Author: Kimberly

Posted on

Guest Reviewer: Robyn reviews Wildly by Debra Kayn

TITLE: Wildly
AUTHOR: Debra Kayn
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/21/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Shauna Marino left Cottage Grove, California an innocent teenager, gangly, wild and with no fashion sense, always diving headfirst into whatever feelings ruled the moment. Now, she’s back to fix her mistakes. She’s gained a respectable job, set a plan in motion to benefit the town, and all that’s left is to prove to Grayson Schyler she’s changed. Maybe this time, he won’t tell her no when she shows up naked and asks him to make her a woman.

Grayson Schyler, former Wimbledon champion, would’ve recognized Shauna anywhere. She’s made his life sweeter one moment, and hell the next. As someone in the public eye, he’d gone to great strains not to allow the media to misread their relationship, which wasn’t always easy when Shauna was around. Now she’s back, asking for his help, and all he can think about is if she came back to make him pay for what he’d done.

REVIEW:
Maybe I have a thing for hot tennis players (okay, I do), but I seriously couldn’t put this book down. The heroine and hero are likable, have amazing chemistry and a realistic backstory that makes them empathetic and the perfect match.

Shauna Marino’s returned to her hometown, Cottage Grove, after college to prove one thing, she is no longer the infatuated teenager that did crazy stunts to attract the attention of one older pro tennis player.

The only problem, that tennis player, Grayson Schyler, still lives in the small town and is hotter than ever. He has a reputation for being a player on and off court. While Shauna’s come back with her head held high, Grayson’s realizes she’s no longer a teenager and ready to take what is his. However, he’s not ready to admit to her (or himself for that matter) how much she’s always meant to him.

You really see their emotional growth throughout the book, as both Shauna and Grayson start to realize how important they’ve always been to one another.

I was rooting for this couple all the way, and I know you will, too. Look forward to reading more from this author!

Disclaimer:
The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.

Posted on

Jennifer’s review of Boyfriend From Hell by Jamie Quaid

TITLE: Boyfriend From Hell
AUTHOR: Jamie Quaid
PUBLICATION DATE: 9/25/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Justine (Tina) Clancy is just an ordinary law student with a faulty arrest record, a part-time job in Baltimore’s radioactive Zone, and a family secret so bizarre even she doesn’t believe it. That is, until in a fit of fury she damns her boyfriend to hell–and it’s exactly where he ends up.

Much to her surprise, Tina is apparently one of Saturn’s daughters, with the power to wield vigilante justice. But poor Max didn’t deserve to go up in flames, even if he did almost run her over with her own car. Tina’s convinced someone cut the brakes–and now a relentless nemesis is stalking her through the Zone’s back alleys, where buildings glow, statues move, and chemical waste exposure comes with interesting consequences. Tina’s usually a loner, but now she needs a posse like no other: a shape-shifting kitten, an invisible thief, a biker gang, a snake-charming private detective, a well-meaning cop, and her sleazy, sexy boss. But in between freeing Max from hell, saving her own neck, and solving a mystery that threatens the Zone and her newfound friends, how is she ever going to study for finals?

REVIEW: This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I immediately connected with Tina’s character. I liked how Tina was this smart, tough young woman who was trying to work her way through law school at a time when her situation seemed hopeless. She was broke, living with a damaged leg as a result of a college riot years prior and working part-time in the radioactive Zone until she was able to take the bar exam. Everything seemed to be normal for her up until the day that she had her bank deposit stolen outside the bank while witnessing a hit and run involving a group of teenagers. To top it all off, her boyfriend Max, then tried to hit her with her own car and she wishes him to hell in a fit of anger. For Tina, things start to go from bad to worse as she learns that she is one of Saturn’s daughters with the power to dish out vigilante justice on people that have wronged others with interesting results.

Jamie Quaid has created a fascinating paranormal world with Boyfriend from Hell and I enjoyed this book immensely. I liked the funny cast of characters and the crazy environment of the Zone, where things aren’t always what they seem and even then you can’t always trust what you see. This book was action-packed from the first page and I was hoping that everything would work out for Tina and she would finally be able to reach her goal of finishing law school. I would definitely like to see this book be the start of a series because I would love to catch up with these characters and see what dangerous situation Tina may find herself in next.

