Review - - A Soldier's Honor

A Soldier's Honor
By Regan Black
The Riley Code - Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 1, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

When a security snafu turns his world upside down, Major Matt Riley reunites with his long-lost son. And fourteen years later, the military man is still captivated by his ex, Bethany Trent. Matt must convince her that their new family bond is for keeps—but first, he must keep them alive.







My thoughts:

Black puts an interesting twist on the secret baby trope with this story of two West Point cadets who fell in love when they were barely out of their teens. The son of a well-respected Army General, Matt Riley was destined for a career in the military but fell in love with fellow cadet, Bethany Trent. When Bethany became pregnant, she dropped out of the academy, declined Matt's marriage proposals, and swore him to secrecy, determined to raise their baby on her own. At twenty, Bethany was certain that would be the only way to protect Matt's honor, his military future, and keep the two of them from eventually resenting each other. Though Matt disagreed, he reluctantly honored her wishes. Almost 15 years later, their son still knows nothing about his father and while Matt has provided monthly financial support since his birth, he's never seen his son in person, but with the actions of a madman bent on revenge against Matt's father, that's all about to change.

Regan Black launches her new The Riley Code series with a bang. I've been reading Black's romantic suspense novels for a few years now and have come to expect pulse-pounding action with complex characters, deep emotion, and a well-crafted mystery. A Soldier's Honor provides all that and more. From beginning to end, I was on the edge of my seat, anxious to discover what would happen next.

Bethany, Matt, and their son, Caleb are all well-developed characters with enough strengths, vulnerabilities, and flaws to make them interesting and relatable. Caleb grabbed my heart immediately though his parents required some reflection, forgiveness, and ownership of the consequences of their earlier decisions before they earned my affection. Once that happened, I was all in and racing with them toward what I hoped would be a happy ending for all. The secondary cast is rich with characters I want to know better, in particular, Matt's friend, Alex and the Riley family. The mystery of who the villain is and how his revenge plot against the Riley family plays out will unfold over the course of the series. I'll be there for every intense, emotional, and action-packed, twist and turn along the way. 

Winner - - Regan Black

The randomly chosen winner of a $10 gift card and digital editions of

The Escape Club and Safe in His Sight by Regan Black is:

Lil

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Regan Black

It's always a pleasure to host Regan Black. I was introduced to Regan's books a few years ago and, wow, am I happy I was! Her action-packed stories, with heart-tugging romance and suspense that always keeps me guessing, never fail to take me on a heart-pounding ride. You can find more information about Regan and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Regan joins us today to talk about the newest book in her Escape Club Heroes series, A Stranger She Can Trust. Once again, she captivated me with her characters, kept me guessing with intricately woven suspense, and crafted a story that refused to let go until I reached the final page. If you enjoy action and suspense within a satisfying romance, I highly recommend Regan Black's books. Please join me in giving her a warm Romance Dish welcome.

Thanks so much, PJ, for having me back today to celebrate the release of A Stranger She Can Trust, the second book in the Escape Club Heroes series. Writing these books for Harlequin Romantic Suspense has been a fabulous experience.

While I wrote this book, I often wondered how it is we know who

to trust when we’re in the midst of a crisis. Melissa, suffering from trauma-induced amnesia has to rely only on intuition when she chooses to let Carson help her.

One of my favorite scenes in the story takes place over the comforting power of chocolate cake. In the months after Carson was injured on the job, his oldest sister frequently stops by to check on him. On one such errand, she left the cake for him and he shares it with Melissa when she’s at a low point.

Chocolate is one of those miracle cures for nearly everything, right? And I think cake can qualify as a helpful building block on the road to a happy ever after.

The cake I used is a family favorite, rich, moist and practically mistake proof. Plus you can top it with anything or leave it plain. My mom called it Cockeyed Cake. I made this a few times while writing Carson and Melissa’s story - much to my husband’s delight.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup cold water

2 Tablespoons white vinegar

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray or butter (or use a nonstick pan). Combine sugar, cocoa, flour and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.  Add oil and water and blend thoroughly with a fork. Quickly stir in the vinegar. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done. 9 servings.

A Stranger She CanTrust

A guarded man builds a future with a woman without a past… 

Outside of one of Philadelphia's busiest nightclubs, a woman stumbles from her taxi. Beaten and bruised, Melissa Baxter is an amnesiac with a target on her back. Gun-shy, Melissa relies on a handsome hero to help her uncover who she really is. 

Carson Lane—a paramedic with his own dark history—can't help but bring this beautiful, vulnerable woman under his wing. Still reeling from his partner's murder, he's no stranger to risk. But as he and Melissa begin unraveling the mystery of who she really is, Carson realizes falling in love could be the biggest risk of all. 

