I had a great time reading this book! I always enjoy Christine Feehan's writing, and this is a companion novel to Murder on Sunrise Lake, with some of the same cast of that novel, and it was really great to see them again. And I loved the new adventure, and the new romance!

Like Murder on Sunrise Lake, this book is set in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and again, it was such an atmospheric read! I live near the Rocky Mountains, depending on where I am, I can look out and see them. Mountains are just awesome pieces of geography and are such interesting settings for books!

The romance was front and center, and I really enjoyed reading about these two. We saw a bit of their beginning in the previous book, where things didn't go very well. But that's just because of his job, and like the synopsis says, he's now had time to think it over, and is ready to put the effort into a relationship. I really enjoyed the two of them!

And of course, there is also the murder mystery. That her life is under threat, that increases the stakes. Plus when you add on all the wedding activities, the bonding times with the girls was also a really great element of this book!

This was another great read, and if we get another book set at the Sierra Nevada and Sunrise Lake, I'll be reading it!

Very interesting and intriguing read. It's suspenseful butt possibly too much as it slows down the pacing at times. There is always an element of danger to be aware of cautious of. Romance of the second chance variety, which isn't my favorite. I enjoyed it overall.

This book was interesting! You also add in a pinch of paranormal because of the psychic gift! But, she certainly seems to have danger on her tail, no matter where she goes. She can feel it and knows something bad is going to happen. The romance is a second chance type story, so if you like that, you will like these two for sure! I did think it was a bit longer than necessary, which made the book feel slow at times.
3.5 stars!

Great intrigue, suspense, and story line make this book hard to put down. Although this is the second book in this series it can be read as a standalone. This is Vienna and Zale's second chance at love story. Recommended.

Girl power, thriller/mystery with romance…

This series is a departure from the many, many books I’ve read and enjoyed from this author. Don’t get that wrong – I’ve enjoyed the two stories so far a lot - but the content and heat are worlds away from mage and/or ghostwalkers! Of course, there’s a hint of paranormal or sixth sense here as well, threaded into a story along with tension, friendship and love…

Vienna was a confident, self-assured woman but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a few insecurities. Her strengths seemed even more pronounced when you knew she struggled with the usual (and not so usual) love and family problems. Being ghosted by Zale had not been her finest hour. She came out a bit battered but still loving life with her close-knit circle of girlfriends and a job and interests she loved. When Zale abruptly, mysteriously, entered her life again she was going to help him, of course, but he was going to have earn her heart back… And he did, one james bond-ish, confident, self-assured moment of his own…

Low on heat, there was nothing missing from this fast-paced read. Danger stalked Vienna and there were a few people on the ‘who could possibly want to’ list… If the read got bogged down in bouldering (I had no idea!) and a few incidental bird walks I loved getting to know Vienna’s group of friends even more. I want to squeeze into that group for sure! And learn lots more about each of them…

A good continuation of the 1st good in the series. Vienna assumed is was mysteriously invited to a high profile poker tournament due to her high online winnings, but as the book progresses more is revealed. The author did a good job of detailing the ends & outs of a poker tournament, and I do like the job close relationship the women have together, however, there was a lot of climbing detail that I thought was unnecessary to the storyline.

Vienna & Zale's relationship from the past is revealed and quickly rekindles, but can Vienna trust his motives. Red River is a slightly paranormal romantic suspense, and if you like reading this author, you will not be disappointed.

I received this advance review copy from from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

Red on the River is the second book in this new series. Christine doesn’t let you down! I love the suspense and action you get in this series.

This time around we center on Vienna and Sam’s best man, Zale. Will Vienna forgive him and give him the chance to explain? Can she trust her heart to Zale?

This book was pure joy to read. Action, suspense, betrayal, family, romance…did I mention action?

This was another fantastic romantic suspense full of excitement danger and mystery it has some paranormal elements to it as well this author is a favorite of mine for a reason I haven’t read anything by her that I haven’t loved yet and this was no different great plot amazing characters spicy romance this is another winner in my book!

