Author: Kimberly

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Kelly reviews Darkness Falls by Erin Kellison

Darkness FallsTITLE: Darkness Falls
SERIES #: Reveler #1
CHARACTERS: Malcolm Rook & Jordan Lane
AUTHOR: Erin Kellison
PUBLICATION DATE: May 12, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Agent Malcolm Rook is hunting for people with the rarest of talents—the ability to master dreams. He finds the undeniably gifted Jordan Lane, but she’s wary of mysterious Rook and resists his pursuit as long as she can. Yet the dreamwaters they enter are too exhilarating to resist, and attraction soon ignites electric passions. Delving too deep stirs a nightmare, one they must defeat, or be forever lost to darkness.

Fans of paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. The Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a pop culture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

REVIEW:
This was a quick read Darkness Falls was a very interesting read and world for me. I have not really decided if I am in love with this world yet or not. This first novella in the Reveler series was a little hard for me to follow and understand. But seeing as this was the first book the world building is important . Therefore I do plan to read the next novella and see if this series is really for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Fire Flower Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

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Kelly reviews Beauty And The Curse by KM Fawcett & Cathy Tully

Beauty and CurseTITLE: Beauty and the Curse
CHARACTERS: Chase Singleton & Anabel Charming
AUTHOR: KM Fawcett & Cathy Tully
PUBLICATION DATE: March 19, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Cursed by a jealous witch, wealthy recluse Anabel Charming is destined to grow uglier with each passing year. Only by having sex before her twenty-first birthday can this virgin’s spell be broken. Yet no man will agree to sleep with the humpbacked, pockmarked, one-leg-shorter-than-the-other “Freak of Park Avenue.”

When handsome Chase Singleton shows up on a quest to retrieve his grandmother’s long-lost talisman, which Anabel now possesses, Anabel is willing to give up the jewel…if Chase agrees to break her curse. With two days left before her chance at a normal life is lost forever, Anabel and Chase discover the reality of beauty, the power of sexual healing, and the meaning of love.

REVIEW:
This was a quick read. I like the story but was not totally in love with it. The first chapter was a little slow and didn’t pull me in, but as the story when on I found myself hoping for the best with these two.
I really like the room of toads 🙂

If you are looking for quick, sweet read I would suggest giving Beauty and the Curse a try.

Disclaimer:
This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

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Interview & Giveaway with Dennis Willis author of Barca’s Jackpot

BARCA-COVERBooks-n-Kisses would like to welcome new author Dennis Willis. Dennis is the author of Barca’s Jackpot.

Welcome Dennis. Thanks for stopping by BnK.
Have you always wanted to be an author?

I suppose. When I was younger, I thought I would author the great American screenplay! But I suppose every 20-year-old thinks they’re going to conquer the world. I backed into being a film critic, which I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to continue doing for over 20 years. The byproduct of that, is that I get to watch a lot of films and when you absorb that much content, you begin to not only spot trends, but get a pretty clear sense of what speaks to you creatively. I wrote or co-wrote a good 12 to 15 scripts over the years, some that are terrible, some that continued to poke around in my brain. One of those was Barca’s Jackpot, so after publishing a few books of movie reviews and commentary, I tried my hand at adapting my own screenplay into a novel.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I don’t have a typical writing day. Much of what I do concerns radio production or editing (I produce a weekly radio show and am in pre-production on a film). So when I do sit down to write, it’s generally because I can’t stop thinking about what I’d like to work on. And also, having run my own business with a storefront in the past, I became adept at getting up to help a customer, holding on to my thought, and resuming once the customer left! I have an 8-year-old son, and believe me, that muscle comes in handy!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Well, I don’t have an ego in this fight. I know what I know, and it’s a little more than most, but I’m also acutely aware of what I don’t know, and that is where my thirst for knowledge comes in. The very first thing I did as soon as I was done with a first draft was to hand it off to colleagues who I knew would be honest with me about the work. I told them to tear it apart! The rewarding part, I suppose, is finding out that the work is decent.

Can you please tell us about your first book?

It’s about a guy who gets himself into a little bit of trouble! I love this character because he was a police officer who stuck around for one too many hands of poker with a gangster and ended up owing the bad guy money. So he’s a guy who has friends on both sides of the law, and is in a bit of a tight spot. I love that dichotomy of the character, & am thrilled about moving forward with future adventures.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Believe it or not, it was in a dream and the first time and only time I ever woke up and wrote the idea down. It’s a scene in which one person is staking out a ballroom with a sniper rifle to do some damage, and realizing somebody else is there to do the same thing. I immediately found that idea intriguing, and the story took off after that.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I had so much fun with the first book that I immediately started thinking about second. But having seen so many horrible sequels as a film critic, and comparing those against the few that actually work, it’s more about starting with that list then an actual story. I’m big into theme and structure, and of course a list of don’ts. So it’s a question of continuing the forward path of the character without repeating yourself, changing the elements that the character has to navigate without altering things too much, but also about dramatically shaking things up. My favorite stories in a continuing series whether it be James Bond, Star Trek, or anything else is when something completely different or shocking gets my attention and makes me lean forward as a viewer or reader.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I was a huge fan of Elmore Leonard, and still am. My dad was a big crime fiction fan so there was an all there was always a copy of a John D. MacDonald novel, or Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, etc. around the house. I also appreciate strong writing in films and have found myself more attracted to who wrote the screenplay than the actors in some cases!

