Kimberly

June 10, 2016June 7, 2016

Kimberly reviews Seven Days Dead by John Farrow

TITLE: Seven Days Dead
SERIES #: The Storm Murders Trilogy #2
CHARACTERS: Emile Cinq-Mars
AUTHOR: John Farrow
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/24/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Acclaimed novelist Trevor Ferguson writing as John Farrow continues his Storm Murders series–set in storm ravaged locations and featuring retired detective Emile Cinq-Mars.

In Seven Days Dead, a woman races in a small boat through a torrential sea storm to Grand Manan island, located off the coast of Maine. She is determined to reach her dying father’s bedside. Meanwhile, Detective Cinq-Mars is enjoying a vacation on the island with his wife until he’s caught up in the investigation of a murder. Long-held secrets start to emerge, and Cinq-Mars begins to wonder if the dying father and the other death are related.

The Storm Murders, the previous book in the series, received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews. Bookpage said, “This terrific story, with sympathetic characters and Farrow’s crisp prose, is some of the best fiction to come out of Canada. Louise Penny won’t be bumped off the podium, but she’ll have to clear some space next to her.” Seven Days Dead may very well get even better reviews.

REVIEW:
I have not read the first in the series and maybe having a bit of background would have helped but the book was fine to read without the first one. Now that being said the story starts a bit slow and I wondered if it would have helped to read the first one but then I realized it is just how the author writes. So I stuck with it and I am glad I did.

One of the things I enjoy with suspense novels is not figuring it out. Yes I want to try to figure out what will happen or “Who-dun-it” but I like to be surprised and have it turned on me. And this book did that. Maybe it was because I never connected with Emile but either way I enjoyed it. I was surprised a number of times, which I enjoyed.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

June 9, 2016June 7, 2016

Kelly reviews Blood Lust by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: Blood Lust
SERIES #: The Sentinels #3
CHARACTERS: Bas & Myst
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: May 31, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Blessed and cursed by their hidden abilities, the Sentinels have no choice but to live, and love, on the edge of humanity…

The Sentinel assassin, Bas, is facing the greatest challenge of his outcast existence. His young daughter, Molly, has been kidnapped. But her disappearance has brought the return of her mother, Myst, whom Bas has never forgotten–or forgiven.

Haunted by a vision that she’s destined to create a weapon that will destroy thousands, Myst was never impulsive–until she met the irresistibly handsome Bas. But with the Brotherhood, the enemy of the high-bloods hunting for her, Myst had to stay on the run, to keep her child, and the world, safe. Now, with the most important thing in both their lives at stake, she and Bas must embark on a treacherous journey to save Molly, to confront the truth of Myst’s fate–and to face their fierce desire for one another.

REVIEW:
Bas!!! Finally!!!
I was so happy to get a review copy of Blood Lust. I have been wanting to read Bas’ story for a while now. He is such a good daddy to Molly! And how can you not love a badass assassin who is like putty with his little girl. You can’t!! I was also happy to learn more about how Bas met Molly’s mom and what happened between them.

I really enjoyed this story. The tension between Bas & Myst is fun. They are so good together. And Molly… oh sweet little Molly!!! I just want to hug her. She is one tough little girl.

I will say that you will want to start this series from the beginning so that you can get a better understand of Bas and he past. I can’t wait to see what is next for us in this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Kensington Books, Zebra in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 8, 2016June 7, 2016

Kimberly reviews Wicked Burn by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: Wicked Burn
SERIES #: Realm Enforcers #3
CHARACTERS: Simone & Nikolaj
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/07/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Simone Brightston knows she can beat the rap her enemies are pinning on her. An Irish witch is nobody’s fool, and she didn’t get to her position on the high council without serious power. But her cousins want her to hide out—and they somehow convinced her arch nemesis to play getaway driver. Of all the men she’s known, Nikolaj Veis is the hardest to intimidate. With his demondark eyes and his inscrutable beauty, he’s as desirable as he is dangerous. And he knows better than to underestimate Simone. So when he pulls up on a roaring bike and tells her to climb on or fight it out, she grabs a handful
of jacket and holds on tight. Running from the law may not be the smartest plan. But when it comes to Nick, hot pursuit and a blazing fast ride are exactly what Simone’s looking for . . .

REVIEW:
It seems we have known Simone for years. I mean she has been a part of all the D.P. and R.E. books by Rebecca Zanetti. And we have also known that Simone and Nick have a connection that has been there for over a century and now we know why.
Simone is facing some serious charges and Nick is going to make sure she comes out ok no matter what. Nick is totally not what I expected. Having met him through the books I never saw the side of him that this book shows. Trust you will want to read this book. But then if you are like me and have read both series you have been waiting for Simone’s story for quite a while.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

June 7, 2016June 5, 2016

Kelly reviews Targeted by Kendra Elliot

TITLE: Targeted
SERIES #: Callahan & McLane #4
CHARACTERS: Mason Callahan & Ava McLane
AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot
PUBLICATION DATE: June 7, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All Detective Mason Callahan wanted was a quiet fishing trip with the guys—a chance to get away and unwind before Halloween.

Until he finds the body of his boss, Denny Schefte, near their remote Oregon cabin. Now all he wants is to catch the sadist who slit Denny’s throat and covered his face with a mask. Mason was the last person to see him alive and will stop at nothing to find his friend’s murderer.

When the FBI learns of the mask left at the scene, they realize they have a serial killer on their hands—one who is targeting cops. They assign the case to Special Agent Ava McLane, despite her engagement to Mason. Barely recovered from her own nearly fatal injury and her sister’s attempted suicide, Ava hopes she is ready to chase another killer.

But as she delves into the increasingly disturbing case, the killer may be closer than expected—dangerously close.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts I loving reading a book from an author from the Pacific Northwest. And what is even better is when it takes place in a town that I am very familiar with. I adore Kendra Elliot’s stories. I have loved Mason and Ava from day one. I do really wish that she would just give them a HEA and let them be……. But what fun would that be and that would just mean no more books for me. So keep throwing these two into sketchy situations.
Targeted starts out in the small coastal town of Depot Bay Oregon (which I drove through right after I started reading Targeted (Add pix collage)) and everything goes to hell in a handbasket from there. What should have been a fun filled boys weekend ends with a murder investigation. With the murderer running loose in Oregon how many will die before the figure out who they are.
Ms. Elliot had me on the edge of my set with wonder as to how she was going to make it all work out. There were a few teary moments that I feared the worst for a few of my favorite characters in this series.
I can’t wait to see what is next in this series and beyond excited that we have a new Kendra Elliot series coming soon.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 6, 2016June 5, 2016

Kelly reviews Wicked Burn by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Wicked Burn
SERIES #: Realm Enforcers #3
CHARACTERS: Nikolaj Veis & Simone Brightston
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: June 7, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Simone Brightston knows she can beat the rap her enemies are pinning on her. An Irish witch is nobody’s fool, and she didn’t get to her position on the high council without serious power. But her cousins want her to hide out—and they somehow convinced her arch nemesis to play getaway driver.

Of all the men she’s known, Nikolaj Veis is the hardest to intimidate. With his demon-dark eyes and his inscrutable beauty, he’s as desirable as he is dangerous. And he knows better than to underestimate Simone. So when he pulls up on a roaring bike and tells her to climb on or fight it out, she grabs a handful of jacket and holds on tight. Running from the law may not be the smartest plan. But when it comes to Nick, hot pursuit and a blazing fast ride are exactly what Simone’s looking for .

Includes the brand new Dark Protectors novella, ‘Talen’!

REVIEW:
Over the course of the Dark Protectors and the Realm Enforcers we have grown to love Simone. She is tough and loyal to the high council. But Simone is facing some serious treason charges. She knows she didn’t do the things she is accused of but proving it is going to be hard. Luckily for Simone she is going to get a little help from her friends.

