Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Whether you're diving into treacherous waters, racing the clock against global annihilation, or delving deep into an untamed wilderness, these thrilling tales of love and suspense will leave you breathless.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, #0.5)
Katie Ruggle brings trademark wit and warmth to her introduction of a family of five bounty hunter sisters making the Rocky Mountains a safer place—finding love and sowing chaos along the way.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders (Survival Instincts, #0.5)
Adriana Anders plunges readers into a thrilling tale of survival (and steamy romance) as a deep sea diver and a former SEAL escape a derelict oil rig overrun with men who have a secret worth killing for.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan (Final Hour, #0.5)
Juno Rushdan turns up the pressure in a high-octane, non-stop thriller where one woman's defiance—and her fierce love for the man she could never forget—may be all that's standing in the way of a new bioterror threat.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1.5)
Connie Mann shows that in central Florida's untamed wilderness, paradise has a dark side, and the heroes of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are trained to face the worst that man—and nature—can dish out.

Turn the Tide is a pulse-pounding collection of novellas by some of the brightest names in the genre.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2019

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Katie Ruggle

20 books1,066 followers
A fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, trains her three dogs, cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics. You can connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katieruggleb..., or on Twitter @KatieRuggle

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
178 (25%)
4 stars
279 (39%)
3 stars
182 (25%)
2 stars
46 (6%)
1 star
18 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,004 reviews882 followers
February 7, 2020
The rating is only for Deep Blue, Adriana Anders prequel novella to Whiteout.

I read this back in January sometime and forgot to add it to my read books, but the story was action packed, suspenseful, with two wonderful characters I really cared about. This is Eric and Zoe's story, a couple who've been crushing on each other from afar, but never worked up the guts to take it to the next level.

Zoe stumbles upon a gang taking over an abandoned oil rig and finds herself in a heap of trouble, but never fear, Eric is there to help!

This was a great introduction to Adriana Anders writing, and it's still free on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Profile Image for SheLove2Read.
2,925 reviews193 followers
November 12, 2019
Review for the Katie Ruggle story only. Way too short but it's a nice intro to the series.

4 stars for Deep Blue story by Adriana Anders!
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews10 followers
Want to read
March 29, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/29/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
Whether you're diving into treacherous waters,
racing the clock against global annihilation,
or delving deep into an untamed wilderness,
these thrilling tales of love and suspense will leave you breathless.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle
Katie Ruggle brings trademark wit and warmth to her introduction of a family of five bounty hunter sisters making the Rocky Mountains a safer place—finding love and sowing chaos along the way.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders
Adriana Anders plunges readers into a thrilling tale of survival (and steamy romance) as a deep sea diver and a former SEAL escape a derelict oil rig overrun with men who have a secret worth killing for.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan
Juno Rushdan turns up the pressure in a high-octane, non-stop thriller where one woman's defiance—and her fierce love for the man she could never forget—may be all that's standing in the way of a new bioterror threat.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann
Connie Mann shows that in central Florida's untamed wilderness, paradise has a dark side, and the heroes of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are trained to face the worst that man—and nature—can dish out.

Turn the Tide is a pulse-pounding collection of novellas by some of the brightest names in the genre.
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,207 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2019
Turn the Tide is a four novellas written by Katie Ruggle, Adriana Anders, Juno Rushdan and Connie Mann. I "purchased" this book from Amazon when it was offered free.

I have love every book written by Katie Ruggle and Any Means Necessary was the perfect prequal to her new series, Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters. I had already read In Her Sights and I did wonder how Molly and John had met before that book. Adriana Anders, Juno Rushdan and Connie Mann were all "new to me" authors. I enjoyed Deep Blue by Adriana Anders and I'm definitely going to check out books by her now. Ms. Rushdan and Ms. Mann's novellas books were interesting but really didn't hold my attention as much as the first two. All in all a great free read and I'm glad that I got it.
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author 5 books364 followers
May 1, 2019
What a wonderful gift to fans and newbies! Four dynamite stories, four sensational authors, and a variety pack of romantic suspense to make a reader swoon.