Psychic poker player/nurse/Head of S&R

Vienna Mortenson is in Vegas for a huge poker championship. Playing face-to-face is unusual for her since she has competed online successfully for years. But she was invited so she brings her slight psychic talents to the Texas Hold 'em table to try to show the mainly male contestants that she's there to win.

While in Vegas she runs into old acquaintance Zale Vizzini who she once spent some torrid time with and who then left her without a word.

An outdoorsy bridal shower with Vienna, the bride-to-be, and three best friends turns into a dangerous situation.

So...put these three disparate themes together and you have a story that actually works well. I myself don't feel the romance section was particularly strong and was essentially glossed over. I enjoyed the poker sequences quite a bit especially the psychic touches.

But the especially strong part of this story for me was the five women's portion and the outdoor sections and the suspense/thriller sections. Loved them.

I highly recommend this book. I guess this is the second book in a series. I didn't read the first book and didn't feel left out of the action because of it.

I received this advanced reading copy from Berkley Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

RED ON THE RIVER is a very well-written look at the ladies from Sunrise Lake, their lives, mysteries, and stories. This was Vienna's story but we see more of the other ladies and find out some - and I do believe there is so much more to each of them - of their backgrounds.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=78589

Excitement, danger, intrigue, romance, and a bit of the paranormal - Red on the River is packed with all that and more. It seems like there's a lot going on in this book, and I suppose there is, but it works, and it all comes together for one intense read. I tend to lose myself in a good story, and I'd have to say that I spent a fair amount of this one either white-knuckling my Kindle or sitting on the edge of my seat, which is exactly what I want from a romantic thriller. The paranormal element here is an interesting addition to the story, and the way Feehan writes it makes you wonder if it's possible whether you believe in that kind of thing or not. The book is well written and the pacing keeps those pages turning for "one more chapter" again and again. I do realize I've been vague about details, but that's been completely intentional. This is one of those books that really needs to be read spoiler-free, so far be it for me to give anything away.

Red on the River is an intriguing romantic suspense; it took me a bit to really get into it as I found the details of the poker tournaments a bit overly detailed, but I got more involved as the story went on and the outdoor adventure scenes were much more exciting. The romance between Zale and Vienna was conflicted and sweet - this book is not steamy like Ms. Feehan's other series' and I have to admit I was disappointed that the romance/love scenes were pretty tame, and the paranormal component in this bookwas pretty mild as well. All in all, though not what I expected, it was a good read, which I think would have been enhanced had I read the first in the series, Murder At Sunrise Lake first.

Another excellent installment in Feehan's catalogue!

I find her romantic suspense series very engaging. I enjoyed this one a little more than Murder on Sunrise Lake, but only because I enjoyed the characters dynamic a little more. The suspenseful feeling, and the high stakes feel of the title is amazing. This second chance romance was also solid.

✦Review: RED ON THE RIVER by Christine Feehan https://bit.ly/3bUrkyt
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4 Stars

This was an interesting mystery/thriller. I just love the camaraderie between Vienna and her girlfriends. It adds a fun and easy contrast to the stoic operatives surrounding them. We met these people in Murder at Sunrise Lake, but it is a stand-alone story and the reader can easily get to know the characters, especially when the girlfriends get together and chat.

I liked Vienna and her complex life story. Her unique extrasensory gift added a nice element to the story as well. Her likeability and relatability was secured by her friends instead of her love interest. I didn’t really get a connection to Zale. He wasn’t a constant fixture in the story, and when he was, it wasn’t enough to feel their connection. They did seem to compliment each other’s strengths – so there is that.

The suspenseful story did keep me guessing and I was satisfied with how it all played out. And I’ll let you know that you will learn a lot about playing cards and rock climbing. This was listed as a romantic thriller, but I think it is more a thriller with romantic elements – still enjoyable and held my interest until the end.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.


