Author: Kimberly

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Deep Freeze by Vicki Hinze

TITLE: Deep Freeze
SERIES #: Stormwatch #2
CHARACTERS: Emma & Gregory
AUTHOR: Vicki Hinze
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/12/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The storm sweeps in like a thief in the night…

Winter storm Holly is the worst in eighty years bringing high winds, subzero temperatures and snowfall better measured in feet than in inches. The weather paralyzes everything in its path, but, in this storm, weather isn’t the only threat.

Emma Miller, a probationary security consultant posing as a reporter, is stranded at Portal International Airport in the worst storm in eighty years. She’s reassigned to protect a top-secret High Containment Lab in the international airport that houses the deadliest bio-contaminate diseases on the planet. A lab under attack by international terrorists who want those pathogens to sell on the black-market.

Dr. Gregory Mason Martin is a bio-containment specialist who runs the top-secret lab, and he knows Emma well. They grew up together, went to school together, and she’s always fascinated him, but she has a long-standing habit of going through men like water, so he’s kept his distance. He doesn’t dare to trust her or her abilities.

Now, all these years later, they must work together to protect the lab and stop the terrorists from obtaining the pathogens. And they must protect the pathogens from Holly, the deadly storm barreling mercilessly toward them. If those pathogens are stolen, the world will be held hostage, and worse, if mishandled, the country could be facing the worst pandemic in history. A pandemic that in short order could wipe out not just cities and states, but the entire nation.

Both are willing to risk their lives. Both are reluctant to risk their hearts. Yet events prove neither of them is who they were thought to be. And a fierce battle against terrorists and the storm proves challenging but no match for the challenges chambered in their human hearts.

REVIEW:
I became a fan of Hinze with the Seascape Trilogy (OH HOW I LOVE THAT SERIES!!!) but this is far from that series.

In this story there is a secret lab under an airport which is bogged in by a snowstorm. Having thousands of people stranded is bad enough but let’s add terrorists and a lab filled with bio-chemicals putting them all in danger.

The writing is great which is not unexpected with Vicki Hinze but, of course, the storyline is completely unrealistic. I mean a major lab under a major airport??? Nope! But then we don’t always read a book for reality do we?

If you are looking for a take you out of your own head suspense this is the one for you.

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Dark Hollow by Steve Frech

TITLE: Dark Hollow
CHARACTERS: Jacob Reese
AUTHOR: Steve Frech
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/06/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Your past is catching up with you.
Jacob Reese enjoys the quiet life, running a coffee shop and renting out his cottage in The Hollows, Vermont.
But the calm is shattered when a woman who looks eerily similar to his ex-girlfriend Laura turns up to stay in the cottage, and leaves a mysterious note in the guest book.
Now Jacob’s seeing Laura everywhere—a glimpse of her face across the street, her music box left outside his house, a gift he gave her years before hanging from the trees.
But it can’t be Laura. Because Laura’s dead.
A gripping, twisted and haunting thriller. Fans of Gillian Flynn, Gregg Olsen and Mark Edwards will love Steve Frech.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So I am a bit on the fence about this. This book was not what I thought it would be and so maybe my preconceived notions caused me to think differently about the way I am reviewing it.

The story was good. The suspense was interesting but I really wanted it to be something more. Where was the eeriness that the cover made it seem like it would have. I hoped for a ghost story or some kind of mystery since Laura is dead and yet it seems she has just come to the cottage.

I will give the author another try and I do not say this often but may even go back and re-read this later to see if I have a different feel now that I know what the story is really about.

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

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Reckless With You by Carrie Ann Ryan

TITLE: Reckless With You
SERIES #: Less Than #2
CHARACTERS: Amelia & Tucker
AUTHOR: Carrie Ann Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/03/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the NYT Bestselling Author of Breathless With Her comes a fake relationship romance that’s all too real.

Professing her love to her best friend while wearing only her favorite panty set and coat probably wasn’t the best decision Amelia Carr has ever made. In fact, it’s perhaps the worst. But when her family becomes their overprotective selves while encroaching on her life, she makes a rash decision: her brother’s best friend will just have to be her beard. Too bad, he has no idea what he’s in for.