I've read three of the four author's works and in each case, this includes the series being introduced in this anthology. Now, while I think it is an excellent sampler, I do think I got more out of it because I did read those other books first, but, no worries if you start here and take the series in chronological order.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle
.5 Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters

A quick prequel novella to introduce the world of the new series and introduce Molly Pax and her sisters who all happen to be bounty hunters along with the aggravating and attractive John Carmody while they work to earn a living and keep up with their loser mom's criminal antics.

This was a quick mall chase scene with the sisters acting together. It was madcap and light.
It was a fun romp, but I admit that if I'd started with this one instead of the first book in the series, I would have found it the eensiest under-developed as far as characters and plotting. It is a teaser and not really a full-fledged story.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders
.5 Survival Instincts

A slam-bang action-packed prequel that introduces the heart of the series nicely. Retired Navy SEAL and non-profit marine environmentalist discover danger and conspiracy on an abandoned oil rig off the San Diego coast.

Okay, so Zoe is one of those heroines who disregarded dive safety, who somehow decided she could keep up with trained SEALs and not be a liability against armed security types, and who naively went into danger like a chicken putting its own head on the chopping block, but she was sweet and Eric was amazing and so was his team so I'll call it a win.

That last scene was quite the teaser and I want the next book as soon as possible. First time with the author's writing and it won't be my last.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan
.5 Final Hour

After reading the first novel, it was neat to come back for this prequel to get the gritty, suspenseful story of how The Gray Box began and how Sanborn and Knox ended up in charge. Things are never cut and dry in the shadow community and words like honor and duty can get skewed in this community where right is shades of gray lighter than wrong.

I enjoyed this story offering a delicious taste of what to expect in the series with a romance set against high stress field work on a mission gone sideways. Ashley, a first time field agent, who has a strong conscience, and former field agent, Logan who is nursing PTSD and physical pain along with a bad case of survivor's guilt reunite when Logan goes after Ash to keep her safe. I think this worked better for me after book one because things made better sense and had more significance for me.

Beyond Home by Connie Man
1.5 Florida Wildlife Warriors

This was actually a follow up piece involving a co-worker of the hero from book one, Marco Sanchez. Marco, the son of migrant workers and an alcoholic, never felt he measured up against Sarah's country club family. He had a good reason for standing her up at the dance, but then he stayed away. Now, they're both back and it's time to get closure, but first they have to get to an old woman who needs insulin and then protect her family from an escaped convict set on revenge.

So, all in all, I was incredibly satisfied with what I read, eager to press forward for more in these series, and can heartily recommend this anthology and the rest of the series.

I was glad to see the second chance and the closure. It was obvious that they were really young and not in the right place for something to last and as adults are on a more even playing field so I could better believe they stand a chance. There was a great deal of excitement which balanced with the romance. I actually liked this shorter piece better than the first full-length. Looking forward to future stories in the series.
Profile Image for Anne - Books of My Heart.
3,324 reviews203 followers
April 4, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 



The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on March 5, 2019  (currently still free at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Overall rating 3.84 with 97 ratings and 28 reviews
 

I love this anthology!  It has the novellas in four new series from Sourcebooks Casablanca.  Two authors, Katie Ruggle and Adriana Anders, are ones I have read and enjoyed very much. The other two are new to me.  I appreciate greatly having these in a freebie to decide how I might like the new series.

Turn the Tide was highly enjoyable, highlighting four new series in a genre I favor. I think all the stories were well-written and I expect to read all the series which is an unusually high amount for an anthology.

