Tag: suspense

A Spy in the Struggle

A Spy in the Struggle cover
~ rachelbenzine ~ 1 Comment

Plot:

Yolanda Vance wasn’t planning on becoming an FBI agent. She’s a lawyer by training, and ended up at the FBI after her huge corporate employer got busted for being shady. When the Bureau assigns her to infiltrate an extremist group near the college she attended, saying no isn’t an option. Yet when she meets the group of teenagers that have been labeled extremists by the Bureau, and starts to fall in love with one of their adult mentors, she quickly realizes that not everything the Bureau had told her was true. But y’all, we all know that the Bureau wants their employees to stick to the party line… and when Yolanda starts questioning what she’s been told, she isn’t going to be safe for long.

What I loved most:

Sometimes, you just need to read a book with spies and double crossing and dirty government agencies. I generally don’t read many mysteries or thrillers anymore, because I 50000% get nightmares when I read things that are too dark. This was an engaging, well-written novel that satisfied my desire to read suspense without going way too far off the deep end.

Read this book if you like:

Suspense, spies, trying to figure out how you would handle a tough situation, social justice, activism

Things to be aware of:

There is explicit sexual content in this book. And while it’s not at a nightmare level, there’s definitely violence.

Book details:

  • Author: Aya de Leon
  • Publisher: Kensington Books
  • Date of Publication: December 29, 2020
  • Interest Level: Adult

Misty Lake

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Review:

After Samantha Taylor’s grandfather passed away, she finds out that she inherited his property in Misty Lake, Minnesota. She’s reeling from his loss, as well as the passing of her brother, but decides to move up to the property and start a new life. A series of strange crimes on her property brings her into contact with Sheriff Jake McCabe. Feelings soon blossom between the two, setting the stage for a sweet romance novel with some suspense added for good measure.

I’m a Minnesota girl, and I love reading any book set in my home state. There was so much Minnesota culture here for my heart to smile at – from Sam’s insistence on bringing pasta salad to a summer barbecue, to shopping at the Mall of America, to Sam’s grandfather’s saying that if you’re going to do something, you have to do it right. The author of Misty Lake (Margaret Standafer) is my aunt, and I’m super proud to be able to review this book so highly.

Favorite Passage:

“Why is everyone so concerned about the fact that I live alone?” she asked, her voice rising. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself as I have had to explain to everyone who’s been out here. What, just because I’m a woman I’m helpless? Really, this isn’t the nineteenth century anymore. And, I bet those women were a lot more capable than men gave them credit for,” she added, well on her way to working up a head of steam.
— Chapter 9

What I Loved Most:

Feminism rings through Misty Lake. Sam is working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and mentions an experience where a customer was upset to find out that the Sam who ran the woodworking business was a woman. Yet she’s absolutely crushing, and quickly builds up business after moving to Misty Lake. She calls people out on their assumptions that she shouldn’t be living alone because she’s a woman. She doesn’t flinch away from identifying sexual harassment for what it is. She’s a strong woman, and she doesn’t apologize for it.

Read this book if you like:

Clean romance stories, mysteries that you can enjoy without being too freaked out, adorable dogs named Rigi, lake life

Book Details: