Reading Stuff 'n' Things

Making Leine (A Leine Basso Prequel)

BookBub

👀👀👀👀👀👀

More of D.V. Berkom's books I have read and reviewed:

Fatal Objective (Leine Basso #12)

Terminal Threat (Leine Basso #13)

Sunday, 18 June 2023

Terminal Threat (A Leine Basso Thriller #13) by D.V. Berkom

💥💥💥 due to be published 12-July-2023 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"A former assassin makes a new start in a small town on the coast of Italy, but puts herself squarely in the sights of an old enemy when she helps the townspeople fight back against the local crime boss.

Leine Basso is settling into her new life in a quiet village in Italy when a small-time crook threatens the town. Leine steps in to help, drawing the attention of an old adversary who she thought was long gone.

When her enemy learns that Leine is still alive, he orders her assassination. But Leine is not an easy target, and she eliminates the hired guns sent to kill her. Frustrated by his failed attempts, her adversary vows to take vengeance and kill her himself.

As tension builds and the threat escalates, Leine's past collides with her present, blurring the line between friend and foe. In a breathtaking showdown, Leine unleashes her deadly skills to protect not only herself but the tight-knit community she has grown to love. Will she succeed--or will her enemy destroy everything she holds dear?

With adrenaline-pumping action and a formidable female lead, D.V. Berkom takes readers on a thrilling ride as Leine fights to protect her new home and herself from the ultimate terminal threat."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Once again, DV has surpassed herself and created another enthralling adventure to add to the already amazing Leine Basso back catalogue which just keeps getting better and better. I think with this one, it works well as a standalone but I would recommend reading the rest of the series as you won't be disappointed.

Ava (aka Leine) has decided to retire and move to a village in Italy to open a book shop. Sounds idyllic and simple? Well ... with Leine nothing is that straightforward and when she gets embroiled in the death of a local villager and a local racketeer, it's not only her life that is under threat but the life of the entire village and so she engages her colleagues from her previous life to help out with heart-stopping consequences.

As with DV's previous books, it is littered with excellent characters with Leine being one of my all-time favourites; she is strong, brave, not afraid to kick bottoms but with a soft side that is endearing. The story is exciting, the pace is fast and the setting is perfect.

All-in-all, this is another hit for me and one I won't hesitate to recommend to lovers of books that are full of action with a strong female lead. I can also highly recommend this series and once again, thank you to D.V for accepting me as a member her ARTeam and for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Terminal Threat and my hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

👀👀👀👀👀👀

More of D.V. Berkom's books I have read and reviewed:

Fatal Objective (Leine Basso #12)

Making Leine (A Leine Basso Prequel)

Sunday, 22 January 2023

Making Leine: A Leine Basso Prequel by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"The untold story of Leine's early years.

Before she was Leine Basso, elite assassin, she was just Leine, sixteen years old and recently orphaned. Find out how she transformed from angry and alone to formidable assassin, The Leopard."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I think I can safely say that I am a fan of D.V. Berkom's work and especially of her character Leine Basso. She is one of my all-time favourite female characters from fiction; strong and brave but with flaws and a caring side and it was great to have a snapshot of her beginnings in Making Leine and finally to finding out how to pronounce her name!!!

This is a novella and, as such, isn't very long which, unfortunately, is my only gripe ... it finished way too soon ... I'm sorry, I'm selfish and I wanted more! But if you are new to Leine Basso, this is a great starter and will have you itching to press that "buy it now" button to get your next fix and you won't be disappointed.

I can highly recommend this series and once again, thank you to D.V for accepting me as a member her ARTeam and for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Making Leine and my itchy little fingers/hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

👀👀👀👀👀👀

More of D.V. Berkom's books I have read and reviewed:

Fatal Objective (Leine Basso #12)

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Fatal Objective (Leine Basso #12) by D.V. Berkom

Description from author:

"A missing assassin. An unlikely betrayal. A secret cabal sowing chaos.

Leine Basso’s missing.

She’s not answering her calls. Or texts. Lou and Santa fear she’s been compromised. According to her contact on the op she’s fine, just busy.

When she finally responds it doesn’t sound like her.

The two men who know her best aren’t buying it. Something isn’t right.

Leine Basso’s missing.

And Lou and Santa are going to find out why."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

DV has, once again, surpassed herself with this latest outing for Leine Basso. I never thought I would still be enthralled by a series of books for this long but they just keep getting better.

This is another action packed thriller starring the irreplaceable Leine Basso who, once again, has found herself in a bit of a pickle and it will take all her guile and acumen to get herself out of it with a little help from some friends along the way.

With fantastic characters throughout and an intriguing plot, Fatal Objective is a compulsive read that will have your eyes whizzing across the pages (or screen) in a bid to find out what happens next. I didn't want it to end but admit that I felt a little sad after finishing it and I really hope this isn't the last 'adventure' for Leine.

Highly recommended series but please be reassured that this can be read as a standalone although I would advise you to go back and read the others ... you won't be disappointed.

I must thank D.V. Berkom for allowing me to be a member of her Advance Reader Team and for allowing me to read Leine's latest outing and share my thoughts.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

👀👀👀👀👀👀

More of D.V. Berkom's books I have read and reviewed:

Sunday, 22 August 2021

A Plague of Traitors (Leine Basso #11) by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"A former assassin leads a heroic band of foreign fighters to thwart an enemy like no other.

Former assassin Leine Basso races to prevent Syrian intelligence from obtaining a lethal Russian bioweapon—a savage combination of toxins never before seen in nature.

Leine’s called back to war-torn Tripoli, enlisted by her former employer to train a heroic group of Isis-fighting snipers to crush the horrific threat. But there’s a leak, and the Libyan operation goes terribly wrong—the bioweapon ends up in the hands of a brutal terrorist who will stop at nothing to force the West to its knees.

Are there spies in their midst? Can Leine and her warriors prevent a ruthless enemy from releasing the deadly toxin before it's too late? Or will humanity be destroyed in a cataclysmic finale orchestrated by A Plague of Traitors?"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I have made no secret that I am a fan of D.V. Berkom's work and particularly of her books starring Leine Basso but you would think that after so many stories it would become stale. Well let me tell you that this is most certainly not the case. D.V. Berkom has a gift of creating plausible and exciting situations that keep me coming back every single time.

Once again, I have run out of words to describe how much I enjoyed this book so will just say that it is yet another action packed thriller full of tension that will have you turning the pages at quick speed (or tapping the screen!).

D.V. Berkom has a knack of creating excellent characters and this book is absolutely littered with them from the good guys to the not-so-good. Leine has to be one of my favourite characters of all time - she is strong, brave, not afraid to kick rear ends but with a soft side that is endearing and feels natural and believable.

This is part of a series but, in my opinion, it holds up extremely well as a stand-alone. There are recurring characters, and I am pleased to see the return of Derek, but the author has the ability to provide just enough information so you don't get lost but not so much that it detracts from the current story.

Yet again, this is another hit for me and I would recommend this and the rest of the series to anyone who loves a thrilling read that although contains violence, it's not over the top.

I, for one, cannot wait for the Leine's next "adventure" but I must thank D.V. Berkom for allowing me to be a member of her Advance Reader Team and for sending me a copy of "A Plague of Traitors" before the official publication date on 31-August-2021 in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review for which I am, once again, extremely grateful.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

👀👀👀👀👀👀

More of D.V. Berkom's books I have read and reviewed:

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Legend (A Claire Whitcomb Western #3) by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"Vengeance can be a fickle mistress…

In the aftermath of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Claire accepts a job transporting a convicted murderer to prison. But Harry, the bounty hunter who captured the outlaw, is none too pleased to be sharing the reward—and trusting a woman to have his back.

Will Claire and Harry settle their differences and work together to deliver their captive to justice? Or will the murderer kill again to escape the noose?"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

If, like me, you tend to bypass the Western or Historical Fiction genres thinking they might be boring or not what you usually enjoy, can I give you a little advice? Don't ... take a look at the blurb and if it sparks even a little light of interest, give it a go ... you never know, you might enjoy it. I have certainly enjoyed this series and it is way off what I normally read.

This is a very satisfying third and, supposedly the last, book in the series featuring Claire Whitcomb with "Retribution" being the first and "Gunslinger" being the second. Claire is a strong female in a time when strong females were frowned upon and she has to work doubly hard to follow the line of work she wishes and to prove herself amongst a world full of men; she does this with grace, dignity and style in this story filled with action and adventure set in the Wild West.

What I particularly enjoy is the references to real historical figures and places such as Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Tombstone and the OK Corral; these are people and places I have grown up with (my dad and husband being avid Western watchers) and with adding a great character like Claire in amongst it all brought it to life even more for me.

My only gripe, which has continued over the three books, is that they aren't long enough ... you no sooner start when you have finished but maybe that's my fault and I read too quickly!

Having said that, I still highly recommend this series and D.V. Berkom as a whole; you won't be disappointed with anything she writes because, let's face it, what's not to like - great characters, immersive stories that transport you to different times and places, action, adventure, thrills and spills; she writes about it all with the bonus of the lead characters being strong females that aren't afraid to kick some behinds! So, have a look at her back catalogue and get reading.