 
Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle          2.5 hearts
The beginning of the Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters did not really help me get started on the series.  I had already read In Her Sights and was looking for some previous introduction to the main couple. Instead, it made clear Molly didn't know John, so the insta-love was even more baffling.  The world is starting to be built and a bit about the family. I already know I enjoy this author and will continue with the series.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders                       4 hearts
Here we have Zoe, from a non-profit  protecting sea wildlife and Eric, a navy SEAL who end up battling against big corporate corruption. In a novella, there is little enough world and character building. Regardless, I thought the author handled it well and set the groundwork for the first book in the Survival Instincts series , Whiteout. It focuses on Eric's brother who works for big corporate as a research scientist.  I'll be looking forward to get this one.  I've loved the books I've read from this author, so it's not a surprise. She brings on the action and the heart-pounding emotion.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan                       4 hearts
Rushdan is a new author. The stories in the Final Hour series deal with government agents who find some of their co-workers and some politicians to be corrupt and willing to easily use agents as disposable tools.  Our couples end up being the ones risking themselves to do the right thing and falling in love in the process.  Ashley and Logan have known each other for years before Logan is asked to bring her in when she has fled her current mission. The danger had me on edge and on a roller-coaster of emotions.  The bad guys and the good guys are all too comfortable with just killing any one in their way.  I've already requested and received Every Last Breath which is next in the series.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann                     3.5 hearts
Sarah comes home to Florida and almost immediately runs into her high school love, Marco. Of course, they end up trying to save a women from a tropical storm and have a chance to figure out why things went wrong in the past.  Sarah is a nurse; Marco is law enforcement.  The first book  in the Florida Wildlife Warrior series , actually comes before this one, with two of the other officers. Beyond Risk was released in January and I need to find and read it.

 
Profile Image for T. Rosado.
1,786 reviews59 followers
May 11, 2019
5 Stars!

So far, this rating is only for Deep Blue by Adriana Anders - one of my most favorite authors. I fell in love with her Blank Canvas Series and have read everything I could get my hands on since. Deep Blue is the prequel to her upcoming release of Whiteout and it's an absolutely fabulous kick-off to her new series. Even in this shorter novella, she balances the suspense and romance perfectly. Neither one overshadows the other. Deep Blue is a complete story, but with bigger ties to one of the main characters in Whiteout. Although it's just a taste of what's to come, if Deep Blue has just an inkling of what I have to look forward to in Whiteout, I'm all in!
Profile Image for Jewlsbookblog.
2,155 reviews72 followers
February 12, 2020
07/21/2019 Juno Rushdan’s No Way Out was high on suspense and thrills! I loved this prequel and learning how the Gray Box came to be. Luke and Ashley made a great duo-in and out of the sheets.

2/10/2020 I’m sitting 50/50 on Deep Blue by Adriana Anders. 0.5 in the Survival Instincts series, I loved Eric and his team, but Zoe...oy, she was hazard central. However, Eric and the crew seemed to adapt to her kind of crazy so it made the story work. I think I would have liked this one more if there had been more details on everything, but I was left excited for Eric’s brother, Ford’s story-and that one did not disappoint!
Profile Image for Luli.
693 reviews76 followers
August 3, 2019
You can find this review in English below.

Esta antología de suspenses románticos consta de 4 historias cortas de varias autoras que sirve perfectamente su cometido: dar a conocer a sus autoras y ver si sus estilos convencen o no.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle.
No lo termino. A esta autora ya la conocía y, como anteriormente, su estilo no me convence. En esta historia las protagonistas son 5 hermanas que se dedican a ser caza recompensas pero sin formación ni aptitudes… así que no me convence…

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders.
Nueva autora (para mí) y me ha gustado. Heroína inteligente aunque un poco OTT y un héroe para morirte (¡¡¡!!!) y una trama original. Me ha gustado así que leeré el siguiente en la serie y a ver qué tal.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan.
Esta es una historia de segundas oportunidades, que aunque no son mis favoritas, aquí ha funcionado. La trama es muy complicada y original, con muchos personajes, que a veces te hacen perder el hilo, pero muy interesante y muy honesta. Con autocrítica. Y con sus grises y claroscuros. Me ha impactado.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann.
El más flojo del lote. No lo termino. La autora tira de coincidencias, buena suerte para el malo y carga a sus protas con situaciones TSTL. Una pena. Esta autora tampoco es para mí.