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

4 Hearts
Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks

TITLE: Wild About You
AUTHOR: Kerrelyn Sparks
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/27/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Handsome Howard…
Hunky Howard…
Hot Howard…

It’s not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels delicate, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she were a pot of honey he’d like to lick…

Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he’s a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp—and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

REVIEW:
I received an ARC of this book and I did not know it was part of a series and honestly I was a bit confused for a good amount of the beginning of the book. Obviously these characters have been introduced before and situations are ongoing from the other books. I just never connected with the characters which I think has something to do with not being aware of the previous story.

I did not feel that Howard and Elsa had a connection either. The book seemed very juvenile to me. Howard is more of a lovesick puppy than a were-bear and Elsa is very feeble-minded. Nothing made me what to get to know these characters.

Maybe if I had read the series from the beginning I would have enjoyed this more. I just do not know.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Light My Fire by Donna Kauffman

TITLE: Light My Fire
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/10/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wearing jeans, boots, and a reckless, knowing grin, T. J. Delahaye is six feet and seven inches of pure danger. As a covert agent, T. J. saves people for a living. But when he tumbles down a mountain to rescue a wayward hiker, it’s T.J. who needs a helping hand. He falls—hard—for a gorgeous goddess named Jenna whose strength and fierce determination matches his own.

Tormented by the demons of her past, Jenna King once called herself an elite firefighter. She’s nobody’s damsel in distress, but now survival means joining forces with T.J.—and soon sparks are flying between them. Though Jenna has known as many wild men as wildfires, this maverick just may be the one to heal her heart and teach her the dark, secret thrill of surrender.

REVIEW:
This is the third in the Delgado’s Dirty Dozen series. As a recent fan of Donna Kauffman’s I am going back to find her older books which are being re-released having read Santerra’s Sin (1st) and Silent Warrior (2nd) I wanted to read this book but even if I hadn’t read the other two this book can stand alone and in my opinion is better than the first in the series and just as good as the second. There is an immediate pull when you start reading it because of the intensity of the first chapter. Finding out Jenna’s backstory right away really draws the reader in. The book takes place in less than 24 hours so having a connection between characters that soon is pretty far fetched but they do have a very intense 24 hours for sure. T.J. is very alluring in the strength of his character but also his easy way about him. And Jenna is fighting some demons but is up for the fight and willing to fight alone until T.J. comes along. There is not much suspense since there is no aggressor in the book but there is a lot of tension in what they go through in these short hours together. The story is great and a quick read. I think any fan of romance will enjoy it. And Bob is not to be missed.

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

4 Hearts
Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Born To Be Wild by Donna Kauffman

TITLE: Born To Be Wild
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/08/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Of course, that’s nothing for musketeer Zach Brogan, who risks life and limb daily as the owner of an adventure vacation outfitter. Skydiving into active volcanoes, hang gliding off glaciers, diving in shark-infested waters—Zach lives and breathes heart-stopping scenarios. But nothing can prepare him for seeing his childhood friend Dara again—or for the visceral reaction their reunion incites.

Dara Colbourne is living her professional dream: granting elaborate wishes to ill children. Yet when her new project puts her face-to-face with the guy who teased her all through school, Dara is far from pleased. But she is unprepared for the handsome, flirty man that Zach Brogan has become. As the two spar over trip logistics, the heat rises to levels neither can ignore. Is the thrill of adventure all there is between them, or can Dara trust this magnetic bad boy with her heart?

REVIEW:
This is a reprint of an earlier work from Donna Kauffman. As with all her books I enjoyed this one. The characters are interesting. The women in Kauffman’s Loveswept novels always prove to be independent and capable, yet, willing to find love. The men are dangerous and a diamond in the rough. This book was no different. This is the second in the Three Musketeers series. It is a good short read. Perfect for cuddling up in front of the fire or on a beach.

