Review: Dario: Wicked Legacies by Victoria Sue

Rating: 3.75🌈

Victoria Sue’s mafia boss romance was a good read. It was exciting, had many fast paced moments, thrilling scenes, and good characters.

And had the book been longer or tweaked so that the time frame let the main characters have more time to develop their relationship, this would have been a much better story.

Everything that surrounds the romantic aspect of the story is interesting and could easily be even more fully explored in additional stories. The multiple storylines that Sue has created are really intriguing, as are the five Mafia factions that go along with them. They are factor into the main narrative as well as the subplots that make the book so compelling.

But the romantic story itself between mob boss Dario and reluctant husband, Alessandro, feels as contrived as the marriage. Too instant love for me. Especially given the short timeline here. It doesn’t work. Dario is all killing Alessandro one minute and loving him the next. For Alessandro, it’s all I love him but won’t communicate with him.

I understand that last. For me, the relationship needs more time to grow before these feelings feel realistic.

So while the story is still very exciting, a terrific mob takeover tale of revenge and retribution, the romantic aspect leaves something that could have been better developed.

I enjoyed it and if this is your jam, you might too.

Buy link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Dario-…Dario – Wicked Legacies – Kindle edition by Sue, Victoria. Literature & Fiction …

Blurb:

Dangerous secrets will get you killed. Sometimes it might even be me that’s pulling the trigger.

Dario

I’m hours away from finally inheriting my father’s legacy. All I need to do is dodge the Russians and the Irish, and put a wedding band on my fiancée. Until the moment I find out my father’s best-friend and fiancée’s papa ordered the hit that had taken out my parents eighteen years ago.

And my fiancée will step over my dead body as she walks back down the aisle and marry into the Irish Mob. The ones that have promised my future father-in-law he will have everything that is rightfully mine.

Not happening.

Even if I have to light the night sky with the fires of revenge and retribution.

I just need to get married first.

Then miracle of miracles, I find out my traitorous fiancée has a half-brother. An illegitimate one, but one that still fulfills the terms of my father’s will, so the territory rightfull becomes mine.

I just have to convince the brother of that.

A twenty-year-old innocent that has been a near slave all his life? Piece of cake.

Or is it?

• Publication date: January 11, 2024

• Print length: 235 pages

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:In Safe Keeping (Heroes and Babies #2) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Victoria Sue always delivers the action and romance laced with a good dose of danger and sometimes a child or two. In this case, we get a hunky, soft-hearted fireman, a sweet, gorgeous man running from a mob boss, and the baby he’s protecting on behalf of his murdered friend—who was murdered by the mob boss.

There’s a lot going on in this story. There’s Lucas, a firefighter who lost his wife and child to a motel arson fire several years before when she was running away with another man. That man, his brother, is now wheelchair-bound, living in a remote cabin, and happens to be a doctor. He also really wasn’t his brother’s wife’s lover. Then there’s a young man, Owen, running from a mobster, with his 7-month-old baby. A word about the baby here—the child must have Mensa-level intelligence for all she does and says in this book. She’s either super developmentally advanced, which is unlikely as she was born drug addicted, or the author’s perception of 7-month-olds is off because the child calls the dog, named Bailey, B-bee throughout the story and is remarkably interactive with the adults. Needless to say, everything related to the child threw me off when she was on-page, and that was quite often.

Owen, the young man, is gorgeous, gay, but not the best decision-maker, as we learn in the book when he falls for the hunky fireman. And the ostensibly straight fireman, who has been grieving the loss of his child and the betrayal of his wife for years, falls for the young man. How can this be? Well, he apparently loved a male friend when they were young but they never had a chance… So, it’s a stretch. It’s really too bad the label gay-for-you is frowned upon because this new trope of suddenly realizing that a long-dead spark for a childhood friend is much more annoying to me than outright GFY. Just sayin’.

There’s lots of betrayal in this book. The mob boss is out to get Owen and won’t stop until he gets his hands on the baby who he refers to as his own. There’s betrayal by the US Marshall’s Office, other cops, friends, other mobsters, and more. And there’s family time as Lucas, the fireman, finds his way to his brother’s cabin and an eventual reconciliation when he learns the truth of his wife’s flight from him.