***
This RS anthology has four short stories by different authors and it fulfils its purpose: to know her authors and see if they work for you.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle.
DNF. I had read this author before, and as that time, it didn´t work for me. This story is about five sisters who work in the bounty hunter business. But they lack the skill and the training to do it. That bother me to no end. So not for me.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders.
This is a new to me author and I liked it. The heroine is intelligent, although a bit OTT, the hero is to die for and the plot is original so I´ll read the next instalment and we´ll see…

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan.
A second chance romance, not my thing, but the plot was interesting, original and complicated. And honest, with grey zones and chiaroscuro. So, so interesting and with a bit of self-criticism. I liked it a lot.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann.
DNF. The weaker of the lot. The author relies in coincidences, the bad guy´s good luck and throw her MC´s some TSTL moments that didn´t work for me. A pity.
Profile Image for Christa.
2,217 reviews579 followers
January 6, 2020
I enjoyed this anthology of romantic suspense stories. Each of the four was written by an author as part of a series. Three of the stories were .5 in the series, and the one by Connie Mann was book 1.5.

Any Means Necessary by Katie Ruggle was a super short story about five sisters who have a bounty hunting agency. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and this installment set the series up very nicely. This one definitely made me want to read more.

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders was quite a bit longer than the first story in the anthology. Even so, I never felt quite as vested in these characters as in the ones by Ruggle. I had a bit of trouble staying focused on Deep Blue. I'm planning on reading the first full length book of the series, and hope it holds my interest better.

No Way Out by Juno Rushdan was the same length as the second story in the anthology. It had good characters, and again, is a good setup for the first full length novel in the series. I already read that one, due to not realizing it had a prequel novella. I didn't care much for the way all aspects of this one played out, but I really liked the full length book that follows.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann was a little longer than Any Means Necessary, but still shorter than the other two stories. This was book 1.5 in the series, and I enjoyed both it and the full length novel that precedes it. I liked the characters and storyline in this one. It was my favorite of the four short stories in this anthology.

The three stories in this anthology that begin their series are all good lead ins to start with. Beyond Home, that was book 1.5, was a nice return to the setting and characters introduced in the first book. I enjoyed this anthology of romantic suspense stories.
Profile Image for Gloria.
919 reviews120 followers
April 1, 2019
This is a collection of four novellas by the authors from their new series. The authors were all new to me with the exception of Connie Mann. The stories are all fast paced, edgy suspenseful that keeps the pages turning, quickly read. Connie Mann's new Florida Wildlife Warriors is a new series that is based on Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers in the Ocala area. A prisoner has escaped a work camp and is loose in the Ocala National Forest with a giant storm going on as officers are on the search for him. I have already read the first in the series and expect great things from it. Katie Ruggle's Any Means Necessary is about a family of five sisters who are in the business of bounty hunting. I am interested in checking it out. Deep Blue by Adriana Anders is about a decommissioned oil rig offshore of California that has been used for a ocean wildlife sanctuary but is not being used for illegal activity. A group of friends are trying to stop the illegal use. No Way Out by Juno Rushdan is about a covert operation in Germany by CIA operatives trying to steal information that could prove deadly for many people.
Warning: Some of the stories have strong language and steamy content.
Profile Image for Janeen.
863 reviews
Want to read
March 12, 2019
So far, I have only read No Way Out by Juno Rushdan, but I love the other authors as well and will be getting back to their stories.

No Way Out is intrigue at it's finest. The suspense, the ever-popular cat & mouse of some of my favorite spy movies and TV shows, and of course the underlying romance of it all.

I cannot wait to read Every Last Breath, the next book in this new series.
Profile Image for Romantically Inclined Reviews.
644 reviews1,434 followers
March 14, 2019
Adriana Anders and Katie Ruggle are two of my absolute favorite novels, so I knew that I had to scoop this up while it was free on Amazon. I was not disappointed by their stories in the least.