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

Posted on

Jennifer’s review of The Edge Of Nowhere by Elizabeth George

TITLE: The Edge of Nowhere
AUTHOR: Elizabeth George
PUBLICATION DATE: 9/04/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Becca King is on the run. Her ability to hear “whispers”–the thoughts of others–has put her at risk from her stepfather, whose criminal activities she’s discovered. When she arrives on Whidbey Island, beautiful, wild and a world apart, she embarks on a life very different from her old one, with new friends that include, Seth, a kind-hearted dropout turned gypsy jazz musician; Derric, a Ugandan boy adopted by a local family; Diana, with whom she shares a psychic powers; and Debbie, who makes a habit of helping runaways.

REVIEW: I was very excited to read the beginning of this new Young Adult series from Elizabeth George because I have enjoyed her mysteries in the past. This book held the promise of mystery and romance with a paranormal element among a secluded locale which should have been thrilling to read. The only problem was that this book didn’t follow through with any of these aspects that were promised. Becca King, the main character, has a hearing disability that is helped via an auditory device that can drown out excess noise to help her focus when others are speaking. When she doesn’t use this device, she is able to pick up “whispers” from people, which are snippets of their true thoughts. This helps Becca discover people’s most intimate thoughts and feelings, even when their facial expressions portray something else entirely. She is currently on the run from her stepfather, because she learned from his “whispers” that he killed his business partner and covered up the crime. She is brought to Whidbey Island to stay with a family friend, but nothing goes as planned and Becca finds herself living alone in a strange city with no one to help her.

To me, Becca was a very sad character that spent most of the book feeling sorry for herself instead of looking for anything positive in her new surroundings. The pacing of the story was very slow and the mystery aspect of this novel turned out to be not a mystery at all. I have enjoyed Elizabeth George’s Adult mysteries but I was very disappointed in this installment in her YA series. The second one may be more interesting but I was unable to connect with these characters and will not be reading the next one after reading The Edge of Nowhere.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Perfect Fit by Carly Phillips

TITLE: Perfect Fit
AUTHOR: Carly Phillips
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
MIKE
Always feeling like the odd man out in his family, Michael Marsden wanted to make it on his own. So he escaped Serendipity to become an undercover cop in Manhattan, where the Marsden name wasn’t known. But Michael’s independence is compromised when he returns home to replace his sick father as chief of police. Back in the shadow of his family, he’s as lost and restless as ever, until he’s challenged by someone he never anticipated.

CARA
Cara Hartley is the Serendipity cop with whom Mike had a one night stand three months earlier. Neither expected anything more but fate has other things in store. When Mike returns as Cara’s boss, the sexual tension between them is impossible to ignore – and the unexpected emotional connection continues to grow. But Cara’s a small town girl while Mike has a wanderer’s blood in his veins.

Together their chemistry explodes but …
Both are convinced a future together is impossible. Until Mike’s real father’s secrets come back to haunt him and he realizes there are some things worth staying and fighting for. Including Cara.

REVIEW:
This is the 4th in the Serendipity series and the 1st in the “Serendipity’s Finest” part of the series. Having not read books 1-3 yet (even though I will) I was slightly lost with some of the background characters but not too bad. You can tell their stories have been told but it just makes you want to read the other books as well.

Mike is a diamond in the rough. He is a really good guy and I enjoyed the way he was written. He has these inside feelings that he is not the man that everyone else knows he is. His father left before he was born and he believes because blood runs deep that he is just like him but no one else believes that. I enjoyed reading about Mike. I loved that when he was an all around good guy especially to Cara. Now Cara is an interesting character too. She has been through so much and while on the outside she has become tough she really is just soft-hearted. I really enjoyed her as well. I think Phillips matched these characters perfectly.

I can’t wait to read Sam’s story but it looks like Erin’s story is up next and I look forward to reading that too. Carly Phillips books are always a “perfect fit”.

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

4 Hearts
Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Kissed By A Vampire by Caridad Pineiro

TITLE: Kissed By A Vampire
AUTHOR: Caridad Pineiro
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/16/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For two thousand years, vampire elder Stacia has roamed on her own, haunted by the betrayal that turned her into a creature of the night. Her nights looming empty and eternal, Stacia longs for love, but settles for quick bites and sinful pleasures in South Beach. Until she comes face-to-face with the unforgettable DEA agent she once brought back from the brink of death. Alex Garcia knows that demons exist—the real kind, the kind that are kidnapping women and selling them into slavery. Finding those victims is his focus—not a beautiful seductress whose otherworldly abilities can’t possibly be real. But when Stacia summons all her powers to prove what she really is, Alex will summon all his to believe in the vampire’s kiss….

