Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Lost Innocence
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1962
WEBSITE: http://www.janninegallant.com/
CITY: Lake Tahoe
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1962; married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Hiking and snowshoeing.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Jannine Gallant grew up in small Northern California town. Her writing reflects her life and loves; many of her romantic suspense novels center around small towns and highlight the great outdoors. Gallant is an outdoor enthusiast, and enjoys hiking and snowshoeing in the California wilderness. She lives in Lake Tahoe with her husband and their dog.
Wilde One
Wilde One, the first in the “Born to Be Wilde” series, centers around a scavenger hunt for buried treasure. Griff Wilde learns of the hunt when he receives a letter from a dead man, urging him to participate. In between jobs with time to kill, he decides to go for it. Besides, adventure is in his blood. Ainslee Fontaine has recently quit her teaching job in New York City and is looking for some adventure. Burned out on the big city, she decides participating in a scavenger hunt is the perfect way to start off her new life.
The two meet as they are both attempting to solve one of the clues. The attraction is immediate, and they decide to team up to find the hidden WWII treasure. Though they resist their attraction at first and have some miscommunications, the two eventually embrace their growing love. A contributor to Bea’s Book Nook website wrote: “Gallant spun an entertaining story with memorable characters, a sexy romance, a clever mystery, and even some laugh out loud moments.”
Buried Truth
Buried Truth, the introduction to the “Siren Cove” series, is set in small town Siren Cove, Oregon. Leah Grayson is a fifth grade reacher at Siren Cove, and has lived in the beautiful beach town her whole life. When Leah was in fifth grade, her class buried a time capsule. With the class’s twenty year reunion approaching, Lead decides to use the opportunity both as a learning experience for her fifth grade class and as a reason to organize a reunion of her old classmates.
An reunion attendee Leah is particularly excited to see is Ryan Alexander, her old high school love. She had ended the relationship with sweet but cynical Ryan all those years ago due to their differences, most notably, his nerdiness. Now, Ryan is a successful startup founder and has grown out of his awkward years. The chemistry between Leah and Ryan immediately returns. A contributor to the Books, Reviews et al by Shalini website described Ryan as “sweet and kind,” and wrote that Leah was “really iffy, she went back and forth so many times.”
While this romance is unfolding, a dark subplot emerges. When the class unearths the time capsule, they discover a roll of film that no one recalls placing in it. Leah begins to investigate the mysterious roll of film, and it seems that someone is set to stop her from discovering its significance. The point of view periodically shifts to an unknown narrator, which the reader comes to learn is the voice of the individual that wants to stop Leah’s investigation.
Lost Innocence
Book two in the “Siren Cove” series, Lost Innocence, focuses on Nina Hutton, a solitary painter living in the small town. Nina is recovering from the death of her fiance, so when newcomer Teague O’Dell arrives in town following the death of his wife, she finds a kindred spirit. The two, who are neighbors, quickly feel an attraction, but are determined to keep their relationship purely friendly for the sake of Teague’s six-year-old daughter. However, as Nina concludes she may have a stalker, she finds herself turning more and more to Teague for help, and the two struggle to resist their attraction.
A contributor to Kirkus Reviews penned: “The novel’s best quality is the relationship between Nina and Teague,” while a contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote, “this satisfying installment is sure to draw new readers to the series.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2018, review of Lost Innocence.
Publishers Weekly, May 14, 2018, review of Lost Innocence, p. 41.
ONLINE
Bea’s Book Nook, https://beasbooknook.blogspot.com/ (September 28, 2016), review of Wilde One.
Books, Reviews et al by Shalini, https://bookreviewsbyshalini.wordpress.com/ (February 5, 2018 ), review of Buried Truth.
Caffeinated Reviewer, https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ (March 26, 2015), review of Every Move She Makes.
Carries Book Reviews, https://carriesbookreviews.com/ (January 24, 2018), review of Buried Truth.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ ( April 30, 2016), review of Every Vow She Breaks.
Romancing the Book, http://romancing-the-book.com/ (September 30, 2016 ), review of Wilde One.
Twin Spin, http://kristineandterri.blogspot.com/ (October 8, 2016), review of Wilde Side.
