Author: Kimberly

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Kimberly reviews A Matter Of Life And Death by Philip Margolin

TITLE: A Matter Of Life And Death
SERIES #: Robin Lockwood #4
CHARACTERS: Robin Lockwood & Joe Lattimore
AUTHOR: Philip Margolin
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/09/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Joe Lattimore, homeless and trying desperately to provide for his young family, agrees to fight in a no-holds illegal bar bout, only to have his opponent die. Lattimore now finds himself at the mercy of the fight’s organizers who blackmail him into burglarizing a house. However, when he breaks in, he finds a murdered woman on the floor and the police have received an anonymous tip naming him for the crime.

Robin Lockwood, an increasingly prominent young attorney and former MMA fighter, agrees to take on his defense. But the case is seemingly airtight—the murdered woman’s husband, Judge Anthony Carasco, has an alibi and Lattimore’s fingerprints are discovered at the scene. But everything about the case is too easy, too pat, and Lockwood is convinced that her client has been framed. The only problem is that she has no way of proving it and since this is a death case, if she fails then another innocent will die.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the 4th in the series. I really enjoyed this read. The suspense was well written and kept me interested. This one had a bit more of a story than the last one.

I have been a fan of Margolin for a while and I think this might be one of his best in recent books.

I thought Robin was great at how she handled Joe’s case. I felt so bad for Joe. He is just a good guy trying to support his family who gets into trouble. Robin just wants to save an innocent man from the death penalty.

There are a lot of twists and suspense in this book and I recommend it to any fan of the genre.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews All Consuming by Jaci Burton

TITLE: All Consuming
SERIES #: Brotherhood By Fire #3
CHARACTERS: Kal & Hannah
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/02/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A sizzling new romance about a firefighter who reunites with an old flame and tries to rekindle the passion they once felt.

When firefighter Kal Donovan transfers to the Tactical Rescue Team, he’s determined to succeed by giving work one hundred percent of his attention. This proves more difficult at his ten-year high school reunion when he runs into Hannah Clark, his first love. She’s still the smart, funny, beautiful girl he loved in high school, but everything has changed. She’s divorced, has a son, and has zero interest in exploring an old romance.

Hannah has moved back home after a disastrous end to a marriage that never should have been. Now her only focus is getting her hair salon up and running, and making sure her son is happy. She doesn’t have time for love–especially not with Kal. She intends to look forward, not backward, and Kal is most definitely part of her past.

However as Hannah and Kal start spending time together, Hannah realizes that what she’s feeling for him isn’t nostalgia, but red-hot attraction. Kal’s intent on showing her what it’s like to be cared for, romanced, and consumed with passion–and Hannah loves it. But she wonders if she has the courage to risk her heart again, even as Kal vows not to lose her a second time.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Another great Jaci Burton book. This is the third in the series and while you do not need to read the other two books it does help to explain who Kal is.

Hannah and Kal have a past and this is their second chance at getting it right. This time Hannah has a son that is added to the mix. And, of course, the brotherhood is there to help Kal and Hannah come together as a family.

So I have liked Kal since the beginning. Kal just seems like a good all around guy. There are some characters that are written as the bad boy with a heart of gold. Not Kal. Kal is just an all around good guy who you want to be friends with because you know he will always be there for you.

Hannah is sweet and a good mom and daughter. I love the way that Kal was with Oliver.

Sweet read for any fan of the genre.

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

4 Hearts

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Women In History Books: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

I will be honest and say I saw the movie before reading the book and loved it. So when my family went to NASA in Florida and the book was for sale I grabbed it. And I can not begin to tell you how much more information and how much better the book was than the movie (isn’t that usually the case?).
I had not heard of the history of the these incredible women until one day on a tv show called “Timeless” (episode Space Race which aired Nov 28, 2016). I actually went and Googled it after the episode and I think maybe a lot of people did because only a short time later the movie Hidden Figures came out. I ran to the theater to see it and was not disappointed.
But back to the book. Not only are these women but they are African-American women who during the fight for equality proved any woman can be smarter than any man. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden are the women who got our astronauts into space and home at a time when they couldn’t even use the same bathroom as white women could.
This book is worth the read and the reader will not be disappointed that they incredible women made history and they are celebrated for it. ~ Kimberly

The #1 New York Times Bestseller. Set amid the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program. Before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as ‘Human Computers’, calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Segregated from their white counterparts, these ‘coloured computers’ used pencil and paper to write the equations that would launch rockets and astronauts, into space. Moving from World War II through NASA’s golden age, touching on the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War and the women’s rights movement, ‘Hidden Figures’ interweaves a rich history of mankind’s greatest adventure with the intimate stories of five courageous women whose work forever changed the world.