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say Leonard. I’m also a huge fan of his book “10 Rules of Writing.” It’s a very handy guidebook to whittling away the fat to get to the actual story. He was fond of cautioning other writers about getting in the way of the story with their prose and I agree completely. Anything more than “He said” is too much.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Thanks to the movie Cold in July, I just discovered Joe R. Lansdale and I’m reading that book. I’ll probably move on to the next five or six Lansdale novels after that.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Only that I think the 21st century is an amazing time for content creators. We have heard much about the demise of the printed book, and the retail bookstore. And to a degree, as there is evolution with everything else, walking into a bookstore is getting to be a rarefied thing. But I don’t believe that love of the written word will go away anytime soon, and I have always been a fan of removing the gatekeepers that keep the little guy out of the system. Now everybody has a chance to make an impression, and that is very exciting!

Bio:
Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, editor, writer and film critic. He produced and co-hosted the TV programs Soundwaves, and Reel Life (later called FilmTrip) and anchors the weekly Flick Nation Radio show. In addition, he hosts the weekly radio features At the Movies and Home Media Guide.

He is a member of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Broadcast Film Critics Association; and the director of All You Need is Myth: The Beatles and Gods of Rock.

ONLINE:
twitter.com/denniswillis
flicknation.net
thebarcafiles.com

If you didn’t see it on Monday check out Kimberly’s review of Barca’s Jackpot HERE

GIVEAWAY:
For a chance to win a signed copy of Barca’s Jackpot by Dennis Willis comment below or on the BnK Facebook page. Winner will be selected one week from today, Wednesday the 18th. Good Luck!

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Kelly reviews Fighting Fate by Carrie Ann Ryan

Fighting FateTITLE: Fighting Fate
SERIES #: Redwood Pack#7
CHARACTERS: Logan Anderson & Cailin Jamenson
AUTHOR: Carrie Ann Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: June 10, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon │ Barnes & Noble │ ARe │ Kobo │ iTunes

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With her blue-black hair and striking green eyes, Cailin Jamenson is the epitome of beauty and the exemplar of strength. She has fought the enforced boundaries of being the lone Jamenson daughter and Redwood Pack princess, but it is the potential future with the dark wolf in her path that threatens everything she thought she desired.
Logan Anderson’s own darkness provided the reasoning for his abandonment of his former Pack, the Talons. Now, newly accepted into the Redwood Pack, this jade-eyed wolf and all she represents could be his own undoing.
In this final installment of the Redwood Pack, unimaginable tragedy strikes, and the two wolves who have fought the longest for their independence now face the uncertainty of fate and the epic battle that could end the war… and their lives.

REVIEW:
We finally get the Princess of the Redwood Pack’s story. Cailin has been a long time favorite of mine. Maybe because she is standoffish, maybe because she is tough, or maybe it is because what Fate has in store for her might just save them all. Only problem is that Cailin is stubborn, tough, and standoffish that she just might lose out on what is most important.

This was really good way to end the Redwood Pack series, although it looks like there might be a novella here an there still to come. If you have not read any of the Redwood Pack books you need to start from the beginning. There is to much history in each book and to much interconnected events that reading Fighting Fate first would be a huge mistake.

I will warn you that if you can make it through chapter 2 you may be golden. There is a few Oh My GOD moments that left me speechless.

Looking forward to what Carrie Ann has in store for the Talon Pack.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Fated Desires Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

 

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Kelly reviews Animal Attraction by Paige Tyler

Animal AttractionTITLE: Animal Attraction
SERIES #: Alaskan Werewolf #1
CHARACTERS: Hunter McCall & Eliza Bradley
AUTHOR: Paige Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: Re-release
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Frustrated when none of the real newspapers will hire her as a reporter, Eliza Bradley takes the only job she can get – at a paranormal magazine. Her first assignment takes her to Fairbanks, Alaska to investigate the possibility that a werewolf has killed two local hikers.
Eliza forgets about the story, however, when she meets Hunter McCall, a local college professor and an expert on wolves. The man is an absolute hunk, and she finds herself spending more time in his bed than worrying about werewolves. That is, until she finds out that Hunter isn’t just an animal in the sack, he’s an animal out of it, too – of the werewolf variety! Talk about a complicated relationship!