Nik has been one of those characters that I have been looking forward to learn more about for many many books. I have wanted to know what makes this demon tick. Clearly, Nik is not what he seems.

I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Realm Enforcers series. Without giving anything away I will let you know that while one problem might have been solved a whole host of other issues have arised. I can’t wait to see where Ms. Zanetti takes us next.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 3, 2016May 29, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Shark by Mary Burton

TITLE: The Shark
SERIES #: Forgotten Files #1
CHARACTERS: Riley & Clay
AUTHOR: Mary Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/24/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At the grisly murder scene of a teen prostitute, Virginia state trooper Riley Tatum’s past roars back to haunt her. When she was a teenage runaway, she was kidnapped, drugged, and left unconscious on the streets. She has no memories of what happened, only strange recurring dreams of two men playing cards.

Former FBI agent Clay Bowman, Riley’s old flame, is Shield Security’s newest member. He’s plagued by the unsolved case of a serial killer nicknamed the Shark who murdered girls as part of a sadistic poker game. Only one girl survived. With the Shark now bent on evening that score, Clay has a chilling suspicion: Riley is the girl who escaped the Shark’s deadly amusement—and she is his next prey.

As the Shark gets ready to play his hand, can Riley and Clay stop him—or will this killer finally claim the one who got away?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So I have recently found Mary Burton and have mostly enjoyed her books. The problem is the MO of her stories. They are all pretty much the same. Yes the storyline is different and the characters and their backgrounds, etc but the outline is pretty much the same.

Now that being said the story was interesting. Riley is the main character and she wants to find the serial killer before he strikes again and her past is the key to the mystery. Her old flame is there to help out.

Will this end up being a favorite book? Probably not. But don’t let this book define all the books by Mary Burton.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

June 2, 2016May 29, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Pages Of The Mind by Jeffe Kennedy

TITLE: The Pages Of The Mind
SERIES #: The Uncharted Realms #1 / The Twelve Kingdoms #4
CHARACTERS: Dafne Mailloux
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An Orphan’s Throne

Magic has broken free over the Twelve Kingdoms. The population is beset by shapeshifters and portents, landscapes that migrate, uncanny allies who are not quite human…and enemies eager to take advantage of the chaos.

Dafne Mailloux is no adventurer–she’s a librarian. But the High Queen trusts Dafne’s ability with languages, her way of winnowing the useful facts from a dusty scroll, and even more important, the subtlety and guile the arms of a barbarian king. He speaks no tongue she knows but that of power, yet he recognizes his captive as a valuable pawn. Dafne must submit to a wedding of alliance, becoming a prisoner-queen in a court she does not understand. If she is to save herself and her country, she will have to learn to read the that three decades under the thumb of a tyrant taught her.

Dafne never thought to need those skills again. But she accepts her duty. Until her journey drops her into heart of a wild stranger. And there are more secrets written there than even Dafne could suspect…

REVIEW:
There is so much going on in this story that to be honest I was confused more than half the time. Dafne has a chance to with with a king but feels her loyalty is to her queen so she rejects his advances.

There is a lot of back and forth with this story. Should I or shouldn’t I? It just got to be too much for me. You can NOT read this as a stand alone so don’t even try it.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

June 1, 2016May 29, 2016

Kimberly reviews Blood Lust by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: Blood Lust
SERIES #: The Sentinels #3
CHARACTERS: Bas & Myst
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/31/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Blessed and cursed by their hidden abilities, the Sentinels have no choice but to live, and love, on the edge of humanity…

REVIEW:
I have been waiting for Bas’s story. And what a story it is. When Molly is kidnapped Bas and Myst will do anything to get her back. Myst dropped Molly off with Bas after she was born and never cared. Or that was at least what Bas thought but now he realizes that Myst did what she had to so Molly would be safe.

I enjoyed Myst. She is a strong woman but at the same time vulnerable. Bas is totally alpha and man he is hot!

Do not read this as a stand alone. You really need to meet Bas from the beginning. You will not regret it.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

May 31, 2016May 29, 2016

Kimberly reviews Heart Of A Bad Boy by Sugar Jamison

TITLE: Heart Of A Bad Boy
SERIES #: Destiny #3
CHARACTERS: Shelly & Levi
AUTHOR: Sugar Jamison
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/31/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The Bad Boys of Destiny are back and this sexy charmer will stop at nothing to win the heart of the one woman who never let him down.

Shelly Walker was born to be good. Raised by her deeply religious, prison guard father, Shelly was taught that good girls follow the rules—and definitely don’t sin. Just as her father announces he’s arranging her marriage, Shelly’s childhood friend-turned-TV host, Levi King, unexpectedly returns. With his sexy smile and bad boy charm he’s the type of guy who has sin written all over him.

Levi has been fond of Shelly since childhood, but when he returns to town, he sees that the delicate girl he knew has turned into a bombshell. Levi encourages Shelly to shake things up, but when Shelly tells him that she’s considering obeying her father and starting a family, Levi realizes that being with Shelly means more to him than just a good time. Will Shelly follow the rules or will she take a chance on the bad boy?

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I have really enjoyed the King boys and this is Levi’s story. When the boys have been called back to their hometown to care for an ailing aunt they each have a surprise in their future… Love.

Levi and Shelly have a history. They were friends growing up and continued to stay in touch as they grew up. He still sends her trinkets, gifts and correspondence but when he goes back home he is not exactly expecting Shelly to have grown up. He still thinks of her as 15 but now she is an adult… yet one that has had very little experience in life. Shelly wants to try it all. So when she makes a list of firsts the only one she wants to do them with is Levi.

You have heard the saying “when the cat’s away the mice will play”? When daddy is away Shelly will play and Levi is happy to play along. I found these two adorable. There is something so sweet about Shelly and her innocence even though she is far beyond the age of innocence. And I enjoyed the way Levi seemed to be with Shelly.

This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone but you will love the King boys so why not enjoy the whole family?

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

May 30, 2016May 29, 2016

Kelly reviews For 100 Days by Lara Adrian

TITLE: For 100 Days
SERIES #: 100 Days #1
CHARACTERS: Dominic “Nick” Baine & Avery
AUTHOR: Lara Adrian
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Pleasure has a price . . .

Just when everything in my life is falling apart, I find a chance to turn it around–to step into someone else’s glittering world, if only for a little while. I become someone new, no longer the woman defined by an ugly past, but a woman freer and bolder than myself. A woman who isn’t afraid to explore every passion, even at its darkest, with a mysterious and seductive man who believes my mask is real.

Handsome and commanding, enigmatic and irresistible, billionaire Dominic Baine is an obsession I cannot afford and should not risk. He ushers me into consuming new pleasures and addicting new desires, until the line between my real life and the fantasy one I’ve stolen with him begins to blur.

I know I cannot keep my truth from him. I know my past will not stay buried forever. But before I can make it right, everything comes crashing down. I have deceived this powerful, dangerous man . . . and now there is a price to be paid.

* * * * * * * *
FOR 100 DAYS is the first novel in a passionate new contemporary romance trilogy from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Lara Adrian. Coming soon: FOR 100 NIGHTS and FOR 100 REASONS.

REVIEW:
WOWZA!!! That was my first thought when I found out the Ms. Adrian was writing a new series. So of course when the opportunity came up to review For 100 Days there was no way I could say no. I had to see what Ms. Adrian could do with an Erotica Romance. Ms. Adrian didn’t disappoint!!!!
For 100 Days is written in first person which I don’t read a lot of but was done great!! While we don’t get an in depth view Nick we learn a lot about Avery. We also learn that there is a lot in Avery’s past that we don’t know about. We get to experience Nick though Avery’s eyes and of course that makes us all love him even more. I really enjoyed the storyline of these two. The pull between them is wonderful, yet both are holding something back. Something that each is afraid will push the other away.
It will be interesting to see where Nick & Avery go over the course of the next two books but one thing is for sure it is going to be a wild ride!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lara Adrian in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

