Review: Crea Jones' Rally Fever Is Thrilling Romantic Suspense!

Image by ATIS547 via Flickr

Rally Fever

By Crea Jones
Black Velvet Seductions
ISBN: 0980224624
264 Pages







Although I don't read very many romance books, I seem to always enjoy the books published by Black Velvet Seductions. Rally Fever by Crea Jones is the latest read and was wonderfully exciting.

Marly was the youngest daughter of a father who had left them, a mother who "took advantage" of her illness even to the detriment of her marriage, and an older sister who got married and then when he was killed, dropped her little boy into Marly's lap, literally!

But that was no hardship for Marly; she loved her nephew as her own son and had been the only mother he knew for four years. The only real problem Marly faced was making enough money to keep her small family of three with a home and enough to eat. So once a year she traveled to the Sturgis rally, where she painted various pictures on jackets, vest and other items sold. Ten days where a small town was host to bikers from all over the country, some downright scary in Marly's opinion. Especially since her boss had asked her to wear something "special" this year to attract more customer--what the seller called a body web. Marly saw nothing but holes that would not cover much of her body!

Still, she was glad to be back at work and making the extra money she needed. Everything seemed fine. Marly would like to be able to go out and have a little fun, but she always remembered that she was not her sister who had rode off on the back of a motorcycle one day, only returning to drop off her son!

Still she was feeling more and more "broody," like her mother's hens in the spring and that's what was frightening her. Especially when her eyes "caught on a pair of steel grey eyes that fixed on hers...and his finely chiseled lips curved into a mocking half-smile that made him look...dangerous." (p. 13) Meeting Luke made Marly even broodier!

But then a notice appeared that somebody was looking for her sister, offering $10,000. Marly had seen her briefly one day on the back of the leader of Lucifer Lovers, a gang that had terrorized many of the families who actually lived in Sturgis. Then her sister is found murdered! And Marly could not help but fear that her sister's in-laws might be wanting to take Peter away from her. Only to soon have the Lucifer Lovers leader come searching for her!

And Marly also found out who Luke really was!

Could she trust anybody?

Rally Fever by Crea Jones turned out to be a fantastic romantic suspense novel! All of Jones' characters are so realistic that you think you are right there amongst thousands of bikers and their babes. I especially enjoyed Florence, the woman with whom Marly rooms while in Sturgis, who just happens to be her father's former lover.

The surprise ending caught me totally offguard and certainly confirmed that Rally Fever is indeed an Amorous Adventure! Crea Jones deserves a 5+ for this one in my opinion!

Book Provided Free By
Black Velvet Seductions



G. A. Bixler

Review: Great Cop Story Coming In October! Trackle It!

Rizzo’s War
Lou Manfredo
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9780312538057
290 Pages


“There just is,” Rizzo finished telling his new partner Mike McQueen in Rizzo’s War by Lou Manfredo, coming in October 2009. Rizzo shared much of his experience with Mike, who had been promoted to Rizzo’s unit with influence from the Mayor’s Office after he had solved an important case.

Indeed, the entire book reflects the way things work in New York—negotiation and payback. You just had to watch with whom you were bargaining!

Mike starts off with a bang on his first tour with Rizzo—he falls for the victim of an assault! Of course that is a big “no,” but... Little by little Rizzo and Mike get to know the other, testing the boundaries for each other, until they mutually decide to confirm that they are willing to be partners. Then Mike begins to really see how it works!

Rizzo has been at NYPD for so many years, he’s near retirement. He knows everybody he needs to know and has given much to ensure things are done. Many “owe” him, but he doesn’t collect unless there’s an important reason.

Until the daughter of an important, influential councilman, Bill Daily, has been missing for a long enough time that the family is very worried. She is manic-depressive and has caused many problems before; however, it is now believed she is totally off her meds and they have no idea where she is, although she had recently called her mother, who had thought Carol sounded suicidal. Daily wants her found and wants the best men to work the case, full-time, and quietly!

Rizzo bargains through the details and financial benefits of taking this case. Mike then sees Rizzo go to work! Finding Carol is only half the battle though, for along the way he discovers that Carol is afraid of her father and of going into a hospital where he could have influence over her stay there.

While Mike has met with his former partner and finds that she is able to help locate Carol; she was running with a motorcycle gang, but was “lost” in a bet to another motorcycle owner!

Rizzo’s War by Lou Manfredo has been classified as a thriller. In my opinion, it is not thrilling, but a sad, perhaps too realistic commentary on the lives of our police officers and politicians. The work is hard, involves steady, long hours of seeking and searching for some small tip that will lead investigations forward. If necessary, it takes the officers into troubled neighborhoods and into potentially dangerous situations. The War is real, and sometimes deals must be made—deals that may sometimes be a little “gray” if the war is to be won...

Manfredo indeed writes in a “stunningly authentic” manner that effectively reflects his personal experience working in the Brooklyn criminal justice system. The story is slow-paced, steady...prodding toward what the best way that justice can be served without getting caught in the crossfire! Highly recommended cop novel! If you ever need a cop, call Joe Rizzo!

G. A. Bixler