Katie Ruggle's novella is the lead up to her upcoming novel In Her Sights which is her best work to date, in my opinion. It is the perfect romantic suspense with just the right amount of humor. The dialogue and banter is witty and fresh, while the plot is everything I ever wanted: a family of sisters who turn to bounty hunting to pay their bills. Yes, yes, yes. And the chemistry between Molly and John is literally some of the most explosive and adorable chemistry ever. Her novella is a very short three chapters, but it's designed to give you the barest taste of In Her Sights and you won't be able to resist picking it up.

Adriana Ander's story was my favorite. So much action, an adorable environmentalist with a soft spot for a sea lion, and a contemplative ex-military man with a desperate crush. I've never fallen so hard for a hero before, but something about a war-hardened man with hearts in his eyes is impossible to resist.

I'll be honest and say that Juno Rushdan's novella didn't really do it for me. I ended up skipping it after a few pages. Seemed like good writing, I just didn't fancy the story. Maybe I'll try again later.

Beyond Home by Connie Mann was an entertaining read. It definitely wasn't the best of the group, in my opinion, but the writing style was enjoyable and it was very exciting with escaped prisoners, shoot outs, and ATV crashes.

Profile Image for Grace.
1,265 reviews42 followers
August 26, 2020
Deep Blue

3.5/5 stars

This was a novella that I thought worked okay given the length, but I still would have liked more just because I generally enjoyed the set up and characters. From having read Whiteout, I assume some of Eric's former SEAL buddies will continue to feature in the series, and I would have liked to have gotten to know them better.

Read for Ripped Bodice Bingo 2020: I'm on a Boat
Profile Image for Ivy Deluca.
2,243 reviews303 followers
March 22, 2021
I pretty much read this strictly for Deep Blue by Adriana Anders because I just read Whiteout and was hooked. This was great for backstory on Ford's brother Eric and to see how he got together with Zoe Garcia, and hints of the story to come in Whiteout. Is it necessary to read this first? No because I thoroughly enjoyed Whiteout without this. But Eric and Zoe's romance is short and sweet and I am now impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. So good.
Profile Image for Brooke Blogs.
633 reviews199 followers
March 11, 2020
This review is based on Deep Blue by Adriana Anders - Survival Instincts #0.5

I quickly found myself sucked into Zoe and Eric's story. This novella was action-packed and full of heat. I really liked that the characters had known each other for years - this made it easy to believe the passion and intensity in their relationship. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat. Ms. Anders captivated me with this story and I cannot wait to read Whiteout, the first full-length book in the Survival Instincts series.
Profile Image for Sharon.
492 reviews15 followers
March 2, 2020
I didn’t read the Katie Ruggle book because I read another novella of hers at the end of the Adriana Anders book, Whiteout (which ironically is what brought me to this book), and I didn’t care for it at all.

I enjoyed the three other stories, however. I do like reading these books with novellas from multiple authors because it exposes to more writers in genres I enjoy.

So I skipped the Katie Ruggle story, but the Adriana Anders one was terrific and explained a few questions I had after reading Whiteout. The next one was by Juno Rushdan about a CIA analyst turned super-spy and her second chance affair with her former partner. I enjoyed that one as well. The last story by Connie Mann had a great setting (Ocala, FL) but was simplistic and cheesy.

So, I’m convinced that I’ll like further Adriana Anders books, might possibly check out something else by Juno Rushdan, but will skip anything by Katie Ruggle or Connie Mann.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews85 followers
March 26, 2019
Reviewed at Haunted Bookshelf

I like anthologies because there is always a story by an author I know that draws me in, then there are new-to-me authors to discover if I’ve found another set of series to follow. I’m a reader who needs to read a series from the beginning and when I discover prequels, well, that’s just a bonus for me. So I was very pleased with TURN THE TIDE and all the novellas included within.