But Eliza can’t dwell on Hunter’s little shapeshifting issues. There’s another werewolf out there with a taste for human blood, and she and Hunter are the only ones who can stop him.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Animal Attraction the re-release of Paige Tyler’s first book in her Alaskan Werewolf series.

Being unemployed sucks. That is how Eliza ends up finding herself in the middle of Alaska trying to track down a killer werewolf. Of course Eliza doesn’t believe in such things which makes working for a Paranormal newspaper a little hard. But once she is on the trail Eliza realized that there is much more to this story then just the paranormal. So with the help of the hunky professor and wolf expert Hunter McCall, Eliza is going to solve this case even if it kills her.

I enjoyed this book. I really like how Eliza’s mind worked and her openness to the paranormal world. And Hunter was just great. I really enjoyed the first interaction with Hunter and Eliza. Who knew ketchup could lead to true love. What to know what I am talking about? You need to pick up a copy of Animal Attraction and find out for yourself.

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

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Kelly reviews The Given by Vicki Pettersson

The GivenTITLE: The Given
SERIES #: Celestial Blues #3
CHARACTERS: Griffin Shaw & Katherine “Kit” Craig
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
PUBLICATION DATE: May 27, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Vicki Pettersson continues her breakout new supernatural noir mystery series as a fallen angel and a reporter team up to stop a drug cartel

After learning his wife survived the attack that killed him fifty years earlier, angel/PI Griffin Shaw is determined to find Evelyn Shaw, no matter the cost. Yet his obsession comes at a price. Grif has had to give up his burgeoning love for reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig, the woman who made life worth living again, and dedicate himself to finding one he no longer knows.

Yet when Grif is attacked again, it becomes clear that there are forces in both the mortal and heavenly realm who’d rather see him dead than unearth the well-buried secrets of his past. If he’s to survive his second go-round on the Surface, Grif will have to convince Kit to reunite with him professionally, and help uncover decades of police corruption, risking both their lives… and testing the limits to what one angel is really willing to give for love

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts By far my favorite book of this trilogy! Honestly I was not sure what to expect in this book. I have liked Grif & Kit in the first two but was still on the fence about them. But was in love with them after this book. The world that Vicki has created was very different and interesting. It makes me wonder if we will see any more trilogy’s set in this world (I think Dennis needs a book or two). The twists and turns in this trilogy were great. Vicki kept me wondering the whole time. And yes The Given is highly emotional, I did cry.

This was my first set of books by Vicki Pettersson and I am so glad that I pick up this trilogy. I do plan on checking out more of Vicki’s books in the near future. If you are looking for a really good trilogy I would suggest picking up this series and find out for yourself “Who Killed Griffin Shaw”.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Edelweiss & Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Natasha reviews Knight Of Love by Catherine LaRoche

Knight OF LoveTITLE: Knight of Love
CHARACTERS: Lenora & Wolfram
AUTHOR: Catherine LaRoche
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/9/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this saucy romance, an English lady turns the damsel-in-distress tale on its head as she escapes her malicious fiancé and fights for both her life and that of the lustful rebel that has become her protector.

Lady Lenora Trevelyan, a naïve yet stubborn young lady born to the highest noble houses of England and Germany, finds herself betrothed to the brutal Prince Kurt von Rotenburg-Gruselstadt cruelly. But after she is cruelly bruised and flogged by her fiancé, she decides to take the reins of her fate. In the midst of a German revolution, Lenora escapes Kurt’s iron fist and embarks home to England. She quickly finds herself in the hands of a rebel group and their robust, gentle, and handsome leader, Wolfram von Wolfsbach und Ravensworth, the English Earl of Ravensworth.

Lenora struggles to deny the passion she feels towards the frustratingly chivalrous Earl but her desire for him continues to bloom. Wolfram hungers nothing other than to fight for democracy and civil rights in uniting Germany and to protect what he assumes is his damsel in distress. Through nights of immeasurable pleasure, Lenora and Wolfram learn that their passion is no match for the revolutionary chaos that ensues. And when Lenora discovers that her protector’s life is threatened, she must risk everything to save her Knight of Love.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Wow, so many things going through my mind about this book. I still can’t decide on my feelings, so I’ll just concede to them all. I fell in love with Lenora very early on in the book when in she said, “…don’t let me fall. I don’t want them to see me fall.” I knew instantly that this was an incredibly strong character who would never be swayed by anyone else save herself. I wish I’d known how true that really was! Lenora did not pull any punches, especially when it came to Wolfram! That naïve, sweet, hopeful man. He did not understand what he was getting into when she walked into his life. I will say, a pretty traumatic event happened to cement these two together and I found it VERY difficult to get past that throughout the book. I was convinced I would not be able to look past this to let myself enjoy the book. However, Wolfram and Lenora turned things around for each other and I was pleased with the outcome of this book. I’d definitely read more by this author!