The more I write this review, the more I realize I suspended belief a number of times in the book, perhaps more so toward the end as everything came to a head. But I enjoy this author’s writing, her creativity, and the sense of impending disaster that carries through every page from beginning to end. I did guess the bad guy but it made perfect sense and it wasn’t over at that point. There were still two more nail-biters to come, so yes, this is a good story for those who like a lot of action with their romance. And the author makes sure those who need that bedroom scene get it before the close. Then, as the sun sets, they lived happily ever after.

The cover by Tiferet Design features a firefighter carrying a baby. Perfect for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 199 pages
Published September 3rd 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 139781644055250
Edition Language English
Series Heroes and Babies #2

Heroes and Babies Series

In Safe Hands

In Safe Keeping

Victoria Sue on Research, HEA, and her new release In Safe Keeping (Heroes and Babies #2) (guest blog, excerpt and giveaway)

In Safe Keeping (Heroes and Babies #2) by Victoria Sue

Dreamspinner Press
Published September 3rd 2019
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Victoria Sue here today talking about her new novel In Safe Keeping. She has brought along a great excerpt for our readers as well as a giveaway. Please check those out along with the interview below. Welcome, Victoria!

✒︎

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interviews Victoria Sue…

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

Very much to both of these. I read some pretty harrowing accounts of wildfire rescues and its important to accurately name the gear used, and the circumstances surrounding it.

And yes, to the second part of the question because my two “jams” as they say are Romantic Suspense and Paranormal or Urban Fantasy. I often mix them both up in the same book.

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

Absolutely. My favorites include Mercedes Lackey’s Dragon Jousters series, and John Flanagan Ranger’s Apprentice series. Both fabulous series whether you’re a teen or…a lot older!

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

My preference is for HEA but while the main couple themselves are in a good forever place, there is often an over reaching story ARC or baddy that might take a few books to suitably vanquish. Having said that In Safe Keeping is a standalone.

What’s next for you as an author?

I’m writing the next book in my enhanced series published by Dreamspinner press, but after In Safe Keeping my next release is on Oct 1^st – The Twelfth Knight. Merlin and Lancelot fighting monsters in modern day new York and managing to fall in love at the same time.

Blurb:

Heroes and Babies

He can’t save everyone…

Firefighter Lucas Attiker is mired in guilt by his inability to save his young son, who perished in a fire three years ago. When he rescues a troubled young man and his baby daughter from a Colorado forest fire, Lucas finally begins to forgive himself. But the wildfire is only the beginning of the dangers facing them.

Hell-bent on saving his daughter from his crime boss ex, Owen Michaels is on the run with the baby in tow—fleeing both the killers who are after him and the US Marshals Service deputies assigned to protect him. When his desperate flight lands them in the midst of an inferno, the man who saves them offers hope for more than just survival.

They might have escaped a blazing forest and a hail of bullets, but both men will need to risk their lives—and their hearts—to give a little girl a loving family… if they can make it out alive.

Excerpt:

Lucas looked apologetically at Owen, and Owen hugged Mia close. Small towns. Whatever had given him the impression they were quiet? “Are you taking me into protective custody?” Owen didn’t mind DuPree, but O’Connor always seemed to look down his nose at him.

“Yes,” O’Connor confirmed. “And we’re leaving right now because I don’t trust those men not to come back.”

Owen glanced at Lucas. He didn’t want to go, but of course he couldn’t put Lucas in any further danger. And he wasn’t sure Lucas would want the marshals to take him, no matter what danger he was in or how badly Owen might wish they would. They met each other’s gaze, and Owen knew instantly that, rather than being glad to see the back of him, Lucas didn’t like this one little bit.

But he couldn’t ask. He didn’t want to cause any more problems for Lucas. “Will you get into trouble for calling 911?” The engine had driven off. Owen surrendered Mia, who despite having been woken up, settled immediately when Lucas held out his arms for her. Lucas shook his head and gently brushed a kiss on her forehead.

“No, we needed help.”

Owen nodded. Maybe if he did what O’Connor asked, he could make sure Lucas didn’t get into trouble. The image of Lucas cradling Mia would be burned into his brain for a long time.

He was just about to ask where they were going when O’Connor’s phone rang and the marshal stepped away to answer it.

“Have you got everything?” DuPree asked gently, and Owen nodded. Not that they had much. All his clothes and all of Mia’s were borrowed. She was sleeping in the pajamas Lucas had given her—the ones that had belonged to Stevie. Owen would make sure he got them back, though, because apart from one tiny picture, they were all Lucas had left of his son. Inexplicable anger shot through him, but this time it wasn’t for him; it was for Lucas.

