Author: Kimberly

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Kimberly’s review of The Perfect Impostor by Wendy Soliman

TITLE: The Perfect Impostor
AUTHOR: Wendy Soliman
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/02/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Struggling to escape her past and make ends meet as a modiste, Katrina Sinclair hopes the daring new wardrobe she’s designed for her childhood friend Julia—now a marchioness—will attract the business she desperately needs. But Julia’s help comes at a price: Katrina must take her place at a house party. They look enough alike for the ruse to work…until Julia’s handsome former fiancé arrives.

Leo Kincade has been tasked with catching a traitor who steals from house parties to fund Napoleon’s armies. Three women are suspected—including Julia. But when Leo intercepts her at the party, he finds an impostor who stirs an attraction stronger than anything he felt for Julia.

The mysterious woman shares Leo’s interest, even if she won’t trust him with her true identity. He should expose her at once, but he’s too tempted to play along and see where her deception—and their passion—will lead.

REVIEW:
Honestly I am not even sure what I liked about this book but I seemed to have wanted to finish it. The premise has a lot of potential but I was so confused to understand how a woman can take the
place of another woman and no one notice the change not even those closest to her (ex-lover, husband, etc). Katrina spends so much time worrying she will get found out that it is distracting. Julia is just obnoxious and selfish. I found it hard to read the pages with her in it.

I was also unsatisfied with the ending. I expected some of the characters to “get what they deserve” but they didn’t. It seemed like everyone just ended up with a happy ending and that did not sit well with me.

I think the author did one of two things: either she was rushed to write this book and it lost some of the potential it had OR she had too long to write it and the more she fiddled with it the more out of control she wrote it. I can see how someone might enjoy this story but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

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

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Ursula’s review of Bound Temptations by Shiloh Walker

TITLE: Bound Temptations
AUTHOR: Shiloh Walker
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TEMPT ME
She’s a temptation he can’t resist…

Roxanne ‘Rocki’ Monroe’s life is full of secrets and hidden heartaches. Cole Stanton would love to heal her pain and chase away the ghosts of her past, but she’s just a complication he doesn’t have room for in his life.

Or so he thinks.

It doesn’t take Cole long to realize he’s more than willing to let temptation get the best of him, more than happy to deal with complications if that’s what it takes to get her.

What he has and what he needs are two different things…and what he needs is Rocki.

BEG ME
Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.

Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers…

REVIEW:
This is a print book that combines two of Shiloh Walker’s E-books.

In the first book, Tempt Me, we have a strong female character who is a joy to read! She has had heartache and loss yet she comes out all the stronger for it. There is a slight element of intrigue and suspense that keeps the pace moving briskly. I really wanted to slap the female protagonist! Ms. walker did a fantastic job of writing a person to hate. the only thing that bugged me about this story was the hero being engaged and then going right for Rocki. I know it is explained but it felt a little rushed for me. However, I got over it and was able to enjoy the rest of the story.

In the second one, Beg Me, we have a slightly controversial story.  The author clearly states that the subject might not be ideal for all readers. I gave it careful thought and decided that it would not bug me. It was very well written.  The subject of rape fantasy is a huge hot button topic for a lot of people. I, personally, enjoyed the story in the spirit it was written. And the hero and heroine’s interactions were hot.  It was a very thought provoking and heart wrenching story.  With the added elements of intrigue and suspense I was hooked.

Of the two, I enjoyed Beg Me the most, but both are wonderful stories and this book is definitely worth a look.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Santerra’s Sin by Donna Kauffman

TITLE: Santerra’s Sin
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/10/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HE LIKES HIS SALSA HOT, AND HIS WOMAN HOTTER… — When she answered his knock with “Enter at your own risk,” Diego Santerra realized he’d have his hands full protecting Blue Delgado without her knowledge. He’d taken more than a little pleasure keeping an eye on her the past three weeks, but now he had to get closer — and that meant getting a job in her cantina. Blue could feel the danger he exuded, and yearned for the excitement he aroused in her passionate soul. But could surrendering to this mystery man be a sin?

At her best when a story sizzles and peril lurks in every corner, Donna Kauffman burns up the pages with a hero just born for trouble, and a lady strong enough to handle him! She provoked him, tempted him, made him hunger for what he could never have, but if he managed to keep her alive, would he ever be able to let her go?