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Kimberly reviews Werewolves Of London by Angie Fox

TITLE: Werewolves Of London
SERIES #: The Monster MASH #3
CHARACTERS: Petra & Galen
AUTHOR: Angie Fox
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In The Heat Of Battle

The hard-won cease-fire between the battling immortals doesn’t last long. In the blink of an eye, human surgeon Dr. Petra Robichaud is back on the frontlines, and starring in yet another of the oracle’s prophesies. As the only healer who can talk to the dead, Petra doesn’t have much choice about her role—even when her breathtaking ex-lover shows up at exactly the wrong time…

Two Hearts Fight To Survive

Petra may have moved on when Commander Galen left her, but she never forgot him—and the passionate moments they shared. Seeing him again is a distraction she really doesn’t need with both armies honing new weapons, and wounded all over her M*A*S*H unit. But how can she resist him? It’s now or never for the demi-god Galen to become Petra’s mate…but with the fate of humanity at stake, will their desire be worth the cost?

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the last in the trilogy and I can’t believe how sad I am about that. But I am so glad I read them back to back. They are quick reads and so fun.

Petra is back at fulfilling her prophecies at the MASH unit and I am so glad that Galen in back. I mean Marc can’t hold a candle to Galen. But I understand her reluctance I mean after all the demi-god broke her heart once. Will he do it again? Every character in this story could be a story all on their own but together they shine.

And oh how I want to tell you about Medusa’s baby shower and the laughing I did but no one should have that joy taken away from them.

I wish there was more. Maybe one day Fox will bring us back and let us know how everyone is doing.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Transylvania Twist by Angie Fox

TITLE: The Transylvania Twist
SERIES #: The Monster MASH #2
CHARACTERS: Petra & Galen
AUTHOR: Angie Fox
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A shaky truce. A pregnant Medusa. And a dedicated doctor who keeps legends alive.

Even during a truce, I have my hands full as a MASH surgeon to an army of warring gods—especially when Medusa herself turns up pregnant. I frankly have no idea what to expect when a Gorgon’s expecting, but I have an even bigger problem when my presumed-dead former-fiancé sneaks into my tent with enough emotional baggage to fill a tank.

He’s been fighting for the other side, which technically makes him my enemy, and now he needs me and the power I’ve kept secret for so long: I can see the dead. It’s a blessing and a curse. Literally. Because the gods will smite me in a second if they suspect.

But the other side is developing a terrible new weapon, and the only person who can stop the carnage was just murdered in a covert lab behind enemy lines. So I have no choice but to pull on my combat boots and go AWOL with my ex and a moody berserker to confront a ghost with a terrible secret.

Too bad uncovering the truth could make me enemy #1…

Warning: This book contains a Star Wars-obsessed werewolf, an adorable hellhound, demigods in peril, action, romance, and friends who put each other first—in a MASH camp where everybody knows your business.

*The core of this book was originally called Immortally Embraced, published by St. Martin’s Press in 2013. The author has rewritten it into the way she always envisioned the story to be, which means it is now a romantic comedy instead of an angsty book. Oh, and there are a lot more pet swamp lizards, too.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the second in the series and while I guess it could be a stand alone I do not recommend it. We met Petra in the first in the series and also met Galen who becomes her love interest.

In this story Galen heads back to the front lines even though the war has called a truce and he breaks her heart before he leaves. To make matters worse Petra’s dead fiance comes to tell her she has a task to do. She has to get into the enemy camp and steal a super weapon… What?

Another great read from Fox. I am so glad I am reading these back to back. I feel it has added to the story that I didn’t have to wait for book 2 and now book 3 in the series.

Petra is a great character and I really enjoy the humor that Fox brings to Petra and the other characters. Now onto book 3……

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Monster MASH by Angie Fox

TITLE: The Monster MASH
SERIES #: The Monster MASH #1
CHARACTERS: Petra & Galen
AUTHOR: Angie Fox
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/29/2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ancient gods. Modern war. And a star-crossed couple who could use some divine intervention.

The day I was drafted into the army of the gods, all I knew about being a MASH surgeon was what I’d learned from Hawkeye Pierce and Hot Lips Houlihan. Now here I am, Dr. Petra Robichaud, in the middle of an immortal war, assigned to a MASH camp with a nosy sphinx, a vegetarian werewolf, and an uptight vampire who really needs to get a life.

At least they’re all too busy with their own dramas to discover my secret: I can see the dead. It’s a forbidden gift, one that can get me killed, so I haven’t told a soul.

Until the arrestingly intense Galen arrives on my operating table, half-dead and totally to-die-for. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, I impulsively slip it back in. Call it a rash resurrection. One I’ll live to regret.