DuPree answered her own phone, but as Owen glanced at her, she stilled and then said, “Understood,” and lowered the phone. “Are you ready?” O’Connor walked back in and grabbed the diaper bag from where Owen had left it.

Lucas nodded to the door and looked at Owen. “Go on, get in the car, and I’ll pass you—”

“You’re coming with us,” O’Connor interrupted and opened the door. “We can’t risk Malvetti’s men retaliating if they realize you’re involved.”

“Bailey!” Owen called as DuPree bundled him out, closely followed by Lucas, who passed Mia to Owen. He jogged to the idling Escalade and scrambled into the back. A cop car was stationed at either end of the street. O’Connor grabbed the dog’s collar and was last out of the house. “Car seat,” Owen called just as a squeal of tires was heard and a black car turned in from Main Street, driving way too fast. The cop car swerved to intercept it, but couldn’t react in time, and with a scream of tires and a crash of metal, the black car rammed it as if it were nothing. Everyone stilled for a heartbeat, and then the two marshals reacted.

“Get in.” DuPree shoved Lucas at the Escalade and ran to the driver’s side, drawing her gun.

But she wasn’t fast enough.

Some sort of automatic weapon started spraying the street and the car. DuPree flew backward under a hail of bullets just as Lucas flung himself in the front seat. “Drive!” O’Connor yelled and let Bailey go. He ducked behind a small parked compact and started firing round after round.

“Bailey,” Lucas shouted, and the dog leaped for the open car door just as Lucas accelerated. The car fishtailed slightly, but Bailey was in and the door slammed closed as Lucas twisted the wheel. “Get down,” he ordered, but Owen needed no instruction. He was bent over double, sheltering Mia as the windows cracked and exploded. He could hear more shouts and gunfire, and then he could have cried as what sounded like a dozen sirens were heard, but Lucas obviously wasn’t waiting for them. “Stay down” Lucas yelled above the shouts, the sound of more tires squealing, and Mia’s terrified cries. They swerved, then straightened.

Owen didn’t know how he managed to anchor himself because he’d had no chance to try for the seat belt. Lucas seemed to take another corner on two wheels.

“Are they still coming?” Owen shook, barely able to get the words out. Sirens suddenly blared out like they were in the car with them, and Lucas braked. Owen barely managed to hang on to Mia and stop himself from being thrown into the front seat of the car. Lucas yanked on the wheel and then shot forward. He heard another squeal of tires behind him and then a sickening crunch. Lucas looked in the mirror, set his jaw, and gunned it.

About the Author

Victoria Sue

Victoria Sue fell in love with love stories as a child when she would hide away with her mom’s library books and dream of the dashing hero coming to rescue her from math homework. She never mastered math but never stopped loving her heroes and decided to give them the happy ever afters they fight so hard for.
She loves reading and writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—and creating a family for them to adore. Thrilled to hear from her readers, she can be found most days lurking on Facebook where she doesn’t need factor 1000 sun-cream to hide her freckles.

www.victoriasue.com

@vickysuewrites

https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1182647028418709/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/VictoriaSueNewsletter

Giveaway

Victoria Sue is offering a eBook copy of any of her backlist to the reader chosen. Please leave a comment and your email address to be entered in this giveaway. Must be 18 years of age or older.

An Alisa Audio Review: In Safe Hands (Heroes and Babies #1) by Victoria Sue and Michael Pauley (Narrator)

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Former helicopter pilot Maverick Delgardo’s injuries ended his Air Force career, leaving him bitter and one drink away from becoming an alcoholic. When his sister asks for his help on a private protection case to babysit a disgraced pop star, Mav reluctantly agrees.

Deacon Daniels, onetime lead singer and idol to his teenage fans, saw his career and reputation ruined when a reporter’s exposé led to a devastating scandal. Without money or a job, a heartbroken Deacon has lost custody of his baby niece. And just when he thinks his life can’t get any worse, a stalker’s threatening messages escalate to murder.

Mav only agreed to one meeting, but his protective instincts kick in, along with an attraction to Deacon. When the body count increases, however, Mav is unsure he is up to the task of protecting Deacon from a killer. But it is too late for Mav to step away, now that he’s lost his heart, and he must find the strength to reassure Deacon and his niece that they are in safe hands no matter the cost.