May 27, 2016May 25, 2016

Kimberly reviews Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham

TITLE: Haunted Destiny
SERIES #: Krewe Of Hunters #18
CHARACTERS: Jude & Alexi
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/24/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Between the evil and the deep blue sea…

A historic cruise ship, a haunted ship, the Celtic American Line’s Destiny, sets sail from the Port of New Orleans—with a killer on board. He’s known as the Archangel Killer because of the way he displays his victims in churches. And how he places a different saint’s medallion on each body. No one knows exactly who he is or why he’s doing this.

Jackson Crow—head of the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters, a special unit of paranormal investigators—is assigned to the case, along with local agent Jude McCoy. Then Alexi Cromwell, who works in the ship’s piano bar, is drawn into the situation when a victim’s ghost appears to her—and to Jude. She and Jude share an attraction, and not just because of their mutual talent.

There are many suspects, but one by one they’re ruled out… Or are they? In the end, Jude and Alexi have to rely on each other to catch the killer and escape his evil plans for Alexi.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I usually enjoy the Krewe Of Hunters series but this wasn’t one of my favorites. It took me a while to realize why I didn’t enjoy it as much was because there was no real history. One of the things I like most in these stories is learning the history of the area that Graham has written about. Learning about certain events makes me want to hop a plane and head to the scene of the book. This book just didn’t have that. Set on an ocean liner it just doesn’t have that the same feeling.

Also Alexi and Jude really jumped into the relationship and were talking love practically before the ship sailed. I did enjoy the ghost and the ending actually choked me up a little but this story just doesn’t match up to most of the Krewe stories.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

May 26, 2016May 25, 2016

Natasha reviews City Of Mirrors by Justin Cronin

TITLE: City of Mirrors
SERIES #: The Passage #3
CHARACTERS: Amy, Peter, Alicia and the survives of First Colony
AUTHOR: Justin Cronin
PUBLICATION DATE: May 24, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In “The Passage” and “The Twelve”, Justin Cronin brilliantly imagined the fall of civilization and humanity’s desperate fight to survive. Now all is quiet on the horizon but does silence promise the nightmare’s end or the second coming of unspeakable darkness? At last, this bestselling epic races to its breathtaking finale.

“The world we knew is gone. What world will rise in its place?”

The Twelve have been destroyed and the hundred-year reign of darkness that descended upon the world has ended. The survivors are stepping outside their walls, determined to build society anew and daring to dream of a hopeful future.

But far from them, in a dead metropolis, he waits: Zero. The First. Father of the Twelve. The anguish that shattered his human life haunts him, and the hatred spawned by his transformation burns bright. His fury will be quenched only when he destroys Amy – humanity’s only hope, the Girl from Nowhere who grew up to rise against him.

One last time light and dark will clash, and at last Amy and her friends will know their fate.

REVIEW:
How do you say goodbye to such a significant part of your literary life? With a heavy, but full heart. I have waited many years for the final installment of the series that first captivated me in 2011. After countless readings and recommendations, the end has finally come. From the second chapter of The Passage, I knew this series was going to be amazing, and over the course of 5 years Cronin has not disappointed. City of Mirrors has everything we love about this series: amazing character development, detailed scene building, passion, heartbreak, loss and fulfillment.

As with the previous installments, this book spans hundreds of years and answers almost every question you’ve ever had about what happened to the world we all knew. I will say there were portions of the book I struggled with, but understood that Cronin does not waste words. Literally, every single word, every single detail serves a purpose. That purpose is not always apparent right away, but my goodness are they are worth it. As with any fantastic series, it is always sad when the final book arrives. However, this series is living and vibrant and will continue to live on through years of re-reading and recommending. It is my favorite series of all time. When you pick it up, you will be unable to put it back down.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.