Author: Kimberly

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Kimberly’s review of Start Me Up by Angela R Sargenti

TITLE: Start Me Up
AUTHOR: Angela R Sargenti
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/30/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon (Kindle Only)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Among this collection of enticingly lustful tales you’ll find: Jeff of the Jungle, where a lady scientist gets more than she bargains for when she captures a real-life ape man; Shrimp, or what happens when a straight girl gives in to her bi-curious yearnings; and Warped, where a sweet little teaser drags her strait-laced boyfriend, kicking and screaming, into the world of kink.

For those who love the supernatural, you’ll find such stories as Christmas Magic, where an office party escapee hooks up with a fun-loving vampire and experiences some real magic for a change; in The Cougar’s Mate, a young woman has her first sexual encounter with the shape-shifter of her dreams, and in Vlad the Impaler, the title character tries to rejuvenate himself at his lover’s expense.

A spanko explains the attraction in From Behind; and Persistence tells of a man’s girlfriend who wears down his resistance to a certain activity. Love-hate relationships feature in Paradox and Pissed Off, and a girl rescues a cute guy who’s struck down in the street in What Hit Me?

Then there’s the aptly titled Knife Play; and last but not least, you’ll find the two-part tale of how a man seduces his best friend’s barely-legal sister in Little Sister and Alpha Dog.

REVIEW:
This is a collection of “supposed” erotica. It has a number of stories some a few pages and a number that are less than one page long. And none of them erotic to me at all. Maybe it is just my taste but there was not much sexual about any of these stories.

There really is not much good I can say about these stories so I will not say anything much at all.

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Kimberly’s review of Dog Tails by Tara Chevrestt

TITLE: Dog Tails
AUTHOR: Tara Chevrestt
PUBLICATION DATE:   02/21/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon (Kindle Only)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Meet Lola, Pudgy, and Jazzy, three canine cuties that will warm your heart and make you laugh.

In Thank Dog It’s Friday, Lola and her human mommy, Trisha trade bodies for a day! Can they cope with their new bodies and prevent Trisha’s husband from throwing her into a mental institution?

Pugnacious introduces Pudgy, a very pugnacious pug. She takes her job in a dog bakery very seriously and when the bakery is robbed, it’s up to her to save the day, the cash, and the canine cookies!

In Tail of Terror, Jazzy does the unthinkable and she runs away. If she can survive the mean streets, there may be a lesson in store for her and she may make a new friend.

Dog Tails is intended for dog lovers everywhere, but even cat lovers will smile and fall in love with Lola, Pudgy, and Jazzy.

REVIEW:
This is three stories based on the authors dogs. These are cute short stories. If you have ever thought to yourself that you could write a story about how your pet acts then you will totally understand where Chevrestt is coming from. Yes these stories are not about adventures the dogs actually took but their personality has been put into the stories. This is a good set of stories to have on your e-reader for a quick read when you need one since it is broken into three separate stories.

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Kimberly’s review of The Unholy by Heather Graham

TITLE: The Unholy
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A Hollywood shrine hides unholy deeds The 1940s: hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the private eye arrives too late, and the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest. Now: the Black Box Cinema immortalizes Hollywood’s Golden Age in its gallery of film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless. He walks-and a young starlet dies a terrifying death. Movie mogul Eddie Archer’s son is charged with the grisly murder. Eddie calls agent Sean Cameron, who specializes in…irregular investigations. As part of an FBI paranormal forensics team, Cameron knows that nightmares aren’t limited to the silver screen. Working with special-effects artist Madison Darvil-who has her own otherworldly gifts-Cameron delves into the malevolent force animating more than one movie monster.

REVIEW:
The best thing about the ghost novels by Heather Graham is they are so hard to figure out who did it and this book was no exception. I will say I had the villain in my top 3 suspects but not the why. Heather Graham is the master of ghost stories. This is the sixth in the Krewe of Hunters series and the second with the Texas Krewe characters.

This time they head to L.A. because Sean’s old boss and mentor calls to say his son was arrested for murder. Madison has actually taken the position Sean worked in L.A. and is asked to show Sean the things that have changed since he left. I really never felt a huge connection between Sean and Madison, they just didn’t have that love match that other characters from Graham have had. That being said it is still a great story. I have no idea where Graham finds the time to research so much for her stories.

I really enjoyed the ghost that lives with Madison (I won’t ruin it by telling you who it is) and enjoyed the mystery of the storyline. Another great book by Heather Graham.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Pleasures Of A Tempted Lady by Jennifer Haymore

TITLE: Pleasures Of A Tempted Lady
AUTHOR: Jennifer Haymore
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
DANGEROUS DESIRE
Captain William Langley knows the ocean well, but nothing could prepare him for what he discovers adrift on the cold Irish Sea. The tiny boat carries two passengers: a child–and Meg Donovan, Will’s long-lost love. Meg’s disappearance at sea eight years ago was a devastating blow. Now she’s back, as beautiful as ever, and with secrets as deep as Will’s own . . .
After years held captive by a cold-blooded pirate, Meg has finally escaped with little Jake, the boy she’s come to love as if he were her own. But the pirate wants his revenge–and Meg must do whatever it takes to shield Jake from the madman. Determined not to lose Meg again, Will vows to protect them both, yet Meg can’t risk putting the only man she’s ever loved in danger. With the threat to her safety growing, and her passion for Will burning brighter every day, surrendering herself to Will might be a pleasure too tempting to resist . . .

REVIEW:
This is the third in the Donovan Sisters series. I had not read the previous two books. However this book stands alone even though you can tell in a few paragraphs that there is a previous story from other books. I was going between 3 ½ and 4 stars but decided on 4 because this really is a captivating story that I enjoyed.

It is a historical set at sea for probably about half of the book. Meg and Will have a wonderful long-lost-love feeling to them. They find each other again and over all the years the love has not died no matter what they have been dealing with. Jake is a wonderful boy who steals the scenes that he is in. There is a lot of adventure in the story and a lot of love.

If you are a fan of the historical stories then this is one you will most certainly enjoy reading. It has all the feel of the romances of years ago with the wind swept sea and lost love. It is wonderfully written.

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 Only His by Susan Mallery

Only His
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/27/11
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wedding bells are ringing in Fool’s Gold, but not for Nevada Hendrix. Her triplet sisters are engaged, and even her mother has a more active love life than she does. Determined to make a fresh start, she applies for her dream job, only to discover that her new boss is her first love. Maybe she could overlook the fact that they’ve seen each other naked, but she’ll never forget the way he broke her heart.
Tucker Janack agrees to Nevada’s “business only” ground rules. After all, love is a trap that the construction millionaire has avoided his whole life. But when great business partners turn out to be so much more, every rule gets broken. Will either of them be willing to try again…or will their past get in the way?

REVIEW:
Another wonderful visit to the “Land of Happy Endings”. This is the sixth in the Fool’s Gold series and the last of the Hendrix triplets stories. While, of course, you can read this as a stand alone I would not recommend it. This is a series that no one should miss and it is best to start in the beginning.

This is the story of Nevada Hendrix. She is the triplet who is the most tom-boy of the three girls so it was fun to watch her have some “girly” moments. Tucker is a interesting character. It is also interesting that the main characters knew each other before but in a different setting all together. They did not grow up together like in some romances but met for a short time in college while he was involved with someone else. As a fan of the series it was great to find out the history of Jo and to see where Denise had gone with her romance with Max. Of course we caught up with the other two Hendrix triplets s well.

The best thing about this series is it is a progressive series. The couple from book one is mentioned and we read about them having a baby, etc. We meet up with them while they attend the same festivals or even just walk down the street. It is set up so the people of the town are always evolving and like the character of Jo, who we met in the original book, we are just now learning of her past who the town as speculated on from the beginning.

I love this series and I love all novels from Susan Mallery. She is an author not to be missed!