Series
Secrets of Ravenswood
1. We'll Never Tell (2013)
2. She'll Never Rest (2013)
3. He'll Never Know (2013)
Who's Watching Now
1. Every Move She Makes (2015)
2. Every Step She Takes (2015)
3. Every Vow She Breaks (2016)
Born to Be Wilde
Wilde One (2016)
Wilde Side (2016)
Wilde Thing (2017)
Wilde Horses (2017)
Siren Cove
1. Buried Truth (2018)
2. Lost Innocence (2018)
3. Hidden Secrets (2018)
Novels
Victim of Desire (2010)
Bittersweet (2012)
A Deadly Love (2012)
Asking for Trouble (2013)
An Uncertain Destiny (2014)
Series contributed to
Honky Tonk Hearts
Nothing But Trouble (2012)
Honky Tonk Hearts Volume 2 (omnibus) (2014) (with Vonnie Davis, Stacy Dawn, Callie Hutton, Donna Michaels and Sherri Thomas)
Anthologies edited
Secrets Of Ravenswood (2013)
Road To Serendipity (2014)
Write what you know. Jannine Gallant has taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. A recent empty-nester, she grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently lives in gorgeous Lake Tahoe with her husband. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Jannine hikes or snowshoes in the woods around her home with her dog, Ginger. You'll discover the beauty of nature interwoven into her fast-paced, romantic suspense stories. To find out more about this author and her books, visit her website at http://www.janninegallant.com/ or sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cYGMkH.
Write what you know... I've taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. A recent empty-nester, I grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently live in gorgeous Lake Tahoe with my husband. When I'm not busy writing, I enjoy hiking or snowshoeing in the woods around my home with my dog, Ginger. Discover the beauty of nature woven into my fast-paced, romantic suspense novels.
Gallant, Jannine: LOST INNOCENCE
Kirkus Reviews. (June 1, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gallant, Jannine LOST INNOCENCE Lyrical Press (Adult Fiction) $4.99 6, 26 ISBN: 978-1-5161-0376-8
An artist and her neighbor, a widowed father, face an unlikely assailant in a series of increasingly disturbing crimes in a small Oregon town.
When new people moved into the Victorian house across the street from hers in a quiet corner of Siren Cove, the last thing Nina Hutton expected was someone who looked like Teague O'Dell--"Gorgeous was the word that sprang to mind." Having moved from Southern California with his daughter, Keely, Teague is starting afresh--and he and Keely immediately become attached to Nina. An artist, Nina spends a lot of her time at home painting or out running on the beach, where she picks up a piece of litter that triggers a series of events that will cause trouble on both sides of the street. Meanwhile, regardless of their fiery chemistry, Teague and Nina are determined not to pursue anything sexual, for Keely's sake. That could all fall apart as they get to know each other better, especially as Nina comes to Teague again and again for help. With the second book in the Siren Cove series, Gallant (Buried Truth, 2018, etc.) has provided a romantic suspense novel that reads like the romance was developed first and the suspense part added later, having little of the tension of a good thriller. It's more of a single-father romance in need of a conflict. The novel's best quality is the relationship between Nina and Teague; each believes in the importance of communication and honesty, and they acknowledge their mistakes, whether they're overreacting to an event or projecting old fears where they don't belong. But the romantic-suspense label is a misnomer, as the presence of a mentally unstable third narrator is not compelling enough to keep readers remotely curious about how the story will play out.