This story just pulled me in right away and I enjoyed it so much. Mav has pretty much been living in the bottom of a bottle for a while, not really getting on with life when he has to fill in for his sister to speak with a possible client. Deacon is in a bad spot and he knows something is happening and it becomes even more apparent just after Mav agrees to help him.

Mav just feels so broken and I loved that Deacon was the catalyst to get him living again, though I’ll have to say that how quickly he gave up alcohol and how easily he resisted the minimal temptation he had was a little unrealistic. Deacon is such a sweetheart and seeing him with his niece just proves that and Molly is absolutely adorable. I loved how they both wanted what was best for the other and supported each other in their own ways, it wasn’t just Mav looking after Deacon but Deacon also saw Mav for who he is and gave him the courage he needed to take his next steps.

Michael Pauley did a great job narrating this story. I think he captured these characters and their emotions wonderfully. I had no trouble keeping track of the story, which I seem to be having trouble with on audiobooks lately.

I like the cover art by Tiferet Design and think it works well for the story.

Sales Links: Audible | Amazon

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 7hrs 31mins
Published: June 27, 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

Series: Heroes and Babies #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue and narrated by Nick J. Russo

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Those who follow this unique series will be happy to know that big, strong, and sweet Vance Connelly finally got his story. I hope this isn’t the last in the series, but if it is, it’s a darn good one to end on. Vance grew up knowing he wanted to be a cop like his other family members, but when the scar appeared and they suddenly realized he was one of the “enhanced,” his hopes for a bright future took a downturn. That is, until the creation of the FBI Human Enhanced Rescue Organization in Tampa where Vance was hired immediately.

Sam “Angel” Piper joins the squad as Vance’s human partner and is immediately attracted to the powerful man. But Sam’s past as a troubled teen with a junkie mother is always there to hold him back. And when Sam’s past catches up to him just as the team is investigating the disappearance of enhanced children, he pulls further away from Vance. And that mistake nearly costs him his life, as he’s kidnapped and no one knows it. While in the meantime, Vance is arrested according to plan, since he’s gone undercover, but he’s then taken to an undisclosed location and that’s not according to plan. There he discovers why the teens have been taken and the plot loops back around to Sam’s past connections.

The story is intricately detailed, full of action, and full of missteps on Sam’s part and heartache for Vance. Nick J. Russo did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. His narrations fit this type of story well, as he keeps the pace fast and interesting and the voices distinct. Since it’s an audiobook review, I must mention that the story is so fast-paced that if I allowed my mind to drift, I was lost, so I admit I had to do a bit of rewinding to keep up. Moral of the story is pay attention. LOL.

The good news is that at the end, Sam admits his true feelings, and Vance gets the man he cares for. As Sam tells him, it’s not his enhanced muscle strength that makes him so special, it’s the strength of his heart. I highly recommend this entire series—in audio for a real treat.

A good representation of the FBI’s Human Enhanced Rescue Organization, the cover by Jay Aheer features a man wearing a HERO uniform heading into a firefight.

Sales Links:Audible | Amazon

Audio Book Details:

7 hours and 22 minutes

Audible Audio, Unabridged, 8 pages
Published April 8th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press (first published December 11th 2018)
ASINB07QGFTHYQ
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Enhanced #4

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: In Safe Hands by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

There’s so much to enjoy each time I pick up a book by Victoria Sue—depth of character, complexity of story, amazing secondary characters, and a well-planned plot, usually with lots of mystery and drama. This book did not disappoint.

Mav Delgardo can’t seem to come to terms with the loss of his foot and consequently the loss of his career as a USAF helicopter pilot. Wallowing in a bottle, sleeping in his sister’s spare room, it’s not until she needs his help to guard a former musician that he manages to pull himself together. Deacon Daniels (real name Danny) was a teen idol until a scandal resulting in the death of a woman and her child brings his career crashing down. Add to that the fact he’s lost custody of his two-year-old niece, for whom he was named guardian when his brother died, and a stalker is now out to get him, and it’s a wonder the young man doesn’t give up.

Mav is entranced by the real Danny and realizes there’s no way the news reports and gossip sheets have any inkling of what the young man is really like. And Danny sees Mav, beyond the scars on his face and torso and his artificial foot, Danny reacts to the person who cares about others and desperately wants to be needed and find his place in life after the loss of his career. The two become close as those involved in perpetrating the scandal that destroyed Deacon’s career are murdered and the stalking and threats increase.