Tucker Reinhard loves women, and they tend to love him even more. Despite the love, he never would have expected Amelia to come up with the plan she poses to him. He’ll go along with it, but only because he doesn’t want to see her hurt—even if that means fighting his best friend.

In the midst of her scheme, Amelia realizes she doesn’t know Tucker as well as she thought. And neither of them are prepared for what happens when they let the façade go and see what truly lies beneath.

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Carrie Ann Ryan’s for a while. Seems I have been reading her for years now.

I really liked Amelia and Tucker. They have known each other for a while but are able to see each other in a different light.

I thought this was a great story that pulled me in from the first page. Another great story from Carrie Ann Ryan!

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews The Silent Victim by Dana Perry

TITLE: The Silent Victim
SERIES #: Jessie Tucker #1
CHARACTERS: Jessie Tucker
AUTHOR: Dana Perry
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/20/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The woman’s golden hair is spread out beneath her on the bed of leaves where she’s fallen, her beautiful blue eyes open wide. The police are calling it a random attack, but Jessie Tucker isn’t so sure – she’s seen this crime scene before… she was the victim.

Twelve years ago, Jessie Tucker was attacked as she made her way home from an outdoor concert. She still walks with a limp from that night, and every day since has been a struggle to rebuild her life. The police told her she was unlucky – that she was safe after they charged a local man for the crime. But Jessie has never managed to shake the feeling that there was someone else in the park that night… someone she knew.

But then Margaret Kincaid’s murder file lands across her desk, and Jessie knows she can’t keep silent any longer. Margaret’s wounds so exactly match her own it’s spooky – but Jessie’s attacker is in prison, and Jessie has never met the victim. What links her to Margaret Kincaid, and why did the attacker let one woman live, and the other die?

Nail-biting, gripping and absolutely unputdownable! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Gregg Olsen.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a new series about Jessie Tucker who is a crime reporter after being attacked years ago she wants to get justice for those that attack others. She clamps on to the murder file of Margaret Kincaid which has similar details to her own attack so she goes out on her own to find out what happened to Margaret.

I liked Jessie even though there are a few times I wanted to roll my eyes at her. And just like shows on tv somehow the copus can not solve it but a reporter can just doesn’t always work for me.

There are a few sex scenes that ar3e explicit and make me think they were thrown in for erotica value when it really wasn’t needed.

As with any first in a series there is a lot just to get to know the characters. I will give the next in the series to try to see if there is more depth to the story.

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

Posted on

Kelly reviews The Best Man Plan by Jaci Burton

TITLE: The Best Man Plan
SERIES #: Boots and Bouquets #1
CHARACTERS: Jason Callum & Erin Bellini
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: July 7, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton kicks off a dreamy new series with a sweep-you-off-your-feet friends-to-lovers romance.
Three days before Erin Bellini’s wedding, her fiancé breaks up with her–in an email! Hurt and embarrassed, she decides to have a fling with veterinarian Jason Callum, who’s both the best man and the hottest guy she knows. But Jason wants a lot more than just a one-night stand with the woman he’s cared about for years. So he’s taking things slow. And hot. And showing Erin what real love can look like.
Suddenly Erin finds herself spending a lot more time with Jason than she intended. Feelings she never planned on having again are wrapping around her heart, refusing to let go. Erin isn’t sure she can trust her instincts, though. After all, she made a terrible choice with her ex-fiancé. But Jason intends to convince her that he’s the best man for her, and that what they have together is a real love that will last forever.

REVIEW:
Erin Bellini finds herself dumped just days before her wedding. After a few seconds of freaking out Erin does what she does best. She puts on a brave face and pulls herself together and moves on. But moving on is not going to be as easy as she thinks.
Jason Callum can’t believe what his best friend just did, by email no less. But Jason is determined to be there for Erin no matter what it might cost him.
Jason and Erin have been best friends since they were kids and have always had each other’s backs no matter what. This time will be no different. The only issue is that Jason is not holding back on his feelings any more.

The Best Man Plan is the first full novel in Jaci Burton’s new Boots and Bouquets series. This was a great story and a wonderful start to a new series by Mrs. Burton.

I am already looking forward to more books in this series.