A pleasing romantic story with an underwhelming mystery tacked on.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gallant, Jannine: LOST INNOCENCE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540723427/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2da6802e. Accessed 31 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A540723427
Lost Innocence
Publishers Weekly. 265.20 (May 14, 2018): p41.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Lost Innocence
Jannine Gallant. Lyrical, $4.99 mass market (330p) ISBN 978-1-5161-0376-8
In Gallant's well-wrought second Siren Cove contemporary (after Buried Truth), a firefighter and an artist discover how love can help them heal from past sorrows. Hunky firefighter Teague O'Dell, grieving the death of his wife, has moved from L.A. to Siren Cove, Ore., to get a fresh start with his six-year-old daughter, Keely. Nina Hutton, his beautiful new neighbor, grew up in Siren Cove and makes a living selling her paintings. Neither of them is looking for a relationship: Nina is still aching from the death of her fiance, and Teague's first priority is raising Keely. The initial physical attraction between them evolves into mutual respect and desire as Nina's kindness toward the O'Dells reveals that her beauty is more than skin deep. Romantic tension intensifies when a miscommunication leads Teague to wonder whether Nina is only interested in a fling. A secondary story involving a sinister person who seems to be stalking Nina adds intensity and will keep the reader enthralled until the explosive conclusion. This satisfying installment is sure to draw new readers to the series. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Lost Innocence." Publishers Weekly, 14 May 2018, p. 41. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A539387424/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8a8051b5. Accessed 31 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A539387424
REVIEW: Every Vow She Breaks by Jannine Gallant
Posted April 30th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, HJ Recommends, Review / 10 comments
In Every Vow She Breaks (Who’s Watching Now #3) by Jannine Gallant, Claire Templeton knows it’ll be a long shot to get the photos she needs for her article. Luckily, she has a back-up plan to ensure she has something to remember the unique adventure she’s on by. As a nature photographer, she’s determined to capture the regal beauty of some California Redwoods on film as well, if she’s unable to obtain the story she’s there for. However, it seems trouble has followed her when someone begins leaving her presents in the hopes she’ll remember a promise she made years ago. Can she discover the source before it’s too late?
She dug her wallet out of her purse then glanced over to smile before dropping a few singles on the table. ”I can’t believe we met again, here of all places, after all these years.”
“Must be fate or destiny or whatever.”
The little girl that used to follow him around years ago has grown into a beautiful woman, and Jed Lafferty is ecstatic to have run into her again after all these years. He’s determined to get to know her better, yet when someone begins leaving her strange presents with messages attached, his priorities change. Instead, he’s determined to protect Claire while helping her figure out the identity of the person stalking her.
Having read a few of this author’s books, which include the first two stories in this series, I couldn’t wait to read this third novel in Ms. Gallant’s Who’s Watching Now series. The way it started with Jed and Claire meeting again after so many years set the fast pace of the story for me, as I wanted to learn what happened for them to lose contact of each other when they seemed so close. Yet, this story really gripped my attention once Claire received her first gift. Who is stalking her? Is it one of the men she dated, or is it someone else?
As for the dialogue, the playful banter between the main characters definitely gives credence to the saying opposites attract. Jed is all about having fun and making his own luck while Claire is ready to settle down and believes in fate. But no matter how different they are, it doesn’t stop either of them from wanting to get to know the other. However, this story also gets very intense due to both characters back stories and Claire’s stalker. The gifts and cards become more frightening each time she receives one. It was understandable why she would suspect the three men that she did.
I really liked both characters. Jed likes a challenge, and that’s what Claire is to him. He’s determined to prove that he can be the sort of man she needs, and if helping her figure out who is stalking her while keeping her safe is what it takes, he’ll do it. Besides, he needs all the help he can get when it comes to their game of seeing if Jed’s good qualities outweigh his bad. While Claire, she’s hard-working, resilient and brave. It’s hard for her not to become more and more worried about the presents she’s receiving, especially when she’s too trusting of the people that would be the most likely suspects in her eyes.
”Wow. You should come with a warning label tattooed on your forehead – Love ‘em and Leave ‘em Lafferty.”
“I’m not that bad. I only go for the women who know the drill. I don’t prey on naïve innocents.”
“I guess that’s a point in your favor…an extremely small point.”
He grinned. “I can be rehabilitated. Give it your best shot.”
“Sounds like a daunting task.”
The chemistry was intense between this couple from the moment they meet again after so many years, and keeps getting stronger the more I read. Eventually, their strong chemistry spilled over onto the pages through hot sex scenes. Their banter and their growing relationship makes it seem – almost – as if they’ve never been apart, yet Claire knows that giving Jed a chance could be dangerous. Too easily he could break her heart, if he treated her the same way he has the many women before her. However, I liked that he proves himself over and over again with everything he does for her including being there for her when she needed him most.
