlett safe or will the killer get away with murder twice?

Justified Burden, the second of Matthews' Brotherhood Protectors World novellas, grabbed me on page one and held me riveted to the story until the end. Rhys and Scarlett are intriguing, relatable characters who engaged both my interest and my affection. Their emotional back stories and sizzling chemistry kept me invested in them and their journey, not to mention the ever-present danger and a well-woven mystery that had me guessing right up until the reveal. Plus...puppy! 💓

If you enjoy a quick, fast-paced story with a good balance of suspense and romance, I highly recommend both Justified Burden and Justified Misfortune. They're perfect for holiday season reading when we don't always have time for a full-length book.

Though both of these novellas stand on their own, because the hero and heroine from Justified Misfortune have significant roles in Justified Burden you may prefer to read them in order.  

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I love the small-town Montana setting of these novellas. What's your favorite contemporary romance setting? Country? City? Something else?

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, December 18 will each receive a print set of Justified Misfortune and Justified Burden.

*Must be 18

*Open internationally

Learn more about Lori's books and subscribe to her newsletter at her website. 

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