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of A Wild Night’s Bride by Victoria Vane

A Wild Night’s Bride
AUTHOR: Victoria Vane
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/27/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With the devil in charge, there will surely be hell to pay…
What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake?
She’s a lonely lady down on her luck.
Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a struggling Covent Garden actress with a bruised heart and a closely guarded secret.
He’s steadfast and eminently respectable.
Sir Edward Chambers, Ned to his intimates, is guilt-ridden over his beloved wife’s death and has avowed to live out a rustic and mundane life…of celibacy.
With the devil in charge, there will surely be hell to pay.
Devil-in-disguise Viscount Ludovic DeVere is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind-blowing passion after which “Dull Dog Ned” awakes to find himself in the King of England’s bed!

REVIEW:
Phoebe and Ned meet during a night of an erotica soree. She is looking for a protector and he has been forced to attend by his friend DeVere. A bet is put down by DeVere to challenge him. So he is challenged to take a woman in the King’s bed… not just any woman but Phoebe. To win the bet DeVere, Phoebe and Ned work together. But there is more to every story.

Between the beginning of the story and the end was like reading two different authors. The beginning was a little bit of a let down. The writing in the beginning was as if the author was trying too hard. But then about halfway through the writing seemed to change. The story became more interesting and the writing better. If you are interested in historicals with a touch of erotica then I think you will enjoy this book.

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Kimberly’s review of Threat Of Darkness by Valerie Hansen

Threat of Darkness
AUTHOR: Valerie Hansen
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/05/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TO PROTECT THE CHILD
As a nurse and special advocate for children, Samantha Rochard is used to danger in small town Serenity, Arkansas. But when she suspects a little boy is in jeopardy from his powerful father, the danger turns on her. Her only source of protection? The handsome police officer who broke her heart five years ago. Yet after John Waltham comes to her rescue in more ways than one, Samantha must trust in him-and the Lord-to watch over her…and save one sweet little boy.

REVIEW:
This is a short story (about 200 pages). The synopsis of this book makes it seem that the characters are on the run with this boy who has an abusive father but in all honesty the boy is barely featured for the first half of the story and while the events of the book wrap around him in the second half the child himself is not really an intrical part of the remainder of the story. The story is more about the difficulties that Samantha is going through and the fact that the love of her life is back in town and seem to be thrown together at every turn.

Samantha is a interesting character and I liked her but I was not fond of John at all. He is a cop but really he seems useless to me. He never seems to understand the danger Sam is in and seems to not be a very bright man in the face of danger. The best character in the book is the dog, Brutus, he at least knows when there is danger.

This is a Christian book so there are a lot of mentions of praying and God which was fine but it seemed at times that they only prayed when help was needed and for me that seems wrong. I am not sure that I would say this book was great but it was good and I wanted to know what happened in the end.

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Kimberly’s review of Temptation & Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone

Temptation & Twilight
AUTHOR: Charlotte Featherstone
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/19/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Iain Sinclair, Marquis of Alynwick, is certain there is a special hell for him. An unrepentant rake, he holds nothing sacred – except for beautiful Elizabeth York. For years, Alynwick has tried to forget the woman he loved so well, and treated so badly. A woman who could hold nothing in her heart for him except hatred.

All of society believes Elizabeth, blind daughter of a duke, to be a proper young lady. But no one knows of her wanton affair with Alynwick. When Lizzy learns of her ancestor’s ancient diary – filled with exotic tales – she longs to uncover the identity of the unnamed lover within and hesitantly allows Alynwick, who claims to have knowledge of the “veiled lady,” to help her solve the mystery.

Eager to be Lizzy’s eyes, Alynwick brings the seductive text to life, and each night it takes greater effort for her to forget his betrayal. With each whispered word, her resolve gives way, without her knowing that a centuries-old secret will lead them to a present-day danger.

REVIEW:
This is the third in the Brethren Guardians series and having not read the first two in the series I must say that I was kind of lost with the background story. Apparently in the first two books the Brethren Guardians have been after “Orpheus” but there is not a lot of storyline in the book to explain the reason why they are pursuing him.

I enjoyed this story but it was just a bit too long for me. The synopsis makes it sound like Iain and Lizzy spend a lot of time reading this diary of exotic takes but I believe there were only about half a dozen readings and much of the story was about Iain wanting to be a different man then he was as a young man and Lizzy not trusting he has changed. It took over ¾ of the book for Iain to even read the first pages to Lizzy so I think the synopsis really gives the wrong idea of this book. However it is a really good book for what it really is… A historical romantic suspense.