Now Commander Galen of Delphi knows my secret, and he’s convinced I’m part of an ancient prophecy—one that can end the war for good. But taking a chance could cost me everything. And it would be easier to convince him to leave me alone, except now the prophecies are starting to come true…

Warning: This novel contains a hefty dose of danger, drama, practical jokes, pet swamp lizards, brooding demigods, adventure, romance, and heart—in a MASH camp where everybody knows your business.

*The core of this book was originally called Immortally Yours, published by St. Martin’s Press in 2012. The author has rewritten it into the way she always envisioned the story to be, which means it is now a romantic comedy instead of an angsty book. Oh, and there are a lot more pet swamp lizards, too.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I can’t recall reading Angie Fox’s novel but I have a number of friends who do so when this series was available I thought this would give me a chance to get to know her as an author. And I really did like the way she writes. And the world she conjures up.

Petra works in a MASH unit but not like the tv show. This MASH takes care of monsters and gods in a never ending war. But Petra has a secret that gets out and chaos begins. Because Petra can see the dead!

What a fun book to read. I had no idea that Fox put so much humor into her stories. I chuckled a number of times and even laughed out loud a time or two (rare for me). I loved the relationships she has with Galen and Rodger, though very different, they mesh so well.

I really enjoyed this book and I am so glad I got the next two in the series so I could read them all back to back.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Calder Brand by Janet Dailey

TITLE: Calder Brand
SERIES #: Calder Brand #1
CHARACTERS: Joe & Sarah
AUTHOR: Janet Dailey
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Romance, adventure, and the epic mystique of the Old West. Calder Brand is the first installment in a spin-off series beginning in the late 1800’s, as a cowboy named Joe Dollarhide joins the Calder brand on one of the first cattle drives from Texas to Montana…

Ambition drove Joe Dollarhide across the parched plains from Fort Sam Houston to Dodge City. He was determined to one day have a spread every bit as impressive as his employers’. But when a wild stampede separates him from the cattle drive, it’s not just survival that keeps him going. Joe has a burning need to settle the score with Benteen Calder, the cattle boss he used to worship. The man who’d left him for dead. Yet he’d soon have something greater than revenge to inspire him…

Sarah Foxworth is traveling toward her dream of becoming a doctor when she’s attacked by a violent gang. Luckily, Joe is the one to rescue her–and win her heart. Still, she presses on to the future awaiting her on the frontier. But her plans, and her reputation, are ruined when she gives birth to an illegitimate baby…

Years later, Sarah reappears in Joe’s world–with a son there’s no denying is his own. Now a prosperous rancher, Joe yearns to finally build a life with the woman he’s never forgotten. Only Joe’s own road to riches has been strewn with obstacles, some still standing in his way. But time has also shown him that nothing worth having comes easy. And that Sarah is a woman worth fighting for…

REVIEW:
This is the first in a new series by Janet Dailey. Janet Dailey has been around for what seems like forever and I have loved all her books. Her name isn’t as well known as others like Danielle Steel but Dailey ranks right up there with the greats.

In this story we meet Sarah and Joe who have a second chance at love. They met and were together years ago and now Sarah is back in Joe’s life and their son in tow.

I really love Dailey’s stories. She is a perfect read for fans of women’s lit that are an enjoyable read. Dailey brings romance, friendship, and angst to the real world feel of her stories.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Kaiser’s Web by Steve Berry

TITLE: The Kaiser’s Web
SERIES #: Cotton Malone #16
CHARACTERS: Cotton Malone
AUTHOR: Steve Berry
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In New York Times bestseller Steve Berry’s latest Cotton Malone adventure, a secret dossier from a World War II-era Soviet spy comes to light containing information that, if proven true, would not only rewrite history — it could impact Germany’s upcoming national elections and forever alter the political landscape of Europe.

Two candidates are vying to become Chancellor of Germany. One is a patriot having served for the past sixteen years, the other a usurper, stoking the flames of nationalistic hate. Both harbor secrets, but only one knows the truth about the other. They are on a collision course, all turning on the events of one fateful day — April 30, 1945 — and what happened deep beneath Berlin in the Fürherbunker. Did Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun die there? Did Martin Bormann, Hitler’s close confidant, manage to escape? And, even more important, where did billions in Nazi wealth disappear to in the waning days of World War II? The answers to these questions will determine who becomes the next Chancellor of Germany.

From the mysterious Chilean lake district, to the dangerous mesas of South Africa, and finally into the secret vaults of Switzerland, former-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone discovers the truth about the fates of Hitler, Braun, and Bormann. Revelations that could not only transform Europe, but finally expose a mystery known as the Kaiser’s web.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the 16th in the Cotton Malone series and I will admit that I have been in and out of this series but each time I come back it is an educational and enjoyable read.

The thing about the Cotton Malone books is you have to enjoy political reads. While there is real history and political imagination you need to be open to the political element.