Kindle https://amzn.to/3nnLkMc

Red On The River

I am so excited to see characters from the first book Murder At Sunrise Lake in a new book! I felt that there were many secrets left to tell from all the women there.
Vienna has a special gift. She has chosen to use it wisely and sparingly. She can “see” the cards in the other players and the dealer’s hand. This gift can make her unstoppable in poker tournaments. She has been invited to a major tournament with a price of a million dollars and she decided to join it as she was going to be in Vegas anyway for the bridal parties for Stella and Sam. The rescue teams and the local hospital could certainly benefit from her winnings.
But who does she run into first up in her luxurious hotel? Zane, a ghost from her past. She spent 6 lovely weeks in the mountains with him and felt that he could be the “one”. Only to have him pack up one morning and walk away without another word. No contact for over 6 months. She knows right away that he is undercover on a mission, but what should she do now? She cannot deal with him breaking her heart again.
Zale has never had anyone important in his life. He works dangerous missions and had never had to worry about anyone being used against him or worry about anyone but himself and his work partners. But Vienna has opened up his heart. He finds himself caring for her in ways he never felt before. So he walks away, knowing he has no business getting involved with anyone.
In Vegas undercover investigating the disappearance of two of their agents, he comes face to face with Vienna again. He had been resisting contact with her, but knew he wanted to have a future with her. Was this his second chance? Would he be able to overcome her objections to his appearance in her life again? Would she be willing to risk a future with him?
Follow Zale and Vienna as they get to know each other and try to figure out if they can have a real relationship.
Vienna begins to work her way up through the tournaments. Will she get the million dollar prize by winning against all the professional players?
And a possible new twist. Is Vienna now in danger? Now the players are warning her about the other players, and security is sneaking into her room. Can Zale keep her safe.
Can the girls all go out and have some fun bouldering, hiking, biking and kayaking?
Lots of fun and action in Red On The River
#RedontheRiver

Vienna ends up I up in the finals of the poker championship and then ends up in danger. Second in the series. ARC from NetGalley.

Christine brings it all in this Romantic Suspense Mystery. You experience the tension and pull of high stakes poker, exhilaration of bouldering & trail biking in places like Red Rock Canyon, kayaking The Colorado River, &more! If you're looking for adventure, intrigue that keeps you guessing who what where & when, strong women & friendships, & bossy alpha males, it's in there with several OMG moments and paranormal touches of psychic gifts.
.
“It’s not the cards you’re dealt it's how you play the hand.” Is a quote I’ve seen paraphrased many times. It fits this book and the journey the characters are on figuratively and literally.
Literally by our main character, Vienna, in Vegas for a high stakes poker tournament! And figuratively through out the romantic suspense storyline, navigating their relationship, the mysteries to solve, the dangers to face, action to take, karma to deliver!
.
Vienna has a knack for knowing how to play her hand, helped along by a psychic gift showing her the best direction to go, weighing the odds. You definitely get the vibe not everyone is thrilled by how well she does.
.
As the reader you’re caught up in the realization Vienna and Zale had a previous romance, the sexual tension and physical attraction heat things up, there’s no conflict in this part of things! The abundance of happens behind closed doors but nothing is missing in the story without it. This second chance romance finds its heart-grabbing internal conflicts in her resistance to trust men, even she’s not sure where it comes from. And his loyalty to almost a fault to his top-secret high-risk job, called a Ghost, that has him wondering how to make a relationship work and keeping secrets, like why he walked off and left her before...and other secrets, I don’t want to spoil, I’ll tell you that it will give you omg moments, which obviously doesn’t make him easy to trust!
.
The relationship is well written, interactions flow naturally around the suspense plotline, the flow between them fits their circumstances and the conflicts they face, how they try to play their hand because of them, and growth and change fits, isn’t rushed, and has those OMG moments of revelation! You are hoping for their HEA one minute and dropping your jaw yelling at the page the next! I love a storyline that doesn’t make it all easy!
.
It really doesn’t make it any easier to overcome their internal conflicts with the external conflicts they face in the middle of murders and violence. You start out feeling as if the main danger is tied to our hero…the mystery tied up in his job. Some danger starts targeting Vienna, is it connected to Zale’s assignments or something to do with her victory at the table? Are they connected, how would they be?
.
Leaving Zale to his assignment after her tournament ends, Vienna connects with her friends for a bridal pre-wedding getaway for a friend. It involves exploring Red Rock Canyon, kayaking The Colorado River…more. It becomes clear the danger didn’t seem to want to stay on the strip. Events have you wondering is there more than one mystery, more than one villian. I love the bonds and support these ladies have for each other. A feeling of a dark menacing shadow lurking around her, they put their sleuthing hats on and try to figure things out, the mystery and the relationship! Events bring Zale and other Ghosts to her aid and bring more revelations about these ladies and the lives they’ve led.
.
Revelations occur as they try to stay a head of the danger. Things start to piece together answers are found with amazing reveals about everything, the why, and a who, totally surprised me! As antagonists close in there are climactic hearts stopping scenes. When it catches up, they help each other weigh the odds and course of action. You’re immersed in peek through your fingers but keep turning pages action and a heart stopping chase! Everything sewn up with karma delivered and a happy future promised.