It’s not until the two start to hope for a brighter future that the situation takes a turn for the worse and it looks like Danny won’t have a future at all if the murderer has his way. I really enjoyed the action in this story. The story was interesting, the characters well-developed, and the mystery intriguing. When the murderer is revealed there was still plenty of action and suspense and I had a hard time putting the book down.

Victoria Sue creates real characters with real feelings. I can rarely stay an arm’s length from getting caught up in their lives. This story is for those who want to experience second chances, hurt-comfort, lots of intrigue, and a couple who deserves a solid future together.

Cover by Jay Aheer is a clever blend of the MCs and the action of the story. Against the white shirt on the Maverick’s chest, the artist has superimposed a man in shadows, a large apartment building and an orange glow, depicting a fire or fires, something the mystery murderer uses in this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 230 pages
Published March 19th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB 07NNL14XR
Edition Language English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: The Alpha Heir (Kingdom of Askara #2) by Victoria Sue and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

I enjoyed this sequel to The Alpha King almost as much as I enjoyed the original. But I didn’t feel the pull and the love between the MCs as much in this one, mostly because of their life circumstances and the way the story was written—they were enemies for quite some time. Toward the end, when they finally acknowledge and share their love, it was well worth the wait. And speaking of the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the cameo appearance of Luca in his role as the Alpha King. It’s evident he wears the cloak of responsibility regally.

In the early stages of this story, we meet both Caleb and Taegan, in different scenarios and with totally opposite life circumstances. Taegan is the leader of the human rebel forces in a different pack area of the kingdom of Askara from where The Alpha King took place. These rebels have much to lose since the wolves are snatching their children to use not only for dangerous work but now for unknown purposes. As an aside here I just have to say that Joel Leslie’s childrens’ voices were too precious for words! Loved, loved, loved them!

Teagan’s mother is still with him and he has the protection, counsel and support of Silas, a 200-year-old lone wolf. We learn late in the story about why Silas has made himself available to watch over Teagan, a human, but throughout the book he’s extremely helpful in helping Teagan solve the puzzle of the missing children, the dastardly plans of the reigning alpha, and the very puzzling circumstances of why Caleb, though a wolf, would be bound in chains, starved, beaten, and tortured.

To be honest, I don’t recall every little detail of the story—mostly because I was swept along in my enjoyment of the narration and in understanding the complexity of events as they unfolded. Given the fact that I generally start and stop an audiobook frequently over the course of several days, I have to admit that my total recall is lacking. However, what I can say is that Caleb is sweetly endearing, and as he begins to heal and get stronger, it’s evident that he does indeed have the stuff an Alpha Heir is made of. Will he get the opportunity to present himself as the heir? Well, that’s why readers should pick up this book, preferably in audio form so Joel Leslie can bring the huge cast of characters to life and tell you the tale.

Over the course of the second half of the book, even though it seems impossible, the human and the wolf realize they are lifemates, but if Caleb is to claim his rightful place as Alpha, he’ll need to have an Omega wolf at his side, according to the laws that govern them. Add to that, Teagan’s natural tendency to put others ahead of himself, and Caleb’s low self-worth—beaten into him over the course of his six-year persecution, and we have an interesting quandary. By all means, if you like shifter stories and a little fantasy added into your paranormal, this series is the one to choose. Highly recommend

Sales Links: Amazon | Audible

Audiobook Details:

7 hours and 34 minutes

Audible Audio, Unabridged, 8 pages
Published December 19th 2017 by Victoria Sue (first published September 4th 2017)
ASIN B078BGHCJF
Edition Language English
Series Kingdom of Askara #2

A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Strength of His Heart (Enhanced World #4) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Book four focuses on Vance who comes from a family of law enforcement, and his new partner Samuel who left working for the DEA and ATF to join the enhanced FBI unit. One of Samuel’s informants will only speak to him, so they are actually on loan to the joint task force when a bust goes wrong. As there are dead enhanced, the unit starts working the case. They are also working on finding enhanced who are going missing again.

As with previous books, there are a whole lot of coincidences here as the cases being worked overlap. There is a new drug being sold that uses enhanced blood, possibly for blood doping in athletes. As Vance goes undercover as bait, Sam gets kidnapped and his past meets his present. There are flashbacks from Sam throughout the book, showing what he needs to overcome in order to be a good partner and friend. I found the whole storyline with his mom is exploited for closure as well as to set Sam and Vance up with an instant family.

