Sandra Brannan

This was my first book in the LIv Bergen Mystery series. I liked it and it could be read as a stand alone. The suspense was real, the characters were well developed and the story held my attention until the end. I have a few complaints. The first was that the author gave us a lot of detail on facts that were unnecessary to the story, for example all of Liv's siblings full names and their meanings. Second was the fact that Liv was an FBI agent and yet was very naive about a lot of things. She withheld essential information that might have kept her and Streeter safe and aware of potential danger. Also for an FBI agent, she did a lot of things to put herself in danger like answering a door without checking who it was after being followed earlier in the day. She also knew there was a dangerous criminal on the loose and yet when she had a car accident she didn't take any safety precautions when dealing with the person who hit her thereby putting herself and her protection in danger. I just didn't buy a lot of the situations that she got herself into. I liked the book and will probably read more in the series but I wish the characters actions were more true to what they were supposed to be.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed are solely my own.… (mais)

Holy... I am so blown away by this book I'm not even sure where to start. I've been a massive fan of Sandra Brannan's mysteries since I first met Liv Bergen in book one. I've watched Liv grow, met her family, and fallen totally in love with her fabulous personality. To say I had high hopes for Noah's Rainy Day doesn't even begin to cover how I felt as I opened to the first page. Honestly though? I shouldn't have worried. There was so much to love here that it's going to be one hell of a task for me to explain how I feel.

First off I was so happy to see that Liv, one of my top five favorite female characters of all time, was just as vividly written and feisty as ever! What's awesome about this particular installment is that Liv is finally an FBI agent. Oh sure, all sorts of insanity happens around her constantly. Now, however, she can actually do something about it legally. I loved Special Agent Liv Bergen. Loved watching her get her feet wet, learn the FBI ropes, and solve the mystery. Liv hasn't changed at all, but now her skills come to the forefront and it's perfection!

Then there was Noah. Please pardon me while I gush, but Noah Hogarty is an absolutely wonderful protagonist. Living with severe cerebral palsy hasn't gotten Noah down. He's sweet, intelligent beyond his years, and so wonderfully positive. Everything about him screams life, and it's no wonder that Liv loves spending time with him. I was so impressed with the way that Sandra Brannan wrote this young character. Despite what life has handed him he is brave, strong and damn impressive. I loved Noah Hogarty, with all of my heart.

Oh and the plot! I could gush, and gush, but the point remains that there is nothing about this book that is slow. Each page brings a new clue to light, a new piece of the puzzle into the picture, and it was all I could do to keep up with the mystery. No spoilers here friends. You absolutely must experience it. Let's just say that I'll admit I was teary eyed near the end. There are just some books that have you so wrapped up in them that you cry when things finally end. Sandra Brannan remains one of my all time favorite writers, and I'm happy to recommend this whole series to you! Trust me when I say you won't be sorry you met Liv Bergen and her beautiful family.
… (mais)

Ahhhhh. Once again, Sandra Brannan has totally taken my breath away with her writing. Widow's Might brings back the Liv that I was waiting for, a completely twisted murder that kept me reading, and a fabulous cast of characters. What I love most about this books in this series are how easy they are to get into. Read a page, and you're already hooked.

It's hard to remember that this book takes place only a few short days after the last book ends. My favorite part about Liv's character has always been how strong she is, and that doesn't change here. She's slow to anger, quick to empathy, and a downright wonderful person. As an added bonus, we meet her sister in this book. Elizabeth is like Liv multiplied by ten. I completely adored her! A woman who gives any cause a hundred percent of her time and effort, she is just as strong as her sister, and even more stubborn. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure!

The romance is ramped up a bit in this third book as well, although it still does a fabulous job of staying in the background. Agents Pierce and Linwood are the polar opposites of one another, but Liv finds chemistry with both of these wonderful men. It's a a breath of fresh air to have a bit of romance thrown in between all the work that goes into solving the mysteries. Let me be the first to say that no matter which of these two men Liv chooses, I'm all for it! I'll take the other one off her hands any day.

Clues are laid out in bits in pieces, always giving the reader just enough to be on the cusp of solving the murders, but never enough to quite get there. It's deliciously frustrating. What I most enjoyed about this particular book in the series (and missed in the second book) is getting a chance to see from the murderer's point of view. Having the opportunity to see into the twisted mine of "The Crooked Man" is a treat. Creepy, yet completely fascinating.

So yes, Widow's Might gets a huge five starts from me! It brought back everything that I was missing in the last book, and kept me reading well into the night. If you haven't yet started this series I highly recommend it! Liv is sure to steal your heart, as will all the other characters in this series. Full of twists and turns, Widow's Might is the stuff of late nights spent reading. I cannot wait for more!… (mais)