Author: Kimberly

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Kimberly reviews Woman On The Edge by Samantha M Bailey

TITLE: Woman On The Edge
CHARACTERS: Morgan
AUTHOR: Samantha M. Bailey
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/03/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A moment on the platform changes two lives forever. But nothing is as it seems…

‘Take my baby.’

In a split second, Morgan’s life changes forever. A stranger hands her a baby, then jumps in front of a train.

Morgan has never seen the woman before and she can’t understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life.

When the police question Morgan, she discovers none of the witnesses can corroborate her version of events. And when they learn Morgan longs for a baby of her own, she becomes a suspect.

To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically tries to retrace the last days of the woman’s life. She begins to understand that Nicole Markham believed she and her baby were in danger. Now Morgan might be in danger, too.

Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia?

Or was something much darker going on?

Pulse-pounding, heartrending, shocking, thrilling. This is one book you won’t be able to stop thinking about.

REVIEW:
Another story that I am on the fence about. The idea of the story is good and has a lot of potential. I think a little more time would have helped this story a bit. I had a bit of trouble with the writing. Maybe it is because the author is from Canada but I just had a hard time with it.

It almost seemed like the author wrote quickly and didn’t give a lot of background to each scene.

Just not sure how I feel about this one.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz

TITLE: The Grace Kelly Dress
CHARACTERS: Rocky, Rose and Joan
AUTHOR: Brenda Janowitz
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/03/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYN OPSIS:
Paris, 1958: Rose, a seamstress at a fashionable atelier, has been entrusted with sewing a Grace Kelly-lookalike gown for a wealthy bride-to-be. But when, against better judgment, she finds herself falling in love with the bride’s handsome brother, Rose must make an impossible choice—one that could put all she’s worked for at risk: love, security, and of course, the dress.

Sixty years later, tech CEO Rachel, who goes by the childhood nickname “Rocky,” has inherited the dress for her upcoming wedding in New York City. But there’s just one problem: Rocky doesn’t want to wear it. A family heirloom dating back to the 1950s, the dress just isn’t her. Rocky knows this admission will break her mother Joan’s heart. But what she doesn’t know is why Joan insists on the dress—or the heartbreaking secret that changed her mother’s life decades before, as she herself prepared to wear it.

As the lives of these three women come together in surprising ways, the revelation of the dress’s history collides with long-buried family heartaches. And in the lead-up to Rocky’s wedding, they’ll have to confront the past before they can embrace the beautiful possibilities of the future.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I am a bit on the fence about this story. The reason for that is I really loved the stories told of Rose and liked the story of Joan but was just ok with Rocky’s story. As I read the story I wished the author had made it into a trilogy series telling each person’s time with the dress is more detail.

The story of Rose in the 1950’s when the dress was a copied design of Grace Kelly’s (wedding 1956) was so magical to me. I have been a fan of Grace Kelly’s for decades so hearing this part was wonderful.

Joan’s story is set in the 1980’s which also I can relate to since that was “my” generation. And imagining the dress being passed down was great.

And then there was Rocky who is st in modern day and who doesn’t want to wear a dress that is 70 years old but I really didn’t feel the emotions that I hoped Rocky would have as she heard the stories of the dresses past.

I hoped for more but got a good amount.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Billionaire In Boots by Julia London

TITLE: The Billionaire In Boots
SERIES #: Princes Of Texas #3
CHARACTERS: Nick & Charlotte
AUTHOR: Julia London
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/03/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia London delivers a sexy new contemporary western, where a lonesome rancher and a no-nonsense cowgirl learn that you don’t choose who you fall for–love lassos you….

As the firstborn son, it’s been drilled into Nick that he is the heir apparent to the Prince family empire. But cattle ranching has never been his true passion. Nick wants to be a pilot. However, when his father dies, leaving Nick to clean up the mess, he knows he must do his duty before following his heart.

Charlotte Bailey can’t believe that Nick is back to run the ranch. As the office manager, she knows it’s her responsibility to help him. If only he wasn’t so brooding and cranky–and so hot it’s a wonder his chaps don’t melt right off him. But when sparks fly between them, she’s adamant about staying away from a cowboy on his way out the door.

Nick knows the ranch’s pretty, smart, and capable office manager is off-limits, but he needs her. And working in such close proximity to Charlotte every day is making Nick crazy. She smells good, she looks good, she makes him laugh, but most of all she makes him want to stay…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the third in the series but I have not read the other two and it was perfectly fine. It can be a stand alone.

This is a sweet cowboy romance, yes a bit typical but still \sweet all the same. I adored the email exchanges. They are so funny and sarcastic that I actually caught myself snickering. I also liked that Charlotte wasn’t a wallflower. She told Nick exactly how it was and while the sparks flew Charlotte was not a damsel in distress.

Nick is such a cowboy. Yeah he wants to be a pilot but ranching is in his blood.