In the previous books, Vance seemed the luckiest of the enhanced with a supportive family, but here we’re shown his insecurities about his size and weight, along with the bullying his parents didn’t know about. Here he comes across as a gentle giant. It’s fun to watch Vance physically protect Sam, while Sam emotionally protects Vance. All of these books focus on the hurt/comfort trope in their own way. Samuel is jaded and ambitious, causing him to stop any sort of relationship with Vance from moving forward. Having said that, the romance between Vance and Sam didn’t work for me as well as the pairings in the first three books. I didn’t particularly like Sam, and I feel like Vance is too good to be true. Because I didn’t engage with them, even the sex scenes didn’t click for me; most of the time Sam seems to be using Vance and pushing him away, hurting him. The epilogue as their HEA is a step too soon and a complete turnaround on Sam’s part.

What continues to give this series its heart, is the children. While introducing new enhanced children to the cast, this book also brings back a few from the past. The continued discrimination against enhanced, is hard to read. The mistreatment of a transgendered enhanced child caused me an added bit of angst. The team continue to fight for the inclusion of enhanced in all aspects of society and for their protection against mistreatment and exploitation.

Vance’s brother Daniel, has taken a leave of absence from the Bureau after working on pedophilia cases. He can’t stomach it anymore. It’s not a surprise when he gets partnered with Eli. Eli has been on the periphery of all the stories–angry and distant. There have been clues his childhood was worse than the rest of the team, so I am expecting his book to be heartbreaking. This comes at a time when they have permission to expand to add more units based on the H.E.R.O model so we’ll have to see how the unit gets broken up for training new recruits. Overall this series is very well written and grabs you by the heart strings, so I will continue to read them.

The cover art by Jay Aheer is dark and eye catching. Love it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages

Published: December 11, 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64405-115-3

Edition Language: English

Series: Enhanced World #4

An ALisa Review: Strength of His Heart (Enhanced World #4) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

To protect and serve…. All Vance Connelly ever wanted to do was continue his family’s tradition and join the Tampa Police Department, but his dreams were crushed the day he woke with the enhanced mark on his face. After years of struggling to adjust to life as an enhanced human, by a stroke of luck, he met Talon Valdez and became a proud member of the FBI’s Human Enhanced Rescue Organization.

Samuel “Angel” Piper is eager to leave his DEA undercover work behind as he joins the HERO team as Vance’s regular human partner. But Sam’s painful past is ever present, just below the surface of the life he has built for himself as an ambitious young agent. When the team investigates rumors of a new drug using enhanced blood, the case’s mysterious connection to Sam threatens not just his life but Vance’s.

Trust doesn’t come easy for Sam, but Vance is willing to fight to convince his partner that the strength of his heart might be the salvation they both need.

I continue to enjoy these books and the wonderful world that the author has created. I have wanted to see Vance get that love you could tell he has longed for. I remember meeting Sam in Jake and Gael’s book and enjoyed getting the chance to know him better.

Vance has had a very supportive family but everything hasn’t been smooth sailing for him since he got his mark. Sam has not had an easy life by any means and I hated seeing him being dragged down by his past again.

I already liked Vance before I read this book and this just helped me to understand him better and see how badly the enhanced can be treated even if they have their family at their backs supporting them. I liked Sam but had a hard time to really like him because he did more flip flopping with his emotions than I like. Though I was truly glad for them to finally break down their walls and let each other in and have another child join the large family they have all made.

The cover art by Jay Aheer is great and I love how the coloring matches through all of the covers but they match the characters in each story more.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages

Published: December 11, 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64405-115-3

Edition Language: English

Series: Enhanced World #4

New Release Tour for The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue (excerpt and giveaway)

The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue

Dreanspinner Press
Cover Art: Jay Aheer

Release Date: December 11, 2018

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Victoria Sue here today on tour with her latest Enhanced novel, The Strength of his Heart. She has brought along a excerpt for all our readers and a giveaway to enter at the end of the blog. Happy Reading!