You can read the first chapter at Regan’s website: bit.ly/ECTrust or pick up your copy in ebook or paperback at Amazon | BN or your favorite bookseller!

For a chance to win a $10 gift card and digital editions of both the Escape Club (series prequel) and Safe In His Sight (series book 1) leave a comment about your favorite dessert.

You can connect with Regan online through her Website|Twitter|Facebook|Newsletter

Regan Black Winner

The randomly chosen winner of a signed copy of

Safe in His Sight by Regan Black is:

Cheryl C

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Regan Black

It's my pleasure to welcome Regan Black back to the Dish today. I was introduced to Regan and her romantic suspense stories a couple years ago at Georgia Romance Writers' Moonlight and Magnolias Conference and I'm so very happy I was. Her action-packed, suspense-filled books, whether written individually or co-written with Debra Webb, never fail to take me on a heart-pounding ride. The USA Today Bestselling author also writes paranormal and urban fantasy. You can find more information about Regan and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Hi, Regan! It’s a pleasure to host you here at the Romance Dish. Congratulations on the release of SAFE IN HIS SIGHT, your debut novel for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Please tell our readers what they should expect from this book.

Thanks, for having me PJ! It’s wonderful to be here. Readers should expect an exciting, action-packed ride with Mitch and Julia. There’s (naturally) a great deal of trouble in Julia’s life when she feels her only option is to visit the Escape Club for help fending off a stalker. Mitch, a firefighter on administrative leave, is tending bar at the club when Julia walks in. Sparks fly from the start.

SAFE IN HIS SIGHT launches your Escape Club Heroes series. Please tell us a bit about the overall series. How many books will there be? 

This series revolves around the Escape Club, established by a former Philadelphia, PA police officer who had to retire early after being shot in the line of duty. He set out to create an ideal hot spot for local bands, and the club became a refuge for first responders picking up work while on leave for various reasons. Because of the nature of the majority of the employees, the club also gets a reputation for assisting people who have trouble that slips through the cracks of typical law enforcement responses. In Julia’s case, she can’t wait for normal police procedure to resolve the issues the stalker is creating, so she goes to the Escape Club for help.

Right now, there are four books scheduled for the series. There is also the short prequel Escape Club that released in July and covers how the club was established on the pier on the Delaware River in Philly. It’s possible I will develop more short stories for release between the novel releases, but that will depend on several factors in my schedule.

You have some scary cyber criminality in this book. Did this come from your imagination or real-life crimes? What kind of research did you do for this facet of the book? 

Most of the premise for Safe In His Sight came from my imagination, although thanks to technology, we’re seeing cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, and private data breaches more often. Because I’m blessed to have a husband and children who work with and understand cutting-edge computer and technical advances, my research usually starts with asking one of them a question about what might be plausible. Once I boil down that (often lengthy) answer, I go digging into various non-tech sides of the issue and go back with more questions, or track down another source or interview if necessary. Lather, rinse, repeat, and eventually the technical elements are clear enough to me that I can incorporate them into the story without detracting from the overall adventure and growth of the characters.

I can always count on your books to keep me glued to the pages from beginning to end. What authors do you turn to when you want a riveting, can’t-put-it-down, read? 

When I need bigger-than-life action, I turn to Clive Cussler. For romance and romantic suspense, I’ll pick up books by Debra Webb, Nora Roberts and Carla Cassidy. Historical romance novels are my weak spot and Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, and Sabrina Jeffries are must reads for me. Of course I love paranormal romances too and often return to my favorite Jayne Castle, Kresley Cole, and Nora Roberts titles to satisfy that craving.

In addition to your romances, you’ve also authored non-fiction titles, including the Adopt a Greyhound Guide, about your experiences fostering and adopting retired greyhounds. Please tell us a bit about that experience as well as the groups that benefit from sales of this book. 

Oh, greyhounds are near and dear to my heart. So much in fact, that I’ve added greyhounds as characters in two fiction books (so far). When my husband and I got married a retired greyhound was our gift to each other. We both love dogs and the more we learned about this breed and their calm, couch-potato lifestyle after racing, the more we knew it was the right choice for us. They are sweet, funny, and expressive companions and they make excellent writing assistants. In our 25+ years of marriage there has only been one week when we didn’t have a greyhound in the house. As a family we’ve fostered somewhere around 30 greys and “failed” fostering (meaning we adopted greys intended as fosters) on five occasions.