Great beach read.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Silent House by Nell Pattison

TITLE: The Silent House
CHARACTERS: Paige Northwood
AUTHOR: Nell Pattison
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
If someone was in your house, you’d know.
Wouldn’t you?
But the Hunter family are deaf, and don’t hear a thing when a shocking crime takes place in the middle of the night. Instead, they wake up to their worst nightmare.

The police call Paige Northwood to the scene to interpret for the witnesses. They’re in shock, but Paige senses the Hunters are hiding something.

One by one, people Paige knows from the Deaf community start to fall under suspicion. But who would kill a little girl?

Was it an intruder?

Or was the murderer closer to home?

This mystery will keep you up all night – perfect for fans of The Silent Patient and Cara Hunter

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I thought this was a really interesting concept. What happens with a child is killed in your home but because you are deaf you don’t hear anything? And how do you get your story to the police when you find the murder the next morning?

Well the idea is interesting and I hoped the book would be as well. And it was… sorta. When Paige becomes the ASL interpreter she knows the family. She is not deaf but her family is so she knows the language well. And there is a lot to what happens because of the concept.

The problem is there were things that I just couldn’t make sense of. First a deaf family has other ways to know things are happening (phone rings so lights flash, alarm goes off so bed shakes, etc) so how did they not know someone was in the house.

But on another note the writing seemed a bit slow at some points. The book could have been cut down a bit by omitting a bunch of added words that didn’t make the story better.

All in all a book that had my attention for the concept alone.

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

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Kelly reviews Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase

TITLE: Little Girls Sleeping
SERIES #: Detective Katie Scott #1
CHARACTERS: Katie Scott
AUTHOR: Jennifer Chase
PUBLICATION DATE: May 31, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He looked down at the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around a teddy bear. He knew he was the only one who could save her. He could let her sleep forever.

An eight-year-old girl, Chelsea Compton, is missing in Pine Valley, California and for Detective Katie Scott it’s a cruel reminder of the friend who disappeared from summer camp twenty years ago. Unable to shake the memories, Katie vows she won’t rest until she discovers what happened to Chelsea.

But as Katie starts to investigate, the case reveals itself to be much bigger and more shocking than she feared. Hidden deep in the forest she unearths a makeshift cemetery: a row of graves, each with a brightly coloured teddy bear.

Katie links the graves to a stack of missing-persons cases involving young girls—finding a pattern no one else has managed to see. Someone in Pine Valley has been taking the town’s daughters for years, and Katie is the only one who can stop them.

And then another little girl goes missing, snatched from the park near her home.

Katie’s still haunted by the friend she failed to protect, and she’ll do anything to stop the killer striking again—but can she find the little girl before it’s too late?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Katie Scott is back from serving overseas and is trying to put her life back together. She goes back to her childhood home and starts working for the local Sheriff’s office to help her uncle out. When Katie stubbles upon a cold case file that is too close for comfort. Katie starts her own investigation into some missing girls.

This was a good read and I really enjoyed that the main character Katie is tough and fragile all at the same time. Ms. Chase does a great job with the red herrings in this story too. Just when I thought “I know who done it” she sent me down another path. I am very much looking forward to more books in this series and to see how Katie develops as a detective and learn more about her backstory. And of course Cisco and Chad. 🙂

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

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Kimberly reviews You Had Me At Wolf by Terry Spear

TITLE: You Had Me At Wolf
SERIES #: Wolff Brothers #1
CHARACTERS: Nicole & Blake
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
First in a thrilling new series from USA Today bestseller Terry Spear featuring the hot, powerful Wolff brothers!

A wolf on a mission cannot be deterred…
The hot, powerful Wolff brothers have moved to the outskirts of Silver Town and opened a ski lodge. They’ve always wanted to live in a wolf-controlled area, and now they have their chance. They’re settling in for a quiet winter, when their lives suddenly become way more exciting than they’d ever planned.

Private Investigator and Gray wolf shifter Josie Grayson is hot on the trail of a dangerous criminal hiding out at the ski lodge when her partner takes ill and must leave her to pursue the mission alone. Blake Wolff steps in–he can’t resist the allure of this brilliant and focused she-wolf whose presence awakens a long dormant yearning in his heart.

As pursuit of their quarry heats up, Blake has a mission of his own…to convince Josie that there’s more to life than work…and that she’s his perfect mate.

REVIEW:
This is the first in a new series from Spear which is nice to see but of course it is in the same genre as Heart Of The Wolf series which is 28 books in (wow!) so seeing this is the same genre there didn’t seem all that different.

The story was fine. I liked the characters and liked how after a difficult previous meeting Nicole stands up to Blake and stands on her own two feet. I liked the Wolff brothers very much.

But that being said it is not too far from the other series but if you are a fan of the genre you won’t want to miss this book especially since it is the first in the series.