Three of these stories are prequels to new series, the fourth is the #1.5 story in an established series. I’m recently coming off of a hospital stay and life in general imploding on me which left a backlog of NetGalley ARCs to get read and reviewed… but as soon as my “reading plate” is cleared I’ll be picking up the other three series (I picked this one up for Katie Ruggle’s prequel) because they now have caught my attention. I don’t expect a full-blown story in an anthology, I do, however, expect a story that grabs my attention and makes me think by the ending… “I wonder what happens next”. And that was my reaction at the ending of each of these prequels I found characters who were interesting, plots that made me wonder and a kick to my curiosity as to what comes next… that’s all I need to dive into a new series by an author I’ve yet to read. TURN THE TIDE did all that quite well.

If you enjoy Romantic Suspense, Thrillers, Mysteries all with a touch of romance then you’ll want to check out this anthology. At the time of this review, it was a no-cost download, I’ve no idea how long that will last.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.
Profile Image for Ann L..
597 reviews26 followers
December 10, 2020
There are four romance novellas in this book, each written by a different romance author. The first story I rate a two. Nothing spectacular. The second story I rate a three. The third story is my favorite: I rate it a 4. The fourth story I rate it a 3.

Quick, easy reads. Enjoyable, but not something I would re-read in the future. They are great stories to determine whether you would like a particular author or not. I got this book because I do enjoy some of Katie Ruggle's writing.
2 reviews
April 13, 2019
What a fun book! I particularly loved Deep Blue by Adriana Anders. I read her Blank Canvas series and just wanted more. Her writing is witty and intelligent. Her characters are always interesting. But, really the best part is that her romance and sex scenes are super HOT!
Profile Image for Elisa.
3,165 reviews35 followers
March 12, 2019
A good box set of novellas I enjoyed each story
Profile Image for Donna.
3,858 reviews49 followers
September 3, 2020
Great romantic suspense by some fantastic authors
Profile Image for Shoshana.
620 reviews22 followers
August 9, 2023
This novella does an amazing job conveying, a fast paced storyline with fully developed characters, and the start of a compelling global mystery
Profile Image for Emily .
266 reviews5 followers
March 17, 2019
Turn The Tide consists of 4 interesting short stories; each one is unique and original. I especially interested in Final Hour - NO WAY OUT - by Juno Rushdan. It is an action-packed, fast-paced national security themed thriller.
Profile Image for Caro.
1,776 reviews41 followers
March 20, 2019
This was a good book. I enjoyed reading the stories in this anthology. Some were more interesting than others, but all kept me reading. There are emotions, good characters, a lot of punch, suspense, some action, steaminess, and food HEAs. Great for passing time or just for something to read. Good luck.
666 reviews22 followers
March 10, 2019
I enjoyed this collection of author's books. They all have great stories and interesting characters going on. Each story is full of suspense that will keep your attention. They all have love stories in the background which adds to the stories. I want to read more from all of the author's.
Profile Image for A.M..
Author 7 books53 followers
April 22, 2019
I’ve only read Katie Ruggle before so the others are new to me authors. None of the works are listed separately so I have to give an overall/average rating.
1. Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters 0.5 [Any Means Necessary] by Katie Ruggle
Not sure this one works for me. I found the girls a little too … cute (Maybe contrived? And yeah, I know all fiction is contrived… but I can’t explain it.) For a family of bounty hunters they seemed a lot out of their depth.

2. Survival Instincts 0.5 [Deep Blue]
Never dive alone… dammit woman. I assume whatever the bad guys were doing out there on an abandoned oil rig is left for the next in the series.
I’d be surprised if it’s outside of jurisdiction; it’s 200 miles to enter international waters isn’t it? And she just boated out there in the morning. [I know I get caught up on weird stuff]

3. No Way Out by Juno Rushdan
Final Hour 0.5 [No Way Out]
This one just isn’t working for me … and I’m not sure why. I’m DNF’ing it. No, I struggled on. US agents is not a genre I like; not done like this. Super secret no rules government agencies? And I just felt like there was an entire series of backstory missing.

4. Beyond Home by Connie Mann
Florida Wildlife Warriors #1.5 [Beyond Home]
*hand wobble* high school sweethearts meet again after he stood her up for the Sadie Hawkins dance… really?