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

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Kimberly reviews Barca’s Jackpot by Dennis Willis

BARCA-COVERTITLE: Barca’s Jackpot
SERIES #: Nick Barca #1
CHARACTERS: Nick Barca
AUTHOR: Dennis Willis
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/26/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Nick Barca is a former cop in debt to a notorious gangster. He’s offered a one-time deal to even the score and save his family. All he has to do is kill a maverick Vegas cop at his own retirement party.

Once in Sin City, he encounters Sable, a former stripper he had an affair with years earlier, and D-Man, a cocky loner who appears to be gunning for the same target.

Barca will need more than lady luck to survive.

REVIEW:
I will be honest and say this is not usually the type of book I read but since I managed to read it in one sitting with very few interruptions I may have to add the genre to my list of likes. The story has a old time feel though it is set in modern times. There is enough description of the characters that it is easy to see it in your minds eye. I can imagine a weathered man in Barca who has seen too much and never imagined it hitting so close to home. He seems lost and yet knows what needs to be done. This story takes us into Barca’s world but there is still so much about him we do not know and I really look forward to finding out more. The writing is well done. The story is easy to read and enjoyable. The characters are well formed and intriguing . I found I wanted to keep reading to know what happened. Was Barca really good or really bad? Was he willing to lose his life to save his family? Was it all a set up? So many questions that all get answered but leave the reader with more like where does Barca go from here?

Disclaimer:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received this book free from the author/publisher.

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Kelly reviews Gimme Some Sugar by Kimberly Kincaid

Gimme Some SugarTITLE: Gimme Some Sugar
SERIES #: Pine Mountain #2
CHARACTERS: Jackson Carter & Carly di Matisse
AUTHOR: Kimberly Kincaid
PUBLICATION DATE: June 3, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Out of the frying pan. . .and into the fire!

Desperate to escape the spotlight of her failed marriage to a fellow celebrity-chef, Carly di Matisse left New York City for a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant she’s running these days may not be chic, but in Pine Mountain she can pretend to be the tough cookie everybody knows and loves. Until she finds herself spending too much time with a way-too-hot contractor whose rugged good looks melt her like butter…

Jackson Carter wasn’t looking for love. But he’s not the kind of man to walk away from a worksite—or from a fiery beauty whose passionate nature provides some irresistible on-the-job benefits…

It’s the perfect temporary arrangement for two ravenous commitment-phobes, except that Jackson and Carly keep coming back for seconds… and thirds… and fourths..

REVIEW:
The second book in Kimberly’s Pine Mountain series was just as good as the first book. I love how Jackson & Carly meet. It is pretty darn funny. I really liked Jackson. He seems like such a good guy. Carly on the other hand is a little stand offish about both people and relationships. Both have been hurt by their past relationships and that really scues their outlook on future relationships. And sadly when reality finally hits it might be too late.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Gimme Some Sugar can be read as a stand alone, but since it is only book 2 in the series. You should just start with book one and go from there.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Heated by J. Kenner

HeatedTITLE: Heated
SERIES #: Most Wanted #2
CHARACTERS: Sloane & Tyler
AUTHOR: J. Kenner
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/03/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I knew better than to risk my heart.
But fierce passion comes at a high price.

I grew up believing in right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. I knew better than to trust. And then I met Tyler Sharp.

Bold, charming, and dangerously sexy, Tyler always gets what he wants. But his smile can be deceiving, his dealings sordid, his ambitions ruthless. I thought I was the one woman strong enough to resist him, but our need for each other was too urgent to deny.

One look and I was in trouble. One touch and I was hooked. One night and I became his.

And now that I’ve fallen, there’s no going back.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I will be honest and say it took me a little bit to get into this book. I could tell something was up between Sloane and Tyler and I do not mean the heat. So I wasn’t sure at first to let myself relax into their relationship but then about a quarter of the way through the book everything changed. They changed. Tyler who had been a hard character became soft to Sloane and I enjoyed watching that change in him. Sloane was interesting too. I appreciated that she was written to stick to her guns. She didn’t just think “oh I am in love and will change everything I am to be with this guy” and that worked well. Towards the end I was totally on Tyler’s side and I think that says a lot.

J. Kenner has a way of writing that I really enjoy. First while I guess this falls under erotica the main characters of this series are not into BDSM they just have control issues. There is nothing over the top sexual in these books just fun. Second Kenner has a way that makes you somehow fall for these bad boys even though they really are “bad”. I truly look forward to Ignited (the last in the series) and Cole’s story. Something is up with that guy and I can’t wait to see what it is and what woman could possibly turn him around.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts