Storming His Heart by Nicole Blanchard was previously published as Spark. Its a novella, a second chance romance, #0.5 in the Battleboro Fire & Rescue series. We start out with a hurricane in Northern Florida. I love it, seeing it takes place in my neck of the woods. The first time I experienced a hurricane warning, my brother and sister threw a hurricane party, so when that was mentioned in Storming His Heart, I chuckled. Something else that I have in common with the story. Other than that, I have nothing in common with Avery.
When Avery crosses the street to rescue her neighbors that are stuck in their damaged home, Walker just happens to appear. They had a one night stand, before he headed out of town. She never told him her secret. Could they have a second chance at love? Why not?
I do love a little bit of angst before the happy ever after. Sure, it’s predictable, but I enjoyed the journey. A great introduction to the Battleboro Fire & Rescue series.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
One night with him changed my life forever and I didn’t even know his last name.
I’m a small-town girl who’s never ventured even close to crossing state lines.
He’s a Wildland Firefighter working across the country most of the year.
The only thing we have in common is that for one night, we don’t want to be alone.
It can never last. He has to leave to go be a hero and I have obligations I can’t abandon.
I thought that would be the end…
Until a twist of fate brings us back together and he learns the spark we had may not be the only thing left between us.
Previously published as Spark
Genre: Fiction, Firefighters, Military, Romance, Second Chance Romance
104 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2021
Series: Battleboro Fire & Rescue #0.5
ABOUT NICHOLE BLANCHARD
Nicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the TikTok-viral dark romance Toxic, a wildly addictive bestseller that has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide. Known for her morally gray antiheroes, off-the-charts heat, and jaw-dropping twists, Nicole’s stories drag readers deep into love’s darkest corners—where no one escapes unscarred.
When she’s not crafting twisted love stories that break your heart and then heal it, you can find her soaking up beach sun with a glass of sweet tea, getting inked, or running a farm full of lovable misfit animals.
A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9’s instinct to help them make it out alive.
Pop singer Keely Williams’s search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she’s suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaskan blizzard but also a killer who’s on her tail.
After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend–Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except, when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it’s up to the former cop to stage a rescue.
But Dawson has no idea he’s being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future.
Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest–and most rewarding–adventure of all.
Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 100 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers’ Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota.
This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Revell & Susan May Warren. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
I am familiar with James L’Etoile’s name, but I have never read any of his work. His books sound right up my alley, so when I saw Illusion Of Truth and had the time to read it, I grabbed a copy. James does not disappoint.
Detective Emily Hunt is used to running towards danger, so when her boyfriend, also a cop, Brian Connor, is hurt in a church bombing, she will stop at nothing to find who is responsible. She has no idea how deep the conspiracy goes. By choosing to go slow with their relationship, did she lose her chance at happiness? She also has to cope with her mother’s dementia. How long before she doesn’t recognize who Amanda is?
It seems the villain is targeting the police. Why? What grievance could they have that would cause them to go to such extremes? Mystery and danger abound.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery
Illusion of Truth takes Emily by the throat when her cop boyfriend, Brian Conner, responds to a disturbance only to be lured into a church bombing. Seriously wounded, Emily worries if he survives, will he be the man she knew? One-by-one, other officers linked to a crime years earlier are targeted. Was it covered up? Was Brian part of it? Emily discovers truth depends on who’s left to tell the story.
Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Michael Connelly
Praise for Illusion of Truth:
“Illusion of Truth is a real deal police-eye view of the mean streets. Bosch and Ballard, make room for Emily Hunter. She’s brash, bold, but with a soul and a heart for justice.” ~ Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author
“An absolutely relentless thriller… in ILLUSION OF TRUTH, we find Detective Emily Hunter at her very best: Smart, sharp, and willing to do whatever it takes to solve the case of a renegade bomber. With a frightening, ripped-from-the-headlines story of attacks on her fellow police, and a cast of characters with emotional depth, perseverance, and spouting the best cop talk, L’Etoile has penned another hit in this top-notch series.” ~ J.T. Ellison, NYT bestselling author of LAST SEEN
“A high-voltage, high-stakes police procedural, ILLUSION OF TRUTH is crisp and fast-paced, as cinematic as a Michael Mann thriller. On full display here is the unique storytelling sensibility that’s made James L’Etoile’s books beloved among mystery readers: a badass, rock-solid investigation plot with precinct veracity, hostage negotiation expertise, and deep empathy. ILLUSION OF TRUTH is a remedy for cynicism, a throwdown to wake up and follow the clues, to pay attention, to believe in a better tomorrow. The world is unfair, yes, and it might feel broken sometimes, but, as Emily Hunter reminds us: ‘We’re all broken in one way or another. It’s how we put the pieces together that counts.'” ~ Margot Douaihy, bestselling author of Scorched Grace, Blessed Water, and Divine Ruin
“Like the best of Michael Connelly, L’Etoile has created characters readers care about while also crafting a twisty and compelling story. Fans of police procedurals and heart-stopping thrillers should consider L’Etoile an essential addition to their reading pile.” ~ First Clue Reviews
“Everything you read police stories for is here, and much, much more.” ~ STARRED Kirkus Review
“Rich in character and full of humanity, James L’Etoile’s writing shimmers with authenticity, with what Raymond Chandler called the “tangled woof” of real life. These are the procedurals that last: gritty, suspenseful and deeply satisfying.” ~ Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of El Dorado Drive
Book Details:
Genre: Police Procedural with a Thriller Edge Published by: Oceanview Publishing Publication Date: January 6, 2026 Number of Pages: 366 ISBN: 978-1608096497 (1608096491) Series: A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery, #3 Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Oceanview
“All available units, report of a large crowd and 459s in progress at the corner of Rio Linda and South Ave.,” the dispatcher’s voice called out over the radio.
Sergeant Brian Conner clicked the microphone in his patrol unit. “1-Sam-12 responding.”
“Hey, Tommy, isn’t there a church on South Ave.?” Conner asked.
Tommy Robinson, a Black rookie officer assigned to Patrol District 1 in North Sacramento, turned in the passenger seat, checking for cross-traffic at the intersection. “Yeah. It’s one of those pop-up, God-in-a-box churches. You know—no denomination, takes all comers.”
“Why would a church be a target for looting at midnight?”
“It’s right on the edge of Tru Heights Bloods territory. Could be gangbangers after the food pantry and the donations the church’s brought in.”
“Tommy, let me ask you something. You’ve been married a while, so you’ve got this whole relationship thing down. When Emily says she isn’t ready to move in together, what does that mean?”
“Um, Sarge, you think I’m the one to answer that? Shouldn’t Emily—I mean Detective Hunter—tell you why?”
“I mean, sure, but I thought everything was going great—and then, she’s not ready. You ever have anything like that?”
“No. But then my Baptist momma would’ve slapped me into tomorrow if I thought about living in sin.”
“That’s not helpful, Tommy.”
Conner shot north on Rio Linda. The flashing blue lights from other patrol units ahead marked the location. As Conner pulled into the church parking lot, he expected a crowd spilling out of the church and into nearby businesses. There had been a rash of daylight attacks on retail establishments in the city, where mobs of thieves grabbed armfuls of whatever they could carry. Hitting a church in the middle of the night was a new direction.
“Where are they? The looters?” Tommy said.
Conner parked near the church entrance, ahead of another Sacramento Police Department SUV, and stepped from his vehicle. He couldn’t spot a single person near the church, except for the six police officers who had responded to the call.
“Dispatch, 1-Sam-12, have a callback number on the RP? Looks like a false alarm.”
“Negative, 1-Sam-12. Caller didn’t give their name.”
An officer rounded the corner of the church building and approached Conner. “Nobody’s here, Sarge. What gives?”
The hairs on the back of Conner’s neck pricked up. He swiveled around and surveyed the darkened windows on the street opposite. They were lured here.
“Got movement across the street—second floor, left side,” an officer called out. His brass nameplate read TUCKER.
Conner spotted the window and the flare of a cigarette. Someone watching the police respond to this snipe hunt?
“We see any evidence of a break-in? Broken windows, open doors, anything?”
“Nada. Simmons and I walked the perimeter. No sign of entry. No sign of anything,” Tucker said.
“Someone wanted all the units in District 1 to respond. A report of a large crowd breaking into businesses would draw us out here.”
“They needed a diversion so they could pull off whatever they were into somewhere else,” Tucker said.
“Maybe. I haven’t heard anything new from dispatch. Why would we get a callout to the edge of Tru Heights territory?”
“Westgate Crips are on the other side of the freeway. I could see them making a false report to push us to roust a couple of their rivals.”
“Well, nothing going on here. Why don’t you and your partner hit the road. Let dispatch know this was a dry hole,” Conner said.
“Got it, Sarge. You need Parker and Cortez in the other unit? They’re watching the back of the church.”
“Nah, send them on their way, would you?”
“You got it.”
“Thanks, Tucker. Be careful out there. I’ve got an uneasy feeling about someone sending us here.”
“I hear you.”
Conner started back to his SUV, paused, and turned. “Hey, Tucker, anyone check the front door lock?”
“Yeah, I shook it. Locked up tight.”
Tucker and his partner got into their SUV, shut off the lights, and backed out of the church parking lot.
Tommy Robinson wandered to the front entrance and peered through the smoked glass doors. “Place is empty. Nothing going on—hey, what’s up with this?”
A metal donation bin sat to the right of the front door. Gang graffiti adorned the side of the four-foot-tall, repainted mailbox.
Conner caught the glint from a thin wire attached to the donation box door. On the concrete below, a cut padlock lay in the shadow.
Tommy reached for the bin.
“Tommy! Wait!”
Conner ran to the young officer as he tugged on the lid.
“Stop,” Conner said.
Tommy was focused on the unlocked donation bin and didn’t hear Conner.
Conner shoved Tommy as a click echoed in the entry vestibule. A microsecond later, a fireball erupted from the donation bin.
A pressure wave of heat and metal shards exploded. Conner caught the blast in the back as he pushed Tommy away. The force of the explosion picked Conner off his feet and threw him into the brick wall opposite the donation bin.
Conner couldn’t hear anything through the ringing in his ears, and his vision was a blurred kaleidoscope of flames and smoke. From where he fell, he could see the parking lot and the window across the street. The glowing ember from the cigarette was gone, but he swore he spotted a flashing red strobe.
Another explosion sounded to his right. A flash of orange shot from the parking lot. Conner squinted through his warped vision and saw a police SUV on fire. Tucker and his partner, Simmons. He couldn’t see them anywhere.
He tried reaching for his shoulder-mounted radio microphone and his arm wouldn’t move. A quick glance down and Conner saw his broken arm pointing in the wrong direction.
“Tommy. Tommy, you okay?”
Conner couldn’t hear anything but the high-pitched ringing in his ears.
He wasn’t even supposed to be working tonight. Conner swapped the shift with a buddy so his friend could go spend some time with his kids.
Conner felt cold, and a heavy blanket of exhaustion fell over him. Emily. He wanted to tell Emily how much he loved her one more time. She’d wanted to take it slow, but now he felt regret. He should’ve told her how he felt when he had the chance.
The sirens in the distance pierced through his muffled hearing. They would not be in time.
“Emily” . . .
***
Excerpt from Illusion of Truth by James L’Etoile. Copyright 2025 by James L’Etoile. Reproduced with permission from James L’Etoile. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, and director of California’s state parole system. His novels have been shortlisted or awarded the Lefty, Anthony, Silver Falchion, Macavity, and the Public Safety Writers Award. River of Lies and Sins of the Father are his most recent novels. Look for Illusion of Truth coming in 2026. James also serves as the Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America.
I am usually pretty good at picking novels that fit my preferences. I read the first sentence of the blurb for The Quantum Physics Revelations and requested a copy. I was disappointed. It’s not what I was thinking…at all. There is a lot of science, and I mean a lot, and some religion. It was light on the apocalyptic climate crisis, but it did give me some food for thought. I was expecting more mystery and thriller.