Currently, with every sale of the Adopt a Greyhound Guide, our family donates $5 to our local greyhound adoption program. This helps group volunteers with transportation and fostering costs as well as ongoing local and regional outreach efforts.

What are you working on now? 

At the moment I’m wrapping up my portion of the next Debra Webb and Regan Black novel for Harlequin Intrigue. There is such a fun energy when I’m working on books with Deb! After that, my agenda shifts to my Knight Traveler series with Timeless Changes - the fourth book - coming out in October. Later this fall I’ll be returning to my fictional night club in Philly and the next Escape Club hero.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Regan! 

It’s always a delight to be here with you and your readers, PJ! 

Would you like to ask our readers a question? 

We’ve talked about how I live my adventure through my books and with my greyhounds. How do your readers live their adventure every day?

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a signed copy of Safe in His Sight. Deadline for giveaway is 11:00 pm, September 9, 2016.

 

Today's Special - - Debra Webb and Regan Black

You never know who you're going to meet when you say hello. Last October, I introduced myself to the woman sitting next to me in a workshop at the Moonlight and Magnolias conference in Atlanta. Turns out that woman was romantic suspense author Regan Black. I told her I was a book blogger. She told me about the series for Harlequin Intrigue that she's writing with Debra Webb and gave me a copy of the first book in the series, The Hunk Next Door which was due to be released the following month. It was love at first scene. (read my review here) The second book in the series, Heart of a Hero was released earlier this month and continues my love affair with this dynamic collaborative duo's heart-stopping romantic suspense stories. If you haven't read their books yet, I highly encourage you to give them a try. 

I'm delighted to host Regan and Debra today as they share with us some of the adventures of writing as a team.  Please welcome USA Today Bestselling authors Regan Black and Debra Webb!

Thanks for hosting us today, PJ!

Debra and I have known each other since I was a newbie at my first writing conference.  I was a huge fan of her novels and gushed like any good fan girl would. She was so inspiring and approachable (and patient) and she gave me amazing advice that weekend. A year later she gave me my first cover quote for my debut novel.

Fast forward almost a decade (notice neither of us has aged a bit!) and dozens of phone calls and we are exploring new adventures as a writing team. Joining forces was Deb’s idea, but it only took me about two seconds to think it over. Come on - the chance to write with my mentor and friend?

People ask us all the time how the co-writing works for us. First, you have to know Deb is an idea factory. She comes up with a scenario and creates a brief outline and then we talk and brainstorm until we have a story concept with characters we both love. And then we talk it out some more.

As we dig into the writing process, phones and text messaging are the lifeline. From the brainstorm to “What did you mean here?” to the final edits, we do it all by phone.

We still laugh about the day I was stuck on a backstory point with a hero and she said, “Oh! Maybe his parents were in the circus. That would give him…” My answer was something along the lines of a profound “Hmm. I’ll think about it.”

And I did. Because as resistant as I was to that particular idea, it was actually workable. It’s our inside joke now, but it’s probably a safe bet that circus parents will show up in one of our books eventually.

Of course there was the flurry of text messages when we realized I had set the story set in one place, and she had a chase and love scene set on the other side of the state. Neither of us had noticed it in the outline. We laughed a long time about the potential sexual tension on that drive.

What makes it work so well for us is our communication and appreciation for each other’s strengths. A good, similar sense of humor doesn’t hurt. Add in mutual trust and you’ve got the keys to our partnership.

The Hunk Next Door (Harlequin Intrigue Nov/2014) was our first release, kicking off The Specialists: Heroes Next Door series. The second story, Heart of a Hero hit the shelves on February 1st. To Honor and To Protect will be out June 1, 2015.

Because we were on a roll, Deb and I launched the Dangerous Protectors romantic suspense trilogy with Against The Wall (Dec/2014) Too Far Gone (Jan/2015) and Nothing To Lose (available Feb 27, 2015).

Of course we continue to work on our individual titles, but with every new story idea Deb and I get more excited to share our books with readers. Co-writing has been a joyful, energizing experience for both of us and I can hardly wait to dive into the adventures our next phone call will create.

Good luck to everyone in the Heart of a Hero giveaway!

Live the adventure,

Regan and Debra


Readers, if you teamed up with a friend to create something what would that special talent be? Writing? Blogging? Knitting? Photography? Baking? Some type of craft? Let's dish!

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment today will receive a copy of Heart of a Hero signed by both Regan and Debra. (open to everyone)

When she met and married the man of her dreams Debra put her writing aside and tried some other occupations, including door-to-door sales, various factories and restaurants, a day care center, a hospital and a department store. Shortly after the birth of her first daughter Debra’s husband joined the military and she decided to go to college. Eventually the U.S. Army took them to Berlin, Germany, and Debra accepted a position as secretary in the commanding general’s office. By 1985, they were back in the States, and her next major career move landed her at NASA in the Space Shuttle Program.