I was very disappointed in the ended (the suspense part not the romance part) because there were no clues as to who Orpheus was. However I will say not having read the first two books maybe it was in those but I don’t think so. I think we were supposed to figure it out from this book and I have never been fond of throwing an unknown character in as the villain.

I did really enjoy the romance of Iain and Lizzy. Lizzy is blind but is so strong and her blindness is never written as a handicap. Iain makes women swoon and wish their men would speak so poetically to them. This is a very interesting book and the storyline is great albeit a bit too long but I think the reader can get past that for the great romance Featherstone has written.

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 Secret Wish by Barbara Freethy

A Secret Wish
AUTHOR: Barbara Freethy
PUBLICATION DATE:   12/08/11
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Three women, three birthdays and one unforgettable night that will change their lives forever.

One night in San Francisco, three women make a birthday wish believing it can’t possibly come true. Liz is turning thirty. A successful nurse, she has a good career, but no man to share her life. All her friends are married, and she’s alone, still trying to outrun a tragedy from her past. Then she meets a handsome stranger.

Angela, a member of a large, loving Italian family, is facing thirty-five with no baby in the nursery. Eight years of infertility treatments have put a strain on her marriage. Will she have to choose between her husband and having a child? When she is mugged by an unexpected assailant, her life takes a new turn.

Carole, a corporate wife, is staring down forty candles. Having grown up poor, she worked hard to get ahead, but when her kids bail on her birthday, and she discovers her husband with another woman, she realizes that she may have nothing at all. She goes back to where it all began, the mother she left behind, and the man whose heart she once broke.

REVIEW:
This is a novella of about 100 pages that takes place on the birthday of three women who share the special day but are complete strangers. They each make a special wish and this is the story of how those wishes play out.

The interesting thing about this story is everything (except the epilogue) takes place in one 24 hour period for these three ladies and they all even have a chance encounter. They are each celebrating a milestone birthday (30, 35 and 40) and are each in different places in their lives and yet they all have something in common.

This is really a poignant and interesting read. Anyone who is feeling like life is passing them by or not what they expected should read this short story. It makes you feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel and, thankfully, it is not a train. While we have the ideal image of life in our heads it does not always work out that way and yet we find out that perfect is not always what we have but what we need and want. This is an enjoyable short book to have ready to read.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of A Touch Of Greek by Tina Folsom

 A Touch Of Greek
AUTHOR: Tina Folsom
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/30/10
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Selfish and gorgeous Greek God Triton is cast out of Olympus after seducing Zeus’ mistress and can only gain reentry if he finds a woman who loves him for his kindness and selflessness, not his beauty. When the mortal Sophia – recovering from an eye operation and virtually blind – needs a home healthcare worker, he takes on the role, hoping she will be his ticket home.

While defending Sophia from an unknown adversary, Triton’s protective instinct emerges. At the same time rival Gods do everything to doom him to failure. And even if Triton can win Sophia’s love, will he throw it away to return home, or will he lose his own heart to the only woman who truly sees him?

A Touch of Greek is the first book in the humorous and sexy paranormal romance series Out of Olympus following the romantic adventures of four Gods: Triton, Dionysus, Eros, and Hermes.

REVIEW:
What an interesting story. I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I have only read one other book that had to do with god/goddess and thought it was only “ok” but from the synopsis I thought this book would be funny so I decided to read it and I was pleasantly surprised. While I am not sure I would say it is funny it is enjoyable.

I enjoyed Triton and his god friends. And I enjoyed Sophia even though she was written as a helpless female. She did have some spirit about her which helped redeem her helplessness. But it really is Triton’s story more than Sophia’s if you ask me and that was just fine. I am not sure that this falls into a paranormal story, if anything it fits more into contemporary then paranormal even though it has the whole god theme, especially since Triton has lost his powers for most of the book.