REVIEW:
This is a reprint from 1996. While it is a good story it mostly certainly gives you the feel of the LoveSwept stories. What is a LoveSwept? It was put out as a short paperback novel to be carried with you wherever you went. In other words the equivalent of a novella. This story is fast moving and direct to the point of getting the couple together. It has some suspense and romance mixed in. The character of Blue is a little too hard shelled for me. I like a woman who can take care of herself but the man is also able to make her feel like she wants to be taken care of and I never really got that feeling from Blue and Diego was just not “alpha” enough for me. I did enjoy the story though and I think if you are looking for some quick reads to have on your e-reader this is one you will enjoy.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Not This Time by Vicki Hinze

TITLE: Not This Time
AUTHOR: Vicki Hinze
PUBLICATION DATE:   02/21/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?

Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

 

REVIEW:
This is the third in this series and I have not read the first two so I have to say I was really confused especially in the beginning (really through the whole thing on some people). You can tell that some of the characters have been mentioned in the other books before this one and were the backstory so coming into this book not knowing these characters was a little hard. Especially since there are so many characters mentioned just in the first three chapters. I had only read the Seascape series from this author and this book is completely different. The Seascape were these extremely romantic movie-esque books set at a magical seaside inn. This book is about terrorism and scandal. Way different.

I really liked the story of Joe and Beth. They have an adorable relationship and Joe is written as a really great guy. Beth is an interesting character as well. She is strong and caring. The problem is that it is hard to believe all of these things are happening in this small little town and nobody knows about it. And while some seems far fetched the rest seems to not have any merit. Because I did not read the first two books I did not have the whole backstory on NINA and why I would care who in the small town was the bad guy.

I think if you read all the books in order it would make sense but reading only this one was hard to do.


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Kimberly’s review of Can’t Hurry Love by Molly O’Keefe

TITLE: Can’t Hurry Love
AUTHOR: Molly O’Keefe
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Victoria Baker, the penniless widow of a disgraced financier, is ready to stand up, be counted, and make a new life for herself and her beloved son in Texas. She’s taking over Crooked Creek ranch, her birthright, and turning it into something special. All that stands in her way is Eli Turnbull, a rugged, too-handsome cowboy who wants the land just as badly. If Victoria wants a fight, Eli will give her one. He’s devoted his life to Crooked Creek, and he’s not about to let some pampered city girl-even one as brave and beautiful as Victoria-turn it into some silly spa. But Victoria’s and Eli’s burning anger and frustration only fuel heat of another kind: uncontrollable passion. And soon they each realize that the person standing in their way is the one they can never do without.

REVIEW:
There is a thin line between love and hate best describes this book. This is the second in the Crooked Creek Ranch series. And I will admit that I have not read the first one and based on this book I will not be picking it up anytime soon. I was very disappointed in this book. The characters are mean, hostile and dark. While I can handle the fighting in the beginning I expected the characters to have a change of heart that never happened. They fought on a constant basis. The characters never connected even during the “love” scenes.

I do not read a book to live vicariously in a dysfunctional situation and that is what this story was. Having never read this author before I am not sure if this is how she normally writes but I will say this series is just too dark for a fan of the romance genre.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan

TITLE: Ghostwriter
AUTHOR: Lissa Bryan
PUBLICATION DATE:   10/11/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After being laid off from the newspaper where she worked as a journalist, and losing her boyfriend in rapid succession, Sara Howell is looking to downsize before her dwindling savings run out. Things are finally starting to look up when she lands a job ghostwriting the biography of a popular politician and rents an isolated island house which turns out to have once been the home of her favorite author, Seth Fortner, who mysteriously disappeared in 1925.

But when strange things start happening, as objects break, or go missing, and terrifying visions appear, Sara begins to wonder if Seth ever left, or if she is losing her mind.

What happened to Seth is a secret closely guarded by the family to this day, a family that seems to exist under a terrible curse. Through an old trunk of letters she discovers in the attic, Sara unravels the mystery and becomes caught up in a tale of greed, lost love and the horrors of WWI.

When Sara realizes she is not going crazy and that Seth Fortner’s spirit still haunts her new home on the isolated island, she begins to draw him out of his shell bit by bit. She will discover what happened to the idealistic young writer who went to the battlefields of France to save lives, and to his beautiful bride to destroy the love between them, and what led Seth to make a terrible choice which would have consequences that would echo for generations.

They gradually fall in love in their world of dreams, dreams which swiftly become more attractive than reality, as Sara learns from a ghost how to truly live. Will she be the one to break the “Fortner Curse” by helping Seth conquer his demons, and heal both of their hearts in the process?

REVIEW:
This is a beautiful story with a lovely concept but I had a really difficult time getting interested in it in the beginning. While written wonderfully it was very slow in the beginning. I kept waiting for something to happen and when it did I just didn’t find myself interested for some time. I thought the relationship between Sara and Seth was beautiful as far as the love of characters go but didn’t understand how they could “fall in love” I wish the book had brought in an actual character that Sara could have found herself drawn to instead. That being said it was a beautiful love story and any fan of ghost stories will enjoy it. The time spent getting to know Seth was very intriguing and the dream life of Sara and Seth is very sweet and endearing. I found Sara to be an almost sad yet caring person and found enjoyed her character. Stepping back into the time of WWII was also interesting since I do not know a lot about that time period.

This truly is a love story in every sense of the word and one that will stick with you for a while.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Cosmo’s Fifty-One Shades of Blonde by Jessica Knoll

TITLE: Cosmo’s Fifty-One Shades of Blonde
AUTHOR: Jessica Knoll
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/28/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The sexy story that first burned up the pages of Cosmopolitan is here-with three new chapters that are so hot they may steam up your screen. Christopher Reiss is the handsome and extremely intimidating CEO of a major financial firm. Megan’s nothing but a lowly assistant. But when she stumbles upon some incriminating evidence that could threaten Christopher’s career, she finds herself on his radar . . . and eventually his desk, his kitchen counter, his bed . . . you get where this is going, right? Jessica Knoll is a senior editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about relationships, sex, career, and health. According to her colorist, her hair is only three shades of blonde.

REVIEW:
This short story first appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine and is only about 30 pages. It is a sexy erotic story which I would have been happy with if it had been a little longer. There was such a jump from Megan seeing Christoper to having sex that it just felt rushed. A chapter in between would have been better. But for a short sexy story this one fits the bill.

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

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Kimberly’s review of A Scandalous Affair by Karen Erickson

TITLE: A Scandalous Affair
AUTHOR: Karen Erickson
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/30/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Third in the Merry Widows series

From the moment Daphne, Lady Pomeroy, meets the mysterious Marquess of Hartwell at a masquerade ball, she’s determined to seduce him. The handsome, charming man cannot possibly be the cold, calculating lord who Society calls “Black Hart.” Risking everything, the lonely widow invites the elusive Hartwell to her dinner party . . . for two.
Hartwell’s arrogant reputation is built on a lie. For he has a shameful secret that keeps him in the shadows: a stutter—his downfall since childhood. He’d rather keep his mouth shut than look the fool. But he’s shocked to discover that in Daphne’s company—and in her bed—his stutter vanishes.
After one wanton evening together, Daphne is hurt when the lord lives up to his Black Hart name. Yet his reasons for leaving surprise even him. Now he must confess everything or risk losing Daphne forever.

REVIEW:
This is a short historical romance (about 80 pages). The story was fine and was written really well. I had not read the other two in the series before picking this one up.

For the most part I enjoyed the characters. Daphne is very bold and determined in this story. It seems that historicals use one of two female characters… the virginal wallflower or the passionless widow. This one falls under the widow. But I will say she is more bold than in most historicals. Now Hartwell…. He was just ok for me. He seemed handsome and passionate but also suffering from an inferiority complex brought on by his stuttering. The problem is he rarely stuttered throughout the whole book. The author claims he is so comfortable with Daphne he does not suffer from the ailment, that is until they discuss it toward the end of the story and then he seems to have it more. He even has a confrontation with another person and does not have the stutter which seems off for the reader since this is what the male character is all about.

However it is such a short story that if you enjoy historicals this would be great to have on your e-reader for when you are between books and looking for a quick read because it is a good story.

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Kimberly’s review of Forever And A Day by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: Forever And A Day
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT
Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad . . .
With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day . . .

REVIEW:
This is the sixth in the Lucky Harbor series. Having read “At Last” (#5) the characters of Grace and Josh were familiar and I looked forward to reading their story but I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. And I really did enjoy this story immensely. The characters are a contradiction to the way the reader expects them to be from the beginning of the book. Josh seems so put together. He is a doctor with his own practice plus ER duties, he takes care of his paraplegic sister and is a father to a 5 year old boy (who steals your heart). While tired he is always taking care of everyone except himself. Grace seems almost like a flake, she is looking for CPA work but makes a living as a dog walker/art model/flower delivery, etc. Any thing to pay her bills but when Josh needs her she is right there.