For more than a dozen years after returning to the States Debra and her family lived in a small Tennessee town where everyone knew everyone else. A few years after settling in Tennessee her second daughter was born. Though she hadn’t written in nearly two decades, in 1996 Debra took up writing again. With the support of her family and God’s blessing her dream of being published came true in March of 1999.

Debra’s life has come full circle now. She and her family, along with their three dogs, have moved back home to Alabama. With more than one hundred novels to her credit, Debra writes spine-tingling romantic suspense and thrillers.

Debra's websites: http://www.debrawebb.com/ and http://www.thefacesofevil.com/ (she hosts a weekly briefing at the faces of evil site every Friday with excerpts and giveaways)

As a USA Today bestselling author, Regan Black is fiercely committed to guiding readers through action-packed adventures to the best happily ever after endings so you can savor a fantastic escape from the daily grind. If you are looking for a proven author who delivers a fast-paced, exciting paranormal, urban fantasy, or romantic suspense novel for your essential escape, you’ve come to the right place. “With countless years of experience telling tales to amuse friends and family, my mission is to deliver stories from the heart, full of unforgettable, passionate characters who know what they want and are willing to risk it all to reach the goal.”

Join the adventure at 

http://www.ReganBlack.com
Twitter 

or on Facebook 

Trapped with a madman… 

Trail guide Charly Binali is alone in the Rockies with a madman and his armed mercenaries, and he's demanding she lead him to a powerful, hidden device. And when help comes in the unexpected form of her very hot neighborhood mailman, Charley discovers the "nice" guy she gave her heart to isn't who she thought. 

Undercover CIA agent Will Chase hated lying to Charly, but getting to that dangerous device first is a matter of national security. It's seven bad guys against him and Charly, but between his training and her survival skills, they just might beat the odds—if he can get her to ever trust him again.

The Hunk Next Door: http://www.amazon.com/Hunk-Next-Door-Specialists-Heroes-ebook/dp/B00K9ZXYW2

Heart of a Hero: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Hero-Specialists-Heroes-Next-ebook/dp/B00O92RPGC

Against The Wall: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Wall-Dangerous-Protectors-Book-ebook/dp/B00PFZQ4PK

Too Far Gone: http://www.amazon.com/Too-Gone-Dangerous-Protectors-Book-ebook/dp/B00Q546HMK

Nothing To Lose:http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Lose-Dangerous-Protectors-Book-ebook/dp/B00RTMK51G

To Honor and To Protect: http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Protect-Specialists-Heroes-Next-ebook/dp/B00R0IALWW

Add a Little Suspense to Your Holidays

I love a good whodunit. Whether it be romantic suspense, a psychological thriller or a good old fashioned mystery, stories that lure me in, keep me on the edge of my seat and pit my wits against the villain are always high on my reading list. Here are three books that recently kept me up reading way into the night. I highly recommend them!

Judgment
A Cassidy & Spenser Thriller - Book 1
By Carey Baldwin
Publisher: HarperCollins / Witness Impulse
Release Date: October 7, 2014


If these two rivals can't work together...

Dr. Caitlin Cassidy is on a mission to protect the innocent. Fifteen years ago, she witnessed her father's execution for a crime she's convinced he didn't commit. Now she works as a forensic psychiatrist to make sure that other innocents don't meet the same fate.

Special Agent Atticus Spenser is hell bent on locking the guilty away. A brilliant FBI profiler, Spense loves a good puzzle...especially when the solution takes a psychopath off the streets. But his nemesis, the enigmatically vexing Caity Cassidy, is one puzzle he's never been able to solve.

...one of them is going to die.

When a young coed falls prey to a sexually sadistic killer, Caity and Spense are called in by opposing sides. But before the case can go to trial, the accused man is murdered in a brutal attack and Caity is critically wounded. Now Caity and Spense must put aside their differences and work together to uncover the truth - because the Man in the Maze is coming back for round two.

As a former clinical psychologist, Carey Baldwin knows plenty about the dark corners of the human mind, using that knowledge to superb effect in her newest book, Judgment. Once again, she has created a stunning thriller with a tightly woven plot, smart dialogue and twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. While there is no shortage of action, it's the characters who hold center stage in this story: the villains who will chill your soul and have you taking second looks at people you pass on the street and the hero and heroine who will capture your heart with the vulnerabilities hidden beneath the strength and determination they show to the world.