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Deny Me by Karen Cole

TITLE: Deny Me
CHARACTERS: Jessica & Jean
AUTHOR: Karen Cole
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/30/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the bestselling author of Deliver Me comes a gripping new thriller with a twist you’ll never see coming!
Thirty-two-year-old Jessica is newly divorced and has returned home to live with her parents whilst she puts the pieces of her life back together. But Jessica isn’t the only one with problems, as her mother, Jean, has recently been diagnosed with dementia.
Shortly after Jessica’s arrival, one of the neighbours falls to her death, in what appears to be a terrible accident. However, Jean claims that the woman was murdered by her husband and that she witnessed the whole thing.
With Jean’s memory rapidly deteriorating, her family dismiss her story, believing Jean is confused. But when Jessica learns that the couple next door’s marriage may have been in trouble, she begins to wonder if her mother did see something after all.
Jessica is determined to discover the truth, but soon uncovers much more than she bargained for…

REVIEW:
I can sum up this book in two words… Rear Window.

This is a modern day telling of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. In this case Jean has Dementia and swears she sees the neighbor being murdered by her husband but, of course, her daughter doesn’t believe it until the clues start making sense and Jessica needs to find out the truth.

The story was ok but I just kept thinking how much this was like the movie. I think the book was fine just not what I hoped it would be.

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

Posted on

Kelly reviews A Touch Of Stone And Snow by Milla Vane

TITLE: A Touch of Stone and Snow
SERIES #: A Gathering of Dragons #2
CHARACTERS: Aerax & Lizzan
AUTHOR: Milla Vane
PUBLICATION DATE: July 7, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Milla Vane returns to a world of kings, magic, and passion in her exhilarating A Gathering of Dragons series, as a great alliance forms to stand against an evil warlord intent on their destruction.
Danger lurks in the western realms. The Destroyer’s imminent return has sent the realms into turmoil as desperate citizens seek refuge—but there’s no safety to be found when demons and wraiths crawl out from the shadows. Even Koth, a northern island kingdom left untouched by the Destroyer a generation past, is besieged by terrors spawned from corrupt magics.
When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward and a deserter. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms—a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile.
Though they were childhood friends, Aerax cannot allow himself to be close to the only woman who might thwart his treacherous plan to save their island realm. But when a goddess’s demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms…

REVIEW:
Another exciting installment in Milla Vane’s A Gathering of Dragon’s series. In A Touch of Stone and Snow we are introduced to a new set of characters. There are a couple of familiar names from A Heart of Blood and Ashes that we do get to see. But in this story we follow Aerax & Lizzan both who are from Koth but have been separated for a number of years.
Aerax & Lizzan both have a very tangled history that will come full circle in this story. We also will learn a lot more about the world past, present and future.
I would highly recommend reading this series in order that you can better follow the story arc of what is happening in this world.
I am extremely excited for the third installment in this series!!!

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Last One To Lie by J.M. Winchester

TITLE: Last One To Lie
CHARACTERS: Kelsey & Paul
AUTHOR: J.M. Winchester
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/09/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N- no link

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Moving to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start for her family. Now it’s a nightmare.
Her little girl was supposed to be at day care when Kelsey arrived to pick her up. But they have no record of her daughter ever being there. And to make matters worse, her husband is missing too—he won’t pick up his phone, and the school he supposedly works at says he never accepted their job offer.
Detective Paul Ryan knows something’s up with Kelsey’s story. Kelsey’s husband might be involved in their daughter’s disappearance, but the deeper the detective digs, the more inconsistencies he finds.
As Detective Ryan tries to uncover the truth, what he finds are more deeply buried secrets that someone clearly never wanted found.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts Ummm Wow… Ummm What? Yeah that is how I feel after reading the last page of this suspenseful mystery.

Imagine you go to get your child and there is no record of a child at all. Your husband doesn’t work where you “know” he does. And now a detective is involved and isn’t sure he believes you. And might even think you did something to the child you claim is missing. Oh so many secrets!!!

This book had me turning my head as fast as I turned the pages (theoretically). And then when I thought I had an answer up pops even more.

This book is crazy. I mean really there is no better word for it… Crazy!!! But worth the suspense and mystery you will not see coming. Really enjoyed this story.