I am lucky to be a member of D.V. Berkom's ARTeam and was sent a copy of Legend before the official publication date of 12-January-2020 in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for which I am, once again, extremely grateful.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

Gunslinger (A Claire Whitcomb Western Book 2)

👀👀👀👀👀👀

Other books from D.V. Berkom that I have read and reviewed:

Retribution (A Claire Whitcomb Western Book 1)

Sunday, 20 December 2020

Gunslinger: A Claire Whitcomb Western (Claire Whitcomb Westerns Book 2)

Description from Goodreads:

"Never let tragedy define you.

After losing her family to renegade outlaws, Claire Whitcomb leaves Leadville, Colorado, headed for Tombstone. Armed with a Peacemaker, a rifle, and a letter of introduction to Wyatt Earp, Claire seeks a new life and new career in the Town Too Tough To Die. Along the way, she meets Isabella King, well-known actress and mistress of railroad magnate Jay Gould.

During an attempted train robbery Isabella’s security man is shot and killed, which leads her to hire Claire in his place. Unbeknownst to Claire, the actress is an assassin’s target.

Which means Claire is, too."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I am not one for reading westerns or much historical fiction however, I am a fan of D.V.Berkom's work so was persuaded to read the first of the series "Retribution" and I surprised myself by enjoying it so jumped at the chance to read "Gunslinger" as I was itching to find out what Claire gets up to next.

D.V. has a great ability to create characters that you quickly become invested in and Claire is definitely one of those. D.V. also creates strong, female characters that don't take any grief from the supposedly stronger gender and, again, Claire is most definitely one of these but her job is made even harder given the time and location in which this book is set.

I'm not going to go into the plot here, you will just have to read it, but what I will say is that you really get absorbed and transported to the Wild West and you are quickly captivated by the characters and drawn into this action packed story so much so that, before you know it, it's over and you are left wanting more and herein is the only gripe I have ... it's not long enough but maybe that's because I read too quickly!

As I said, I usually give Westerns a wide berth as they are not my thing but this series has definitely made me think twice about doing this in the future and if you are of a similar opinion, I would suggest you do the same by giving this series a try ... you never know, you might change your mind and fine another genre to get your teeth into.

I am lucky to be a member of D.V. Berkom's ARTeam and was sent a copy of Gunslinger before the official publication date of 28-December-2020 in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for which I am extremely grateful and I don't have to wait long for book 3, "Legend", which is due to be published in January 2021 and which is already sat in my to-be-read pile just waiting for my hungry little eyes to be engrossed once again.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

Retribution (A Claire Whitcomb Western Book 1)

👀👀👀👀👀👀

Other books from D.V. Berkom that I have read and reviewed:

Sunday, 8 November 2020

Retribution (A Claire Whitcomb Western Book 1) by D.V.Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"They took everything. Now she wants revenge.

Spring 1880: Claire Whitcomb and her family are building a good life near the boomtown of Leadville, Colorado, when tragedy strikes: a group of renegades attack, killing everyone but Claire and burning their home. Not knowing who to turn to, Claire teams up with Mart Duggan, the town’s tough-as-nails marshal, to track down the outlaws responsible. Duggan and his friend, Thomas, a local Ute, skirt the law to get results, but that’s fine by Claire.

She’s gunning for the men who destroyed her life—and won’t settle for anything less than retribution."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I am lucky enough to be a part of D.V. Berkom's advance reader team and I was sent a copy of this prior to it's release on 20-Nov-2020 for which I will be eternally grateful because what we have here is an introduction to what I believe will be another excellent series featuring a strong female character.

I am not normally one for reading westerns, in fact I usually give them a wide berth and don't even bother reading the blurb but given I have read several of D.V. Berkom's books featuring the excellent Leine Basso, when I was asked if I would like to receive an advance copy, I thought why the heck not and I was so pleased I did.

Claire, her husband Josiah and 3 children move to the Wild West in search of a new life however, tragedy strikes when Josiah and the children are brutally killed and Claire is left alone. It soon transpires that Claire is being accused of the murders and so she teams up with Mart and Thomas to clear her name and seek revenge.

This is a fast paced read with excellent characters, great setting and exciting plot. If I have one complaint, it's that it's over way too quickly; I was left wanting to read more now ... oh well, I will just have to wait to see what scrapes and adventures Claire finds herself mixed up in and how her character develops as she roams the Wild West on her trusty steed, Rose.

Thank you to D.V. Berkom for writing another absolute cracker, for giving me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and for introducing me to another genre ... now hurry up and get the next one finished 😉

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Connect with the author:

Website where you can get 2 free e-books

Goodreads

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Other books from D.V. Berkom that I have read and reviewed:

Sunday, 12 April 2020

Shadow of the Jaguar: A Leine Basso Thriller by D.V. Berkom

⭐⭐⭐ Available on 18th April 2020 ⭐⭐⭐

Description from author website:

"Leine Basso is back in Shadow of the Jaguar, an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning action-adventure thriller!