Berry drags you in with his first words. He has his hand in the political field.

Worth the read and you can read each book as a stand alone but having the history of the characters is worth reading the entire series.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Distrust by Lisa Jackson

TITLE: Distrust
CHARACTERS: Eve & Reuben
AUTHOR: Lisa Jackson
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/23/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a pulse-pounding novel featuring two of her most acclaimed characters, New Orleans detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya–as a series of ritual slayings draw a psychology student back to a decaying asylum…

Eve Renner loved Cole Dennis–until the moment he tried to kill her. That was three months ago, when Eve was lured to a cabin where she found an old friend brutally murdered. Eve is almost positive it was Cole’s face she saw right before she was shot. But her memories were too shaky to stand up to trial. Cole is a free man again. And a new string of killings has begun.

The murders all link back to Our Lady of Virtues, the asylum where Eve’s father worked as a doctor. She wandered those hallways as a child, exploring hidden rooms and chambers, too young to understand what was happening there. Now, with every victim found, each body tattooed with a number, the pieces of a deadly puzzle fall into place–and all point back to Eve and the ruins of the once-grand hospital.

Detective Reuben Montoya and his partner, Rick Bentz, once convinced of Cole’s guilt, now suspect a deeper evil at work. Eve knows she has little choice but to return to Our Lady of Virtues–and to trust Cole in her search for answers. But as Eve’s memories gradually return, they only lead her closer to danger, toward the final, meticulously planned act of a killer obsessed with vengeance–and with her.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is two stories previously released but now released together in this story.

I can not recall ever reading a Lisa Jackson book before. There was a lot of suspense. Here is the thing, these stories are very different. I think readers will find they like one more than the other.

In my case I liked the first story more than the second. The characters in both stories were well written and the suspense was interesting.

I am not sure I will become a huge fan of Jackson’s but I can understand why others may be.

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

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Kimberly reviews Flashpoint by Skye Jordan

TITLE: Flashpoint
SERIES #: Forged In Fire #1
CHARACTERS: Natalie & Cole
AUTHOR: Skye Jordan
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/22/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She was my best friend’s wife—strike one.

Now, she’s a firefighter’s widow—strike two.

And she wants nothing to do with a man who risks his life every day—strike three.

Keeping an emotional distance from Natalie while still taking care of her after Evan died has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. One I’ve managed for two years.

Right up until she starts dating again, which kicks off a heated argument and ends in a soul-searing kiss. Once that line is crossed, there’s no going back.

I eat, breathe, and sleep firefighting. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am. I fuckin’ love this job. I never thought I’d ever let anything come between me and my career, but Natalie isn’t just anything. In fact, she’s everything—everything I never knew I wanted but now can’t live without.

The odds aren’t in our favor. If this job doesn’t tear us apart, the secret I’ve been harboring will.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Whoo Hoo! Skye Jordan put out a new series… Did everyone hear that? A new series! And this one has firefighters! Win/Win!

This is a typical Jordan novel with angst and sex! Cole and Natalie have more history than most. And now life is pushing them toward each other and it is just what they need.

The prologue explaining the death of Evan (Natalie’s husband) was difficult. And the angst and guilt felt by both Natalie and Cole over having feelings for each other is palpable.

As a fan of Jordan I knew I would enjoy the new series and I was right. This is the perfect read for fans of steamy romance. I can’t wait for more from Jordan and her firefighters.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Turning Point by Jeffery Deaver

TITLE: Turning Point
CHARACTERS: Det Ernest Neville
AUTHOR: Jeffery Deaver
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/19/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
International bestselling author Jeffery Deaver delivers surprise after alarming surprise in an ingenious story about a serial killer, a detective, and a twisting duel of wits.

A serial killer is trolling a midwestern suburb. His tools: a hammer, a screwdriver, floral wire, a kitchen knife and, to complete his errand, a Russian nesting doll left behind as a calling card. From one grisly crime scene to the next, Detective Ernest Neville and his Russian Doll Killer task force follow. With few leads and his career on the line, Neville is driven to desperate measures to get to the core of this diabolical puzzle. Layer by layer, he’s getting closer to the final piece. Yet the only thing that’s certain in this game is the unexpected, and as citizens are targeted by one of the most reprehensible characters the idyllic town has ever seen, Neville can only wonder if his efforts will end in disaster—for himself, for his family and for the people he’s sworn to protect.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a very short story only about 60 pages. I have been a fan of Deaver for a number of years and I liked this story as much as her usual novels. There is a lot in these few pages. Killers and Detective Neville’s family in danger at one point and leaving Russian Stacking Dolls.

Because this is so short it is almost like Deaver had this story in his mind but it just wasn’t going anywhere so he gave us a short story between novels.

Worth the read.

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