Overall, I really liked this book where the secondary characters certainly make this story interesting. The men Claire suspected as her stalker certainly wouldn’t win any congeniality contests in my eyes. Well, except Dallas. He proves himself a good guy by helping Jed. The ending wrapped this story up nicely with Jed’s brother, Kane, dropping everything to help him find Claire and then the hero finally getting to express his feelings for the heroine. Claire needed to know how he felt, and hear that they had a future together, despite him proving that he will always be there for her. I would recommend Every Vow She Breaks by Jannine Gallant, if you enjoy romantic suspense; the opposites attract trope or are fans of Karen Rose, Pamela Clare, Cynthia Eden or Kaylea Cross.
Book Info:
March 1st, 2016 | Lyrical Press | Who’s Watching Now #3
Fans of K aren Rose, Cynthia Eden, Kaylea Cross and Pamela Clare will love Jannine Gallant’s brilliant blend of exciting suspense and emotional romance, with real characters caught in extraordinary circumstances.
A promise can follow you to the grave… Claire Templeton is drawn to the majestic beauty of the California Redwoods in the hopes of capturing an unexplained phenomenon on camera. What she doesn’t expect is to run into her first love, Jed Lafferty, the boy she worshipped as a child, the man she’s never been able to forget.
Carefree, fun-loving Jed doesn’t believe in fate, preferring to make his own luck. But when he runs into the little girl who used to follow him like a shadow, now an irresistible woman, he can’t help feeling the odds are turning in his favor. Letting Claire walk out of his life the first time might be his single biggest regret. But when strange gifts and cards left for Claire turn sinister, it’s clear someone else from her past isn’t ready to let go…
Looking for more danger and drama? Don’t miss the other Who’s Watching Now titles, Every Move She Makes and Every Step She Takes.
26th
Mar
Every Move She Makes
by Jannine Gallant
Series: Who's Watching Now #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Rating:
No matter where she goes, he knows her every move… Long ago, Rachel Carpenter was a glamorous soap star. She gave it all up to move to Napa Valley with her daughters to open up a bookstore near her family vineyard. Her life is safe and dependable, until she encounters Kane Lafferty at a wilderness camp in the rugged High Sierra. A burned-out police detective struggling with his own demons, Kane is instantly attracted to Rachel. And like Rachel, he isn’t sure if he’s ready to open up his heart. But everything is about to change… Someone is watching from the darkness. A fanatic obsessed with Rachel for years has decided to claim what he believes is his. It will be up to Kane to not only protect his new love and her family, but to uncover the identity of the stalker before it’s too late for all of them…
Every Move She Makes by Jannine Gallant is the first book in her new romantic suspense series Who’s Watching Now. Action packed, with a small-town vibe I quickly became caught up in this low-heat tale.
Five reasons to grab a cup of Joe and curl up with Every Move She Makes
The Setting: From the rugged High Sierra campground to the charming coffee shop/book store the protagonist owns in the Napa Valley I found myself feeling right at home with the setting. I love small-towns and their close-knit communities. Rachel lives in a Victorian home complete with a picket fence, children and an over-sized dog.
Characters: Rachel Carpenter, former soap star, divorcee and single mother of three girls, she felt genuine and I quickly connected. She relocated to the Napa Valley to be closer to family and open up a bookstore to support her family. She does not date often, and has her head on straight. Kane Lafferty is a police detective on leave after a shooting went wrong. He is burned out and struggling with his own demons when he meets Rachel, through a friend. Kane is sweet, protective and the man can cook. Yum. The kids will steal your heart even the oldest who is snarky, fiercely independent, and fourteen with purple hair!
The Plot: I love a good suspenseful story and Gallant built up the suspense. We know someone is watching and we even get a glimpse inside this obsessed fan’s mind. It was chilling as he became bolder. To me it was like watching a scary movie where a musical score begins and you know something bad is going to happen. That is how the tale unfolds, you are part of their daily lives, see Kane and Rachel form a relationship and all the while, they are unaware. Eep!
The Romance: If you like slow-burning romances with low-heat, sweet moments and dogs underfoot then Every Move She Makes, has a romance you will enjoy. While Rachel and Kane spend more time together, the romance did not overshadow the suspense and their feelings felt genuine. The kids forced things to develop slowly despite the sexual tension between them.