It is so hard not to fall in love with Josh!  He is written so strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. I might actually have to say he is my favorite male character I have read in a long time (at least until the next book, right?) but I just could not put this book down. I do wish we had a bit more of the Chocoholics like in the last book and more scenes with Josh and his best friends (from the two previous books) but really I think this book was perfect. The only bad part? It ended way to soon!

This book is part of the series but can certainly stand alone. And I recommend picking it up but I also recommend starting it early in the day or you will be up all night reading (like me) because you just can not put it down.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Kiss Of Death by Debbie Viguie

TITLE: Kiss Of Death
AUTHOR: Debbie Viguie
PUBLICATION DATE:   10/09/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the wake of a failed attempt to defeat the vampire Richelieu, Susan and her friends are weakened and divided. Raphael must set aside his animosity and join with his enigmatic sire Gabriel to discover a powerful weapon before Richelieu claims it. Meanwhile, Susan and her cousin Wendy translate a 12th century diary belonging to their ancestor, Carissa, to learn the origin of their family’s connection with the vampires. As Carissa’s story of love and betrayal unfolds, they discover the secrets of the present will only be revealed by solving the mysteries of the past.

REVIEW:
This book is the second in the Kiss Trilogy and I have to say that I did not read the first one so I was a bit confused on why there was a vampire war and how the humans got involved in it. The book does give you a bit of background so that helped but it really did not answer all my questions.

The book has an interesting twist in that it is a christian vampire story. There is a number of references to God yet its about vampires… very interesting. The characters are appealing and the writing is really good. The book ends with a cliffhanger for the book coming out next year.

If you enjoy the vampire genre then you will most certainly love this book. It is captivating and any fan of the genre would not be able to put it down.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of At Last by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: At Last
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG . . .
Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

REVIEW:
This is the 5th in the Lucky Harbor series. I have not read the other four books and had never read this author but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The character of Matt had me actually smiling by page 20. He is an adorable character. Amy is written very well too. Amy is a tough girl who has lived on the streets as a teenager and has finally moved to Lucky Harbor and found where she belongs. I believe we may have met her in at least the last book “Lucky in Love” (#4) but as I said before I have not read this series before. However this book is certainly a stand alone book. While I could tell that there was background to some of these characters from previous books it was not written in a way where you feel lost by not knowing the characters.

This story is mostly about Matt and Amy. However, I love the “bro-mance” of Matt, Ty and Josh as well as the friendship of the “Chocoholics” Amy, Mallory and Grace. Amy is just a wounded bird who is learning to fly again and watching her take flight is amazing. Matt is a womans dream. He is funny, sweet and loving as well as strong enough to take care of his woman and anyone else who comes along.

I will most certainly be working my way through this series now that I have read this one. I loved the writing of Jill Shalvis and can’t wait to read the next story of Grace and Josh (Forever and a Day).

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey

TITLE: A Little Mischief
AUTHOR: Amelia Grey
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Isabella Winslowe is finally gaining respectability when the unthinkable happens: she finds the Earl of Colebrooke’s sister in the back garden with a stone cupid in her hand and a dead man at her feet. The last thing Isabella wants to deal with is a formidable earl who is willing to go to great lengths to protect his sister’s reputation from a murder scandal. As Daniel Colebrooke begins following Isabella around the ton, desperate to keep her from spreading her story and making mischief, he can’t help but notice how captivating she is. And if he’s not careful, he could lose his heart along with his sister’s reputation.

REVIEW:
This is a re-release from 2003 and a delightful read. This historical has a little bit of suspense and a lot of romance. The characters of Isabella and Daniel are perfect together. The connection they have even from their first scene together jumps right off the page. I love that Isabella seems so strong, confident and loves a good mystery and yet she has decided she should just become a spinster and has never even been kissed. She helps “wallflowers” come into their own by teaching them they are worthy and how to act. Yet she is just as much of the innocent as they are. She is innocent and worldly wrapped in one package. Daniel is written very well too. He is of course handsome and rich but he is also protective of those he loves and has a heart of gold.

Honestly this book has the basis of so many other historicals but it is such a delightful read that it is a must read. It is the perfect beach book or sit around and relax book. It is a very quick read and you really don’t want to stop until you get to the end. If you love the historical romance genre then this should be near the top of your “TBR” list. You will not be disappointed.

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

4 Hearts