I am trusting Stuart Heinrich when It comes to all the research he did for the novel. I don’t know how to rate the book, but I hate to penalize the writing just because I chose a book that was over my head, so I stayed in the middle. I did finish the book and at times I was into the story, curious about the ending.
So, if you are heavy into physics, looking for a novel to put a different kind of spin on science, this could be for you.
3 Stars
BLURB
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more. A mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined..
EXCERPT
The importance of this seemingly mundane research could not be overstated. If things were really as bad as he feared, world leaders needed to know the truth, and fast. The very future existence of mankind might depend on it.
No, it was worse than that. He laughed to himself at the sad truth, that even this seemingly over-exaggerated description failed to capture the full gravity of the importance of their mission. It was not just the future of mankind that depended on it, but the future of all life on Earth. The very habitability of the planet was at stake. Every tree, every blade of grass, every insect. The future of every living thing, from the largest blue whale down to the smallest microbe hung in the balance.
Humanity had achieved much to be proud of. But like Icarus, mankind had been too greedy, and had flown too close to the sun: pushing forward mercilessly in pursuit of uninterrupted exponential growth and consumption. Mankind had become a scourge upon the Earth.
If humanity destroyed itself, he would have no sympathy. It was the rest of the natural world that he felt sorry for. The caribou of Alaska, the tropical birds of the rainforest, the elephants of Africa, the dolphins of the sea, the giant redwoods of California, and every other unsuspecting life form on this planet. They were the true innocent victims. They had done nothing to deserve what was coming.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Stuart Heinrich is a computer scientist with a PhD from NCSU and a passion for studying the fundamental nature of reality and physics. He is known for his unique theories on the Relativity of Existence (ROE), the Maximally Biophilic Principle (MBP) and Quantum Fluid Dynamics (QFD).
Please see my website below for editorial reviews.
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. We had Eric’s brother from Connecticut come down and then his mother came for a few days over Christmas. It was a nice visit. It’s hard to figure out where the year has gone. Time passes much too fast. I am setting some goals this year. I am a terrible procrastinator and I hope to change that this year. I haven’t been to the eye doctor since before Covid. That is way overdue. I have some dental work to be done and I hope to wrap that up this month. I hate that most of all. There are other doctor appointments to make as routine visits. All in all, I’m feeling pretty good and looking forward to the new year ahead. How about you? Did you make any resolutions or have a plan for the new year? Hope you enjoyed the holidays and good things are headed your way.
The Viruses Enigma by Hazem Abdelmowla is one of those books that tempted me with the blurb. Since Covid, books about pandemics always strike a cord with me. Also, to read about a man that will sacrifice much to make the world a better place and to avert another catastrophic pandemic, is a man I want to learn about. What drives him? How much is he willing to give up? How much will be demanded from him? Where will he draw the line?
The Viruses Enigma is deep into the science side of things, while, I am more into the people side of things. I followed a lot of what was happening, how the pandemic had killed millions of people and changed the world. The virus apocalypse delved into the human psyche and the best and the worst of people and one doctor’s drive to stop the next pandemic from killing more. There are those who are for him and those who are against him. It made me think of our reality, when Covid stopped the world.
Another plus to The Viruses Enigma is that Book II, The Last Nuclear War, is already out, so Rami’s story will be told. I vacillated between a 3 and a 4, and when that happens, I round up. I enjoyed the story, but you need both books to get all the answers.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Can an ordinary doctor who cares for his family come up with a new idea that will make us triumph over future viral pandemics?Will he have the courage to go down the road? What’s his success rate at reaching it? What will he do despite the lack of resources?After COVID-19, the world was on a date with a new pandemic that threatens humanity, which may not be the last. Rami, a doctor who works in the capital’s hospital, came up with a new idea that could be a revolution and humanity’s last hope for the treatment of future viral diseases. But it seems that the road is not as expected.
What is the idea? What are the requirements for its implementation, what are the obstacles that he will encounter in the way? What sacrifices does he need to bring it to reality? What is the unknown path he has to take to achieve his childhood dream of saving the world and solving the mystery that has puzzled scientists throughout history?