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Girl Walking Alone by Dana Perry

TITLE: Girl Walking Alone
SERIES #: Jessie Tucker Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Jessie Tucker
AUTHOR: Dana Perry
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/20/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I thought about Margaret Kincaid lying there in Central Park. A woman in the wrong place at the wrong time on a hot summer night. And now she was dead. It could have been me. It nearly was.

At thirty-six, Jessie Tucker is a well-respected crime reporter and even a local hero, after a brutal attack twelve years ago left her so broken that doctors said she’d never walk again. These days, she’s still got the scars but is back on her feet – determined to cover the cases other reporters can’t stomach.

But when Margaret Kincaid’s murder file lands on her desk, Jessie has to pause. She still has nightmares about her attack, and the details of Margaret’s case are too familiar. Night falling over the park, girl walking alone, and a stranger waiting in the trees ahead… just for her, or for an unlucky anyone? They might never know.

Then the police gun down their top suspect and it seems the mystery will die with him. But something tells Jessie that the police got it wrong: the real killer is still out there, poised to strike again. It’s up to Jessie to put together the pieces before he finds his next victim… but in the shadowy depths of Central Park will Jessie uncover far more than she bargained for?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a new series about Jessie Tucker who is a crime reporter after being attacked years ago she wants to get justice for those that attack others. She clamps on to the murder file of Margaret Kincaid which has similar details to her own attack so she goes out on her own to find out what happened to Margaret.

I liked Jessie even though there are a few times I wanted to roll my eyes at her. And just like shows on tv somehow the copus can not solve it but a reporter can just doesn’t always work for me.

There are a few sex scenes that ar3e explicit and make me think they were thrown in for erotica value when it really wasn’t needed.

As with any first in a series there is a lot just to get to know the characters. I will give the next in the series to try to see if there is more depth to the story.

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

Posted on

Kimberly reviews The Request by David Bell

TITLE: The Request
CHARACTERS: Ryan and Blake
AUTHOR: David Bell
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/30/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When a man agrees to do a favor for a friend, he gets more than he bargained for as he becomes embroiled in a woman’s murder in this new thriller from the USA Today bestselling author of Layover.

Ryan Francis has it all–great job, wonderful wife, beautiful child–and he loves posting photos of his perfect life on social media. Until the night his friend Blake asks him to break into a woman’s home to retrieve incriminating items that implicate Blake in an affair. Ryan refuses to help, but when Blake threatens to reveal Ryan’s darkest secret–which could jeopardize everything in Ryan’s life–Ryan has no choice but to honor Blake’s request.

When he arrives at the woman’s home, Ryan is shocked to find her dead–and just as shocked to realize he knows her. Then his phone chimes, revealing a Facebook friend request from the woman. With police sirens rapidly approaching, Ryan flees, wondering why his friend was setting him up for murder.

Determined to keep his life intact and to clear his name, Ryan must find the real murderer–but solving the crime may lead him closer to home than he ever could have imagined.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts What a fun book with a bit of craziness. Ryan has made bad decisions his whole life it seems and sometimes the bad ones come back to getcha.

I found this book very lighthearted but also imaginative. Ryan has so many crazy exploits and so do the others in this book. The writing is very well done and kept me wanting to read more. I even chuckled out loud a few times. I mean how much can happen to one guy?

If you are looking for a thriller with a lot of humor this is the one for you.

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

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews The Finders by Jeffery B Burton

TITLE: The Finders
SERIES #: Mace Reid K9 Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Mace Reid
AUTHOR: Jeffery B Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/30/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?

Jeffrey B. Burton’s The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid.

Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…

Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira’s abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I am so in love with this story. Not for Mace (or Kimmy) but for all the dogs. I have never read this author before but when I saw the cover and read the synopsis I had to read this story. And it helped it was the first in a new series.

In short Mace trains dogs and it is amazing how Burton writes different personalities for each dog just like each dog in your family has their own personality. But these are working dogs. And they know their business. And when Mace, as the trainer, and Kimmy as the detective use Vira (the dog) to track a serial killer the story amps up.

I really enjoyed this new series and look forward to the next in series which I think will be even better because there is always a lot of time spent meeting the characters in the first of a series.

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

4 Hearts