Vienna Mortenson is in Las Vegas for a live, high stakes Poker Tournament when she sees Zale Vizzini again. The two had met several months ago when there was a serial killer on the loose in Knightly. Vienna is a nurse and also helps with Search and Rescue. She is also originally from Las Vegas but relocated to Knightly when she and her mother had a nasty argument. Vienna’s plans are to win lots of money for her hospital and the search and rescue team and also to reconcile with her mother. She has zero plans to let Zale back into her life.
Zale Vizzini is in town with his partner, Rainier investigating the disappearance of several agents who had been sent to protect the owner of the casino, Daniel Wallin. They are, of course, undercover. It doesn’t take long for him to discover that his case and Vienna are somehow connected.
This book has it all. The action of a high stakes poker tournament, the mystery of Vienna’s childhood, the mystery of the missing agents and the mystery of the Northern Lights Hotel and Casino. Red on the River brings all of this together and reveals how they are all connected. Oh, and can’t forget the relationship between Vienna and Zale plus Vienna and her friends from Knightly who come for Stella Harrisons’ bridal adventure.
Do Vienna and Zale reconnect? Do Vienna and her mother reconcile? Do Stella and Sam get married? To get the answers to these questions and many more, you will have to read Red on the River. Hurry to your nearest brick and mortar or online bookseller and get your copy.

Vienna Mortenson is an amazing woman, nurse, head of search and rescue for her town, avid hiker, rock climber, and an excellent card player. Her life was rocked when a good friend turned out to be a serial killer; and the man sent to protect her turns out to be both ‘the man’ and a special ops agent who walked away after a six week ‘fling’, or so Vienna believes.

Zale Vizzini is a dangerous man in a high risk job, not only to himself but to anyone he cares for, which makes for a very solitary lifestyle. However after meeting Vienna and an incredible six and a half weeks in the wilderness with her, he knows she is ‘his woman’. The dilemma becomes how to keep her safe and make her his permanently.

Red on the River is set in Las Vegas where Vienna is playing in an extremely high stakes poker game, setting the scene for this suspense filled story with murder, intrigue, plot twist and turns that will make you dizzy trying to figure out who is trying to kill Vienna. Are the poker players the bad guys, is it Zale, or something more sinister?

As the plot unfolds, Vienna’s equally independent and talented group of friends arrive for a bridal shower of biking, hiking, bouldering, and kayaking. The dialogue between the friends as they reconnect with their first love, communing with nature, gives us subtle hints as to the backstory for several of them. As the bad guys continue to stalk Vienna and the ladies figure out what is happening, I was amazed at the complexity of this story plot.