A lost civilization. A woman’s abduction. The promise of unimaginable treasure.

Deep in the heart of the Amazon, an expedition finds evidence of a fabled lost city of gold. It isn’t long before a ruthless drug trafficker learns of the possible find and kidnaps an expedition member, threatening to kill her and the rest of the expedition unless he’s given the coordinates to the city.

Former assassin Leine Basso and her daughter are called in to rescue the kidnapped woman, who also happens to be a good friend’s niece. But in the jungle, danger lurks at every turn, and nothing is as it seems …"

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖

I'm a bit of a broken record when it comes to this particular series but I make no apologies for that as each one is as good, if not better, than the last and once again I am struggling to find new words to describe how much I enjoyed this book and I have found myself delving into my thesaurus to come up with some new ones ...love, relish, savour, delight in ... all work but mean the same thing in that this book is one of the many containing Leine Basso that shouldn't be missed.

In this, the ninth instalment, we find Leine and her daughter April in the midst of a kidnapping case deep in the Amazon jungle ... sounds straight forward enough however, things are never as they seem and Leine and April soon have to bring to the fore all of their training and instincts to get to the bottom of what's going on and survive coming into contact with all manner of creatures - both human and animal!

D.V. Berkom literally immerses you on their journey through the Amazon and although I've never had that pleasure unfortunately, I could feel the cloying humidity, the mosquitoes biting and hear the jungle noises in my living room such was the excellent writing and vivid descriptions used throughout this book.

There is plenty of adventure, action and twists to make anyone happy but there is also an educational element thrown in for good measure ... I have learnt a thing or two about Shamans and I'm off to find out what my spirit animal is now! [it's a cat by the way 😺]. Although this is the ninth book in the series, you don't particularly have to have read all the preceding books but I would recommend reading at least a few in order to understand Leine a little better as she is a complex character.

Once again, I have not been disappointed and I want to thank D.V. Berkom for providing me with an advance copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and I can't wait for the next adventure.

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖

Connect with the author:

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖

Other books from D.V. Berkom that I have read and reviewed:

Dakota Burn

Absolution

Dark Return

The Last Deception

The Body Market

Saturday, 21 September 2019

Dakota Burn (Leine Basso #8) by D.V.Berkom

Blurb from Goodreads:

"A kidnapped girl. A ruthless criminal who preys on the innocent. Two killers who will stop at nothing to bring him down.

Former assassin Leine Basso was supposed to be in sunny LA, watching the first class of operatives graduate from the new anti-trafficking academy. Instead, she’s in North Dakota in the middle of a brutal winter, helping ex-poacher Derek van der Haar track down and eliminate a deadly group of criminals hell-bent on providing young girls to the highest bidder.

The closer Leine and Derek get to the organization, the more dangerous the mission becomes. Soon, it’s evident that the traffickers are playing for keeps—and don’t care who they kill.

In a story ripped from the headlines, Dakota Burn reveals the dark underbelly of the Bakken oil fields, where human life is a commodity and outlaws still rule.

If you enjoy books by Mark Dawson, Barry Eisler, and Mark Greaney, you’ll love D.V. Berkom. Download this gritty, action-packed thriller today!

And you thought the Wild West was dead…"

~~~~~~~~~~

I seem to have run out of superlatives to describe this series of books by D.V. Berkom and containing the awesome Leine Basso so will just say it's another fantastic read and a must-read addition to anyone's bookshelf be it a physical one or electronic.

With an extremely disturbing but, tragically, all too realistic story line, this book contains subject matter which is distasteful and abhorrent to the majority of the "normal" population however, it is treated with respect and restraint by the author.

Excellent and believable characters litter this book from the goodies to the villains with Derek being a particular favourite of mine along with Jinn who gets better and better with each outing. The setting amongst the bleakness of an oil town in North Dakota is perfect and adds to the atmosphere and darkness of the subject matter.

Full of action and a fair amount of violence, this book is written at a quick pace which had me devouring it at every opportunity with the only complaint I have being that I finished it too quickly!

Another hit for me and I have no hesitation in recommending any of them in the series; you don't particularly need to read them in sequence but I would certainly advise that you do in order to get the most out of the characters and to have a greater understanding of their motivations and thought processes.

I must thank the author for sending me a copy in return for a honest and unbiased review - I can't wait for the next one.

~~~~~~~~~

Connect with the author:

Website where you can get 2 free e-books