REVIEW:
The story is good. The connection of the characters is not. I have never read a book by Pineiro before and while most of the writing was good I was tired of her using the same words over and over. How many times does the vampire need to tell us she is an elder? While we apparently meet this characters in “Death Calls” the meeting is explained and does not matter if you have not read the first one (as I had not).

I really just did not feel a chemistry between these two characters. And Stacia (Who is an elder. Did we mention that already?) seems to be a bit of a wuss of a woman. Ok maybe not a wuss but certainly not the powerful vampire she is supposed to be. And Alex just has no depth to him. He is not the alpha you would think a vampire would fall for and his sweet moments are just blah.

Ok now that has been said the storyline is interesting and keeps you wanting to read more. Maybe it was just these characters but this book just didn’t do it for me much.

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

Posted on

Jennifer’s review of How To Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

TITLE: How to Misbehave
AUTHOR: Ruthie Knox
PUBLICATION DATE: 1/28/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

As program director for the Camelot Community Center, Amber Clark knows how to keep her cool. That is, until a sudden tornado warning forces her to take shelter in a darkened basement with a hunk of man whose sex appeal green lights her every fantasy. With a voice that would melt chocolate, he asks her if she is okay. Now she’s hot all over and wondering: How does a girl make a move?

Building contractor Tony Mazzara was just looking to escape nature’s fury. Instead, he finds himself all tangled up with lovely Amber. Sweet and sexy, she’s ready to unleash her wild side. Their mutual desire reaches a fever pitch and creates a storm of its own–unexpected, powerful, and unforgettable. But is it bigger than Tony can handle? Can he let go of painful memories and let the force of this remarkable woman show him a future he never dreamed existed?

REVIEW:
This was a charming little romance with enough hot steamy sex that it could melt the words off the page. Amber was a sweet young woman who was attracted to Tony, but was afraid to even talk to him until the day of the tornado. They are then thrown together in a dark, small space and the sparks fly. I loved how she was so willing to lose her good girl image to spend time with this gorgeous man. Tony was a nice guy that had a troubled past and was trying desperately to find forgiveness for his past sins. He wasn’t interested in starting a relationship because he felt he wasn’t worthy while Amber felt that she was too “innocent” to attract a man such as Tony.

I was very impressed with Ruthie Knox’s writing style and I was immediately involved with these wonderful characters from the beginning. This is a novella to introduce her upcoming series and I can’t wait to read more from this author in Along Came Trouble and learn about the other inhabitants of Camelot.

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

4 Hearts
Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Lord Stillwell’s Excellent Engagements by Victoria Alexander

TITLE: Lord Stillwell’s Excellent Engagements
AUTHOR: Victoria Alexander
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/26/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN…
Some say I do not take my engagements seriously. Nonsense. What man with no interest in marriage would find himself proposing not once, but three times? And each time, I’ve felt certain that this, at last, is the absolutely, positively, perfect woman.

Miss Felicia Whitingdon, for instance, has youth, beauty, style, grace—and a handsome fortune. Lady Lucille Eustice is a widow of impeccable social standing, and a balm to my soul. Then there is Miss Caroline Hibbit, sweet and charming in every way. Any one of these intoxicating treasures could make a man happy. Any one of them could be an ideal wife. But which—if any of them—will it be?

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars I will try to explain this novella so it is understood where it lies in Alexander’s stories. We meet Win in “What Happens At Christmas” as the best friend and cousin of Gray. During that story we learned that Win had been engaged three times but it was nothing more than a couple of passing comments. Now “The Importance Of Being Wicked” will be coming out which is Win’s story. So this novella is the short telling of the three engagements that never turned into marriage.

The story makes you almost sad for Win but knowing his story will be out soon does help with that because Alexander would never leave him without a true love. I enjoyed this little romp. Win is a delightful character in the Christmas novel and has a wonderful sense of humor so I can not wait to read his story. And I am very glad that Alexander has given us the background we need to know how Win really wants love.

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