The writing: Gallant created a suspenseful tale as she increased the intensity with every page. She fleshed out the characters and kept them grounded with small-town living and daily life. The tale was realistic without over the top drama or unrealistic action scenes.
Every Move She Makes offered a complete story and I am curious to see if I will recognize any of the secondary characters in the second novel of the series- Every Step She Takes.
About Jannine Gallant
Jannine says, “I grew up in Gasquet, a tiny town in Northern California, where as kids we swam in the river, ran wild in the woods, and rode our bikes everywhere we wanted to go. Now I live in Tahoe City with my husband, two daughters, and dog, Ginger. When I’m not busy writing or being a full time mom, I enjoy taking Ginger for hikes in the woods around our home. Whether I’m writing romantic suspense, contemporary, or historical romance, I try to bring the beauty of nature to my stories.”
Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant
February 5, 2018 by shalini, posted in Book Reviews, Fiction
My review
I like my female leads to be strong and courageous, or at least grow in character as the book moves forward. Leah, as the main lead, was really iffy, she went back and forth so many times, that I went back and forth with my decision
To read or not to read, is the question…
To avoid DNF, I ploughed on. It took me 4 days to read the book in bits and pieces. I hated the main character. Though 80% of the book, I felt she is just using the male character, Ryan, just for her own fun.
Story is simple, Leah liked Ryan in high school but breaks off from him as he was too different (read it as slim, intelligent, and nerdy). They buried a time capsule then, now 20 years hence, they want to escavate that and put in a new one. There is a hitch, someone has put a camera roll in the time capsule and wants that truth to be buried. By the way, Leah does like Ryan now (read: rich, successful, drool worthy body)
The book by Jannine Gallant, at 368 pages, is too long and feels longer as the plot is too loopy and has no substance. The author has made an attempt to generate suspense, but unfortunately, it falls flatter than a pancake.
The only character I liked and kind of pitied was the male lead, Ryan Alexander; he is sweet and kind. Too bad, he makes the same poor choices yet again 20 years hence: liking Leah!!
The book goes on at snail pace, with the voice of the villains, making their appearance suddenly in the midst of ‘love story’ (read: neither love nor a story)
On the whole, an okay read (aka boring)
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Lyrical Press, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 2 stars
About the Author
Write what you know. Jannine Gallant has taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. She grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t busy writing, Jannine hikes or snowshoes in the woods around her home. Whether she’s writing contemporary, historical or romantic suspense, Jannine brings the beauty of nature to her stories.
Book blurb
Leah Grayson has lived in Siren Cove all her life. It’s where she buried a time capsule with her fifth-grade class. But there’s something ugly going on in her pretty little town. When Leah organizes a reunion for her fifth-grade classmates to open their time capsule, they discover a roll of film no one remembers saving. Afterward, strange incidents begin happening.
Luckily, her first love is back in town, too. Ryan Alexander has made it big with a wildly popular social media startup.
With no way to know whom they can trust, Leah and Ryan will have to seek out the answers themselves . . .
Product Details
Publication date : 30th January, 2018
Publisher : Lyrical Press
Language : English
Available on Amazon
Review: Wilde One by Jannine Gallant
Posted on September 30, 2016 by Robin_B
Wilde One by Jannine Gallant
Series: Born to Be Wild (# 1)
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Pages: 262
Source: book provided by the author for review
When Griff Wilde receives a letter from a dead man sending him on a race to find a mysterious treasure, he’s not worried about the competition. After all, salvaging sunken treasure is what he was born to do. But the riddles leading to the clues are a little trickier than he anticipated . . .
Ainslee Fontaine is ready for a change. A cross-country scavenger hunt sounds like a piece of cake after teaching in New York City. How hard could it be? For starters, travelling alone seems to have its hidden dangers, like real-life treasure hunters who ignite her deepest passions. But there’s still a hidden prize to find—unless someone stops them by any means necessary . . .
Review: What I liked about this book is that Ms. Gallant took a simple idea such as a scavenger hunt and turned it into a fast paced mystery that kept me entertained the whole time. She then added the bonus of a romance that hinted of hot and sexy making it sensual.
Ms. Gallant gave us vivid imagery as she took us from NY to Boston and back again. Then off to New Orleans and ending in San Francisco ,all the while solving riddles/clues that took us to the next spot. It was a very well researched and thought out scavenger hunt involving historic landmarks as well as using the hometowns of the contestants for hiding the clues. The clues made the mystery even more interesting because of the way each was put together and led from one place to the next.
Griff and Ainslee, two of the contestants, decided to strike out together. Beneficial perhaps… Are they at an advantage over the others? I liked the casual way these two started out. First as partners, more friends with benefits and as barriers slowly crumble, they begin to rely more heavily on each other and eventually fall in love.
I enjoyed the freshness of this story. It was full of the element of surprise with all the twists and turns. I liked the characters they were easy to follow from the main ones all the way down to the secondary ones. Each one was well thought out and easy to identify within the story. The characters were placed strategically in the story to coincide with the clues.
Ms. Gallant gave us a very entertaining story that was well thought out and put together. I would love to go on a scavenger hunt like the one that was written in this story. I have been on scavenger hunts before but nothing as advanced and challenging as this one.
If you are looking for a great summer read full of surprises grab Wilde One you won’t be disappointed and you just may long to go on a scavenger hunt the next time you are invited.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Bea Reviews Wilde One by Jannine Gallant
Series: Born to be Wilde #1
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 27th, 2016
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.
Blurb from goodreads:
The Wilde brothers have one thing in common—a thirst for adventure. But Griff Wilde is about to be taken on the ride of his life . . .
When Griff Wilde receives a letter from a dead man sending him on a race to find a mysterious treasure, he’s not worried about the competition. After all, salvaging sunken treasure is what he was born to do. But the riddles leading to the clues are a little trickier than he anticipated . . .
Ainslee Fontaine is ready for a change. A cross-country scavenger hunt sounds like a piece of cake after teaching in New York City. How hard could it be? For starters, travelling alone seems to have its hidden dangers, like real-life treasure hunters who ignite her deepest passions. But there’s still a hidden prize to find—unless someone stops them by any means necessary
My Thoughts:
Adventure, puzzles, history, romance, a dog, humor, action - "Wilde One" has something for just about everyone. Griff and Ainslee meet when they both jump at the chance to participate in a scavenger hunt for treasure from World War II. Griff is doing it on a lark; he's in between jobs taking some down time and thinks it could be fun. He doesn't actually care about solving the puzzles or winning the treasure; he's just looking for a good time. Ainslee has quit her job, moved out of her apartment, and is setting off for parts unknown, with no particular plan. She thinks the hunt sounds fun and will be a good excuse to visit historical sites around the US. They bump into each other while solving a clue and decide to team up. There are sparks immediately between them.
The simmer between Griff and Ainslee was hot and I liked that they didn't jump right into bed together but got to know each other first. Heck, they even met each other's families! That glimpse into the Wilde siblings helped whet my appetite for the upcoming Wilde books. Ainslee has some hang ups about relationships as does Griff. Gallant did give us the Big Miscommunication but happily, she didn't milk it for long. Ainslee had a tendency to overreact which got annoying but at least she recognized it and apologized. Griff was amazingly patient and sweet and refreshingly not egotistical; I wanted to pull him out of the book and have him for my very own. He and Ainslee worked well together and brought out the best in each other. He was cynical and well-traveled while she was more positive and idealistic and eager to see the world. Her love for history was infectious.
Gallant spun an entertaining story with memorable characters, a sexy romance, a clever mystery, and even some laugh out loud moments:
Ainslee turned to stare at him. "Are you always this pleasant when you're sleep deprived? If so, no more sex for you."
I enjoyed "Wilde One", it made me smile and sigh, and was sorry when it ended, Luckily, I already have book two on my Kindle. :)
By Carrie on January 24, 2018 • ( 21 Comments )
Buried Truth (Siren Cove #1) by Jannine Gallant #bookreview #suspense #romance
Title: Buried Truth
Author: Jannine Gallant
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publication Date: January 30, 2018
Page Count: 384
My rating: 2 stars
About the book:
Visit Siren Cove, Oregon, for gorgeous beaches, miles of hiking, delightful small-town shops—and a dark side none of its residents could have possibly imagined . . .