2 stars it was ok.
Profile Image for Marybelle.
371 reviews12 followers
November 17, 2019
This book is like a teaser for future books. Very interesting characters, but no real depth. I was somewhat disappointed.
Profile Image for Dani Israelsen .
105 reviews14 followers
March 24, 2019
ANY MEANS NECESSARY
by Katie Ruggle

Katie Ruggle’s novella Any Means Necessary was my least favorite out of all of these. While I know it is a novella, I found it to be way too short. It felt more like a chapter to me than a short story.

And while I think the story line can be something great, I felt that there were too many characters, or rather sisters, to keep the story flowing well. Maybe if there were a mixture of genders in the siblings it would make things easier to follow? Personally I would cut one or two of them out all together though and have the story focus around two or three instead.

Lastly, I felt that since it is supposed to be a thriller-romance, the love interest just wasn’t there enough either. At least not enough to be considered a romance in my book. But this is a problem I can see being eradicated with just adding to the length of the story as well.

Overall, while I think Any Means Necessary has the potential to be something great, I thought there were too many female characters to follow and it really needs fleshed out in both the romance and word count departments to get it there.

Score: 📚📚📚 (3/5)

~~~

DEEP BLUE
by Adriana Anders

I have never read any of Adriana Anders’ work before, but after reading Deep Blue, I am highly interested in reading more of her work! Deep Blue was my favorite short story in this anthology. It was exciting and suspenseful, but still seemed realistic - because you know, sometimes suspense can make a book (or movie) seem very unrealistic, especially when the military is involved.

I did find Eric and Zoe’s relationship a little odd, more specifically, how shy and unsure Eric was of himself when it came to Zoe, yet he’s a retired Navy SEAL and can flip a switch back and forth between the personalities. It made him seem almost bipolar. But once I got over that weirdness, I enjoyed reading about their relationship.

Deep Blue was written so well, that I’ve already bought Anders’ companion book, Whiteout, which follows the story of Eric’s brother, Ford! Can’t wait to see what kind of suspenseful situations I get into with him!

Score: 📚📚📚📚📚 (5/5)

~~~

NO WAY OUT
by Juno Rushdan

With Juno Rushdan’s novella, No Way Out, I have found my new favorite genre to read: Thriller Romance. Where has this genre been all my life?!

No Way Out is a quick read, chock full of action, suspense and action (both in an out of the bedroom!) The story begins immediately with a scene of suspense and wonder: why is this lab and its contents so important to be under such lock and key? And why is Ashley willing to risk her life for it?

The suspense continues throughout, with chase scenes, a near train collision, and shootouts. But throw in a love interest like Logan and the heat gets turned way up while the action is taken to the bedroom!

My only qualm with No Way Out is that I wish it weren’t a novella, but a full length novel. It was a bit short for all of the action that was thrown in, and I feel like the ending was rushed because of this.

Overall, I can’t wait to pick up the rest of the Final Hour series by Juno! (Keep an eye our for my review of Every Last Breath, book 1 of the series!)

Score: 📚📚📚📚🔖 (4.5/5)

~~~

BEYOND HOME
by Connie Mann

Beyond Home by Connie Mann was another fast read in this anthology. And while I enjoyed reading it, I had a hard time with parts of it, such as the make-out scene in the middle of a manhunt while a child’s life is at stake. And then there was when Marco returns for Sarah instead of going after the same man and child a chapter later. Where were this FWC’s priorities?!

I felt that Mann was trying too hard in this condensed story to make the relationship between Marco and Sarah work, that it almost had a porno-in-the-making feel to it. Their relationship felt forced, and I felt like it actually took away from the story, which if you were to take out their weird foreplay scenes, is really a great story.

Altogether, I did enjoy the story, and even though I found the romance to be forced, I would be interested to read something else by Connie before making a final judgement on her as an author.

Score: 📚📚📚🔖 (3.5/5)

 ~~~

Dani's Score out of 5 (for anthology): 📚📚📚📚🔖 (4.5/5)

~~~

Thank you author Juno Rushdan for giving me a copy of TURN THE TIDE in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.