Review: THE FIFTH WOMAN by G. William Parker

The Fifth Woman: A Rick Morgan Mystery
by G. William Parker
Publisher: Authorhouse
Release Date: May 25, 2011
Source: Review copy from Publisher

Naked and dead, the body of a high roller was found in a Vegas hotel suite. He was insured for twenty million dollars.Ten years later during an ordinary audit, Rick Morgan, Chief Audit Executive for the insurance company learns of the extra ordinary death benefit. At first he's curious, but with facts being cold, vague or missing, his gut tells him there is more. Digging into the past with the help of Vince, a former homicide detective, a bizarre puzzle emerges. Which piece is the mysterious disappearance of the former United States Congressman, the fatal car wreck that left three little girls orphaned or the FBI who wants the investigation dropped? Gathering the pieces, someone is always a step a head. But who? The elegant, conservative Human Resources VP? The playful, sexually starved Branch Manager? The gorgeous woman with a secret past? The stunning but shrewd corporate attorney? Or the mystery woman in San Francisco?"Not everything is as it appears to be"-a motto Rick must remember when putting the pieces together ... all twenty million.

In The Fifth Woman, Rick Morgan is the chief audit executive of an insurance company. It comes to his attention that there were two 20 millilon dollar death benefits paid and when he starts to investigate for possible fraud he finds more questions than answers. The book unfolds amongst a back drop of cover ups and payoffs involving government officials starting 35 years prior. And Rick soon discovers that events and people are not always what they seem. 

I did like the overall story line and the cast of characters. The investigation took place in Seattle, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. I wasn’t too fond of the main protagonist Rick. He seemed like a nice guy but the whole magnetic persona wore on me after awhile. It seemed every woman he came in contact with wanted to jump in bed with him. And he was happy to oblige all of them. I thought that this was a mildly suspenseful novel. I enjoyed the requisite twists and turns that occurred in the story. Some of the dialogue was a little off but the pacing and flow of the story was good. The Fifth Woman is the first novel in a planned series.  

Review: INFATUATION by Melissa Schroeder

Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance
by Melissa Schroeder
Release Date: November 14, 2011
Source: Review copy from Author

To prove her love and save her man, she has to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Francis McKade is a man in lust. He’s had a crush on his best friend’s little sister for years but he has never acted on it. Besides that fact that she’s Malachi’s sister, he’s a Seal and he learned his lesson with his ex-fiancé. Women do not like being left alone for long months at a time. Still, at a wedding in Hawaii anything can happen—and does. Unfortunately, after the best night of his life, he and Mal are called away to one of their most dangerous missions.

Shannon is blown over by Kade. She’s always had a crush on him and after their night together, it starts to feel a little like love. But, after the mission, Kade never calls or writes and she starts to wonder if it was all a dream. Until one night, her brother Mal drags him into her bar and grill and Shannon gets the shock of her life.

Kade isn’t the man Shannon knew in Hawaii, or even the last few years. Losing a friend and being injured changes a man, especially one who had never felt so vulnerable. He still can’t shake the terror that keeps him up at night. Worse, he is realizing that the career he loves just might be over.

Shannon is still mad, but she can’t help but hurt for the man she loves. He is darker, a bit more dangerous, but beneath that, he is the Kade she's known for so many years. When he pushes her to her limits in the bedroom, Shannon refuses to back down. One way or another, this military man is going to learn there is no walking away from love—not while she still has breath in her body.

Warning: This book contains two infatuated lovers, some drunken dancing, a hard-headed military man, a determined woman, some old friends, and a little taste of New Orleans. As always, ice water is suggested while reading. It might be the first military Harmless book, but the only thing that has changed is how hot our hero looks in his uniform—not to mention out of it.

Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance is a good start to this new military themed Harmless series. Shannon is a strong willed independent business woman and Kade is a tough Navy Seal. They have been attracted to each other for awhile and finally seal the deal at a wedding in Hawaii. It is the best night of their lives and seems like it could be the beginning of a really hot relationship. Then Kade is called away to a very dangerous mission. Shannon doesn’t hear from him for months even after she knows that he has returned from his mission. 

Soon, Shannon’s brother, Malachi drags Kade and another friend back to his hometown of New Orleans. Shannon is finally reunited with the man of her dreams but finds that Kade has come back damaged. He’s not the same exuberant, take-charge man she fell in love with. He’s become quiet and introverted and she’s not sure how to help him. She’s still upset that he never called after their tryst in Hawaii but she knows she still has very strong feelings for him and can’t turn her back on him. 

I liked both Kade and Shannon and the secondary characters were likable as well. There was a lot of emotional turmoil going on that made the story a little depressing for me. I was rooting for Kade to heal enough mentally to let Shannon back into his heart. The story flowed very well and I really enjoyed this book. The sex scenes were mildly hot with very light BDSM elements. Infatuation was a good emotional read and will appeal to erotic romance junkies.