Leah Grayson has lived in Siren Cove all her life. It’s where she buried a time capsule with her fifth-grade class. Where she spent an unforgettable night on the beach with her first love. Where she married then divorced her rotten ex.
But there’s something ugly going on in her pretty little town. When Leah organizes a reunion for her fifth-grade classmates to open their time capsule, they discover a roll of film no one remembers saving. Afterward, strange incidents begin happening. Warnings. Accidents. Random acts of vandalism.
Luckily, her first love is back in town, too. Ryan Alexander has made it big with a wildly popular social media startup, but he’s still the same sweet, cynical man she fell for all those years ago. And the chemistry they felt as teenagers is as strong as ever.
A nostalgic fling turns deadly when someone is convinced Leah has the key to secrets long buried. With no way to know whom they can trust, Leah and Ryan will have to seek out the answers themselves . . .
Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant is the first book in the new romantic suspense series Siren Cove. The story introduces Leah Grayson who is a teacher in Siren Cove that has decided as a learning experience for her fifth grade class that it is time to organize a reunion of her own fifth grade class that buried a time capsule in order to unearth the capsule and share what had been in it.
Ryan Alexander had known Leah all his life and the pair at one point had been deeply in love but Leah had broken it off stating that they were just too different from one another. Ryan hadn’t planned on attending the reunion but when his mother has an accident he finds himself back in Siren Cove and back in Leah’s life.
There are times when the story switches the point of view to an unknown narrator who seems to have left something in the time capsule that they do not want discovered. This leads to a lot of action as attempts are made to stop Leah from finding the evidence that would lead to crimes committed long ago when the capsule was buried.
Buried Truth is one of those books that no matter how much I wanted to like the story and what was going on there were little details that just kept nagging at me. The first thing I noticed and was a little iffy on was rushing Leah and Ryan back together. Of course this is a romantic suspense so you know it’s coming but a little build up would have been nice.
As the story went on I also thought that the unknown voice almost got a bit comical instead of menacing or scary like it should be. When the bad guys behind the scenes start conjuring images of Larry, Moe and Curly Joe it’s not a good thing at all. But the real kicker on this book was the ending itself. I thought maybe, just maybe my overall rating would be around 3 stars until the final chapters where as soon as the climatic moments came it felt the author skipped a chapter and just dropped all the action midway. I just found it all rather odd at that point and decided that no, this was not the book for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Saturday, 8 October 2016
Review: Wilde Side by Jannine Gallant
Whitewater rafting guide Sawyer Wilde has taken his share of inexperienced adventure seekers through the rapids of Idaho's Salmon River, so his next group should pose no problems—even if it includes a presidential hopeful and his sexy, outspoken aide. After all, it's just a campaign photo-op for the congressman. Until a series of minor mishaps takes a sinister turn…
Devin Lockhart has one job on the rafting trip: to make her boss look both presidential and relatable. And no matter how distractingly attractive their guide is, she plans to do it well. But as danger stalks them through every bend in the river, Devin must put her life—and the congressman's—in Sawyer's capable hands. Because surviving the trip is only the beginning of a deadly ride…
ebook, 250 pages
Expected publication: October 25th 2016 by Lyrical Press
Terri's Thoughts
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is October 25, 2016.
This is the second story in the Born to be Wilde series featuring the Wilde brother. After reading the first story, Wilde One (see review here) and enjoying it, I was anxious to read the second story. Don't worry to those who have not read the first one, this can be read on it's own. There is only a brief mention of the characters in the first book.
I have to say I love the Wilde brothers. Rugged, handsome outdoorsmen with exciting jobs and even more intriguing and genuine personalities. You know this is fiction because Sawyer embodied every ideal quality you could imagine.
I also liked the fact that Devin was a strong female character. She spoke her mind in a confident without cocky manner and didn't mince her words. Too often the female lead can be too insecure where they can come across as too needy, no worried in this story.
While the storyline is a little bit far fetched, it was entertaining nonetheless. Between the beautiful background of the story and the chemistry between the Sawyer and Devin, this story delivered exactly what I was looking for.