Blurb

To protect and serve…. All Vance Connelly ever wanted to do was continue his family’s tradition and join the Tampa Police Department, but his dreams were crushed the day he woke with the enhanced mark on his face. After years of struggling to adjust to life as an enhanced human, by a stroke of luck, he met Talon Valdez and became a proud member of the FBI’s Human Enhanced Rescue Organization.

Trust doesn’t come easy for Sam, but Vance is willing to fight to convince his partner that the strength of his heart might be the salvation they both need.

Excerpt

“Sam?”

Vance paused at the same time as Sam did when Buchanan called. He stood, wondering if he ought to leave them to it. He looked at Sam, but Sam was focused on Buchanan. “I’ll just—”

“Sam. Sorry, do you have a minute?” Buchanan asked, glancing awkwardly at Vance.

“I’ll see you upstairs,” Sam said apologetically.

“Sure.” Vance turned and walked the few steps to the elevator. The trouble was he had to wait for it and his hearing was exceptional. Okay, so maybe he could take the stairs, but his feet seemed as reluctant as the rest of him. He was recovering from a serious injury….

“I have to go get my medical done,” Sam started to explain.

“Sam,” Buchanan interrupted. “I just wanted to give you some news. I’ve been authorized to head up a special task force to look into the illegal distribution of new synthesized drugs. Most of the problems, as you know, are because by the time we find out about them, people have already died.”

Vance didn’t look up, even though he doubted they realized he could hear them.

Sam nodded. “That’s pretty exciting.”

“And not just agents. Scientists—Kenton, in particular—are on board. We have the financing already in place, and”—his voice dropped lower—“they’re talking about a domestic FAST team.”

Vance counted five seconds before he heard the “Wow” from Sam.

“Thing is, Sam, I’ve been given carte blanche in hiring. One of the requirements is being able to establish intelligence resources. You know how much you’ve impressed people with how quickly you’ve accessed information.”

Vance didn’t need to be enhanced to know what was coming next.

“And I really want you with me. We’re talking at least a three-grade pay jump and the ability to work in a small team with less bureaucracy than the FBI. You don’t have to decide now,” Buchanan added before Sam said anything. “We need to wrap this up first, but then….”

“I can’t say I’m not flattered,” Sam started, but Vance didn’t hear a denial.

“I know you wanted out of the DEA, Sam, and I remember you telling me you needed to give this posting at least two years. You always were focused on your career, but trust me. Commit to my new unit for five years and they’ll give you whatever job you want afterward.” A door opened. “Look,” Buchanan continued, “I have to go, but you need to give this some serious thought. Five years with this is career springboard material. You could have your choice of cities as well, and there is the potential for overseas work if that’s what you want.”

The elevator doors opened, and Vance stepped in quickly. He turned automatically to the doors as they closed, but Sam’s hand stopped them from shutting completely, and he smiled and got in.

Vance had intended to say lots of things after the meeting.

Give this posting two years.

Comment on what they’d been told.

Posting, like what you got in the military—temporary.

Explain how he thought the science was flawed because they’d always been told no one could reproduce an enhanced ability, and if that was so, why hadn’t Finn or someone downstairs a lot cleverer than him pointed that out?

Choice of cities.

Then he was going to ask Sam if he wanted to stop at the store. Vance wouldn’t go in, but he would pay. He could cook too, and he would. Maybe they could watch a film.

Potential for overseas work.

Maybe Sam would open up, tell him a little about himself. He didn’t know much except Sam had come from Chicago and had no family. Which was sad. Vance couldn’t wait for his mom to get back. She would love Sam.

Except Sam wasn’t staying. The enhanced unit was temporary. Vance was temporary.

About the Author Victoria Sue

www.victoriasue.com

@vickysuewrites

https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor

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Giveaway: The author is offering one of her books from her backlist as a giveaway. You can find them here. Please leave a comment and an email address where we can contact you if chosen. Giveaway ends one week from today.

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In Safe Keeping (Heroes and Babies #2) by Victoria Sue

Dreamspinner Press Published September 3rd 2019 Cover Artist: Tiferet Design

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interviews Victoria Sue…

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The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue

Dreanspinner Press Cover Art: Jay Aheer

Release Date: December 11, 2018

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Victoria Sue here today on tour with her latest Enhanced novel, The Strength of his Heart. She has brought along a excerpt for all our readers and a giveaway to enter at the end of the blog. Happy Reading!

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Dreamspinner Press
Published September 3rd 2019
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design

Dreanspinner Press
Cover Art: Jay Aheer