book review: "the stars shine bright" by sibella giorello

July was all about missions and this month is all about me finally posting some book reviews! I love reviewing books because it gives me the chance to discover new-to-me authors I might not hear about otherwise and read titles that wouldn't normally catch my eye. As well as reading books by authors I already like :)

So we're kicking off August with the newest book in the Raleigh Harmon series, The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello.

About the book: "After the FBI suspends her for bending its rules, Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is looking for a chance to redeem her career and re-start her life.

But when the Bureau offers her an undercover assignment, she's forced to take on a double-life. Sent to a thoroughbred horse track, Raleigh's supposed to find out who's fixing the races. But when horses start dying and her own life is threatened, she realizes something bigger—and more sinister—is ruining Emerald Downs. 

And she's never felt more alone. 

Her sole contact with the FBI is Special Agent Jack Stephanson, a guy who jumps from jerk to genuine friend on any given day. And Raleigh's family support is out of the question. For one, they're off-limits while she's undercover, and her mother stopped speaking to her after a psychotic breakdown sent her to a mental hospital. To add insult to isolation, Raleigh's fiance keeps demanding they start their life together—now—precisely when she's being ordered not to be herself. 

With only days left before the track closes for the season, Raleigh races to stop the killing and find out who's behind it and why, all the while dealing with her fiance and trying to figure out if Jack is friend or foe—or something more" (source). 

I've read the last two books in the series and was excited to have the chance to find out what happens next with Raleigh. Sibella had me guessing all the way to the end as to who was behind fixing the races. I keep hoping Raleigh will soften up a bit though. She isn't ready for marriage with DeMott and she's barely civil to Jack. I like the way he's constantly teasing her about the fact that he knows she's in love with him :) Sibella is very detailed when it comes to the geologic side of the story and some of that was lost on me but I still enjoyed it. I'm hoping Jack can win Raleigh over in the next book just because I like happy endings :)

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review.