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

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Kimberly reviews How To Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks

TITLE: How To Love Your Elf
SERIES #: Embraced By Magic #1
CHARACTERS: Sorcha
AUTHOR: Kerrelyn Sparks
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Raised in isolation on the magic-shrouded Isle of the Moon, five girls became five sisters. Now women, they are ready to claim their places in the world—and perhaps change it forever . . .

FLAME AND FORTUNE

Sorcha knew the mission was dangerous. Leaving the safe grounds of her brother’s kingdom and parlaying with the elves across their border . . . well, treachery seemed at least as likely as true peace. But to support her sister, Sorcha would brave far more than the underhanded ways of the elves. Or so she thought, before she was taken hostage.

Of course, her captors didn’t count on her particular abilities—or on the help of the Woodsman, the mysterious thief who made his home in the forest. He saw the battle from the trees, saw the soldier attacking against incredible odds to save a comrade—and then saw the valiant fighter revealed as Princess Sorcha of Norveshka. He can’t tell if he wants to kidnap her or kiss her. But despite Sorcha’s stubbornness, his inconvenient honor, and a rebellion on the cusp of full war, something burns between them that neither can let go . . .

REVIEW:
Ok This is going to sound odd because if you look I gave it 3 stars but I think this is a book that people either love or dislike. But I am just not sure how I felt so I rated it right down the middle.

I never connected with the characters. Something was just off with the romance. It almost felt forced.

I see it is the first in a new series but if also falls under the Embraced series as well.

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

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Kimberly reviews In Search Of Truth by Sharon Wray

TITLE: In Search Of Truth
SERIES #: Deadly Force #3
CHARACTERS: Zack & Allison
AUTHOR: Sharon Wray
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Some treasure is hidden in plain sight…
Ex-Green Beret Zack Tremaine is a man haunted by regrets. Years ago, he betrayed his men and lost the only woman he ever loved. Now that he’s been given a chance to save both, his only hope is his lost love, Allison Pinckney, who knows more than anyone else about a lost treasure that’s the key to Zack’s mission.

Allison is fascinated by the past. Somewhere in her research is the key to a missing fortune, and Allison finds herself on a perilous mission with the one man she’s been avoiding. She knows that if she gives in to her long-buried feelings for Zack, it will put them both in danger.

But as the search heats up Zack and Allison are constantly thrown together, and they discover how much more powerful they are together than apart.

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts I read the first in the series but missed the second. So there was some confusion as I read the story but not alot. I would however suggest reading the other two before this one.

I had a bit of a hard time with the idea of this story. There was just so much that seemed unrealistic.

I wanted to enjoy this story because the idea of it sounded good but it just fell a bit flat for me.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Girl In White Gloves by Kerri Maher

TITLE: The Girl In White Gloves
CHARACTERS: Grace
AUTHOR: Kerri Maher
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A life in snapshots…

Grace knows what people see. She’s the Cinderella story. An icon of glamor and elegance frozen in dazzling Technicolor. The picture of perfection. The girl in white gloves.

A woman in living color…

But behind the lens, beyond the panoramic views of glistening Mediterranean azure, she knows the truth. The sacrifices it takes for an unappreciated girl from Philadelphia to defy her family and become the reigning queen of the screen. The heartbreaking reasons she trades Hollywood for a crown. The loneliness of being a princess in a fairy tale kingdom that is all too real.
Hardest of all for her adoring fans and loyal subjects to comprehend, is the harsh reality that to be the most envied woman in the world does not mean she is the happiest. Starved for affection and purpose, facing a labyrinth of romantic and social expectations with more twists and turns than Monaco’s infamous winding roads, Grace must find her own way to fulfillment. But what she risks–her art, her family, her marriage—she may never get back.

REVIEW:
As a HUGE fan of Grace Kelly I knew I was going to read this book come hell or high water. Luckily neither needed I just had to ask. I have read a number of biographies about Grace Kelly and know her story as much as the next fan does so I know that a number of liberties were taken with the writing of this story but then it is not being published as a biography so I was fine with the liberties and believed that maybe someone who reads this will go back and get a biography of her life and read the real Grace.

That being said the story is wonderful. The romance of Hollywood is not all we believe and even though we thought of her life as perfect it was far from it. And her life as a Princess was not all that wonderful either.

The reader flows through this book as Grace Kelly flowed on screen. The writing is great and as someone who can picture Grace Kelly in not only her fairy tale wedding dress but her beautiful “every day” clothes I could picture her on every page that was read.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Warsaw Protocol by Steve Berry

TITLE: The Warsaw Protocol
SERIES #: Cotton Malone #15
CHARACTERS: Cotton Malone
AUTHOR: Steve Berry
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In New York Times bestseller Steve Berry’s latest Cotton Malone adventure, the arrogant greed of politics comes face-to-face with the weight of history.

One by one the seven precious relics of the Arma Christi, the weapons of Christ, are disappearing from sanctuaries across the world.

After former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone witnesses the theft of one of them, he learns from his old boss, Stephanie Nelle, that a private auction is about to be held where incriminating information on the president of Poland will be