If you enjoy a story that challenges you intellectually, takes your emotions on a roller-coaster ride, delivers protagonists you can cheer for and villains that have you double checking the locks on your doors then Carey Baldwin is an author who should be on your radar.

The Hunk Next Door
The Specialists:Heroes Next Door - Book 1
By Debra Webb and Regan Black
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Release Date: November 1, 2014

In the season of hope, someone's out for blood. Police Chief Abigail Jensen is determined to protect her town—and avoid falling too hard for Riley, the new guy next door. But deciding who to trust can be deadly, especially when he has deep secrets…. 

Agent Riley O'Brien's mission is clear when he joins the CIA's covert Specialist task force: protect a small-town cop from a terrorist, no matter what. Trading his identity for the undercover guise of a handyman is part of the plan…getting close to Abigail on a personal—and passionate—level isn't.

The Hunk Next Door kicks off a new series from Black and Webb that centers around The Specialists, a group of agents who give up their lives to take long-term, undercover assignments to protect people whose lives are at risk.  After reading this first book (in one afternoon - I could not put it down), all I can say is that I hope this series goes on for a very long time!

Protecting her town is Abigail Jensen's sole focus. After busting a major drug trafficking ring, she makes it clear during a television interview that Belclare, Maryland is off-limits to those with criminal intent and, in doing so, unknowingly makes herself the target of a deadly terrorist cell - the power behind the drug ring.

There are few people Abby trusts completely. She has to be suspicious if she's to be successful in protecting her town. When handyman Riley O'Brien shows up to help build the town's Christmas village her radar goes on high alert, especially when a series of escalating events aimed to harm the town and discredit Abby begin after his arrival. Is he the bad guy orchestrating the events or the only one she can turn to to keep the citizens of Belclare safe?

Black and Webb reeled me in from the start with the premise of this series, the fully developed characters and the small-town charm of Belclare with its quirky citizens, political in-fighting and evil simmering beneath the surface. Unlike many mysteries, in this one, the identity of the villain is revealed early in the book.  For me, this ramped the intensity even higher, giving me full access into the villain's thoughts and plans while leaving Abby and Riley on the outside, still trying to figure things out and save the town from an evil adversary as the book races to its stunning conclusion.

I'm already counting the days until February 1st and the release of the second book in The Specialists: Heroes Next Door series, Heart of a Hero.

Close to the Fire
Westen Series - Book 3
By Suzanne Ferrell
Publisher: Suzanne Ferrell Productions
Release Date: September 25, 2014



They once were lovers: 

After ten years of keeping his distance to the one woman he's always loved, Fire Chief Deke Reynolds is finally ready to set aside his grief and confess his guilt to Elizabeth "Libby" Wilson about his part in her brother's death. Libby's own guilty secret has kept her from sharing her life with the man who stole her heart as a teen and awakened her body as a young woman. 

Danger has forced them together again: 

A fire and their odd connection to a new teenager at the local half-way house have this couple finally sharing their secrets with each other. With an arsonist on the loose, threatening the town of Westen and its citizens, have Libby and Deke waited too long to find their love again? 


Suzanne Ferrell has charmed me with the heartwarming and quirky citizens of Westen, Ohio and put me firmly on their side as they battle those who would bring death and destruction into their midst. 

Second chance love stories are one of my favorite romance tropes. Deke Reynolds and Libby Wilson have been in love since their teens but a tragic fire tore them apart ten years ago. If anybody deserves a second chance it's these two but just as it appears they may be finding their way back to one another an arsonist enters the picture, determined to keep them apart...forever.

Ferrell is adept at combining heartwarming with heartrending, engaging the reader's emotions at every level. She had me laughing, crying and holding my breath with fear. She also kept me guessing. Just when I was sure I knew who the villain was she threw in a twist that had me second guessing my conviction. Characters from previous books in the series play pivotal roles, enriching the story without stealing the spotlight from Libby and Deke. 

Close to the Fire stands well on its own but with characters from previous books making appearances there are spoilers from those books. You might want to start with the first book and read them in order. They are - in order: Close to Home, Close to the Edge and Close to the Fire. Ferrell also has a newly released Westen novella, Close to Christmas that takes place following the conclusion of Close to the Fire.

~PJ


Are you a romantic suspense/suspense thriller fan?

Who are some of your go-to suspense authors?

Any recent suspense books you'd recommend?


One person leaving a comment will receive a Kindle copy of Close to Home and Judgment.

One person leaving a comment will receive a print copy of The Hunk Next Door. (U.S. only)