As always I’m thoroughly impressed with the research required, but also the many things I learned about gambling and bouldering. As always, Ms Feehan skillfully incorporates the romance, paranormal, and the family aspect she is so well known for.

An awesome book in the Sunrise Lake series with enough clues to make me seriously impatient for the next story no matter who will be the focus.

RED ON THE RIVER is a contemporary, adult, slightly paranormal, romantic thriller set in the author’s MURDER AT SUNRISE LAKE world. This is professional poker player/surgical nurse Vienna Mortenson, and undercover operative Zale Vizzini’s story line. RED ON THE RIVER can be read as a stand-alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Vienna Mortenson was first introduced in book one.


NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.


Told from third person perspective RED ON THE RIVER follows the second chance relationship between professional poker player/surgical nurse Vienna Mortenson, and undercover operative Zale Vizzini. Months earlier, a serial killer targeted Stella Harrison (Murder at Sunrise Lake), and in their wake threatened Stella and her close-knit friends including our heroine Vienna Mortenson. Taking some time for herself in the aftermath of the life-threatening events , Vienna would set out on an outdoor adventure where she would meet one of their rescuers, undercover operative Zale Vizzini. Six weeks together ended when Zale ghosted our story line heroine, leaving a heart broken Vienna in his wake. Fast forward to present day, wherein an invitation to a Las Vegas Poker Tournament brings Vienna up close and personal with the man who broke her heart, a man whose secrets may push Vienna out of his life.


All was not well in Las Vegas, Nevada; two undercover operatives were missing and presumed dead, and Zale and his partner Rainier claimed to have been hired to protect the hotel owner Daniel Wallin, but someone has targeted our story line heroine in the process, leaving Vienna exposed and unaware of what happened. Vienna Mortenson would find herself under the protection of Zale Vizzini, protection that would pull our couple together even though Vienna struggled with events from the past. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Zale and Vienna, and the potential fall-out as secrets are revealed, a contract needs to be fulfilled, placing a target on the back of our story line heroine.


The relationship between Zale and Vienna is a rekindling romance. Zale had previously ghosted Vienna following a six week whirlwind romance in which Vienna found herself falling for a man whose lifestyle was constantly on the move.Vienna’s past was mired in rejection and loss, and in this, our heroine struggled to trust the man who walked away without looking back. There are no $ex scenes.


We are re-introduced to a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including a few ‘Mafia’ members that may or may not have a future story line: Zale’s partner Rainier, operatives Rush, and Wilder; Stella and Sam (Murder at Sunrise Lake); nurse/photographer Harlow Frye; café owner Shabina Foster; computer IT expert and contracted government employee Raine O’Mallory; nurse Zahra Metcalf; Sam Rossi’s father Don Marco Rossi; and hotel owner Daniel Wallin. The requisite evil has many faces.


RED ON THE RIVER is another complex, detailed and informative story line often over-focusing on poker, poker play, and card combinations, as well as an exhaustive account of hiking, and mountain climbing. As per Christine Feehan’s style of writing, there is a slight paranormal aspect to the series but the author steers clear of any erotic $ex scenes or the use of strong language.

A side note- the author’s use of the paranormal aspect is virtually nil in the story, and in this, I believe the story line and series would benefit without the supernatural element.



THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/red-on-the-river-by-christine-feehan-dual-review-giveaway/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4782065194


AMAZON COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1QF33HL5Q8XPB/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B09HGDLJCT


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1176513827


B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-on-the-river-christine-feehan/1139907161?ean=9780593439135&bvnotificationId=7c7696ef-f725-11ec-be7d-0ec21bef254b&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=hotmail.com#review/211927541


CHAPTERS/INDIGO (Sandy_At_the_Reading_Cafe) posted

iBooks (Sandy Sch) posted

GOOGLE PLAY (Sandy sch) posted