This is a fun read. It is written very well. I had never read anything by this author before but I would enjoy reading the rest of this series. If you enjoy romances with a twist them I think you will really enjoy this book.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of The Harder They Fall by Trish Jensen

 The Harder They Fall
AUTHOR: Trish Jensen
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Food fight, love match, or both? She’s a lovable klutz trying to save her family’s restaurant chain. He’s a stuffed shirt angling to buy it. Who will trip up and fall in love first?

Darcy Welham’s dad is ready to sell his five-star restaurants and retire, but she’s determined to prove she can be trusted to keep the family business going. Darcy’s sure it’s what her mother would have wanted. Only one problem: her life turns into a comedy show when she’s nervous. Pratfalls, spills, slips and fires—all in a day’s misadventures for Darcy. She can’t even wait on tables without dumping food into the customers’ laps. When supper lands on a sensitive area of businessman Michael Davidson’s finely creased trousers, he tries to have his gorgeous but careless waitress fired, only to discover that she’s the person he has to win over if he wants to buy the restaurant chain for his bosses. From that antagonistic start, Darcy and Michael soon find that there’s more to each other than first expected. She’s clumsy because she’s got low self-esteem. She may be a disaster as a waitress, but she’s a genius as a cook, with a talent for creating mouth-watering new dishes. Darcy begins to realize that Michael is not a stuffed shirt at heart—he’s patient, strong and brave, which any man who dates Darcy has to be, because she turns into a Danger Zone every time he makes her heart flutter.

REVIEW:
This is an adorable story about falling in love when you least expect it. This is the perfect romance to curl up on a couch with or to read at the beach. And it is not hard to fall quickly for these characters. These are the kind of characters you wish you had as friends.

The character of Darcy is just such a klutz that she is adorable. She is sweet, naive and innocent and even as a reader you worry for her and want to make sure she ends up all right. Michael is delightful. Even after meeting him in a bad situation you can see how calm and patient he is and when he begins to really interact with Darcy you know he is the perfect guy for her.

Trish Jensen is a great author. The humor she adds to her books is great and she is fun to read. This is the perfect book to have on hand for when you are not sure what you want to read but are looking for something light and entertaining. This books makes you smile and leaves you with a good feeling.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Heiress Without A Cause by Sara Ramsey

Heiress Without A Cause
AUTHOR: Sara Ramsey
PUBLICATION DATE:   01/13/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
One title to change his life… A disgraced son with a dark reputation, William “Ferguson” Avenel is content to live in exile – until his father dies in the scandal of the Season. With rumors of insanity swirling around them, his sisters desperately need a chaperone. Ferguson thinks he’s found the most proper woman in England – and he won’t ruin her, even if he secretly desires the passionate woman trapped beneath a spinster’s cap.

One chance to break the rules… Lady Madeleine Vaillant can’t face her blighted future without making one glorious memory for herself. In disguise, on a London stage, she finds all the adoration she never felt from the ton. But when she’s nearly recognized, she will do anything to hide her identity – even setting up her actress persona as Ferguson’s mistress. She’ll take the pleasure he offers, but Madeleine won’t lose her heart in the bargain.

One season to fall in love… Every stolen kiss could lead to discovery, and Ferguson’s old enemies are determined to ruin them both. But as their dangerous passion ignites their hearts and threatens their futures, how can an heiress who dreams of freedom deny the duke who demands her love?

REVIEW:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was not sure what to expect since I have never read this author before but this will not be the last time I read her books. The writing was great and the story was compelling and I wanted to read every word of it.

Madeleine is a fascinating character. She is not the normal heiress we read about. She has an obsession to act and decides that losing her reputation is worth the compulsion. And to know she is willing to play a man on stage just so she can do what she loves is great. She really is a woman who makes the reader feel empowered. I loved that she was willing to do what she wanted and was not ashamed of it and more so that she would fight for the right to do it. I also loved Ferguson. His strength and his desperation are palpable. The power of his love literally jumps off the pages. And the fact that while he is dealing with his own issues he puts Madeleine’s first was perfectly written.

I would highly recommend this book. I can not wait for the second in the series. If you enjoy historical romances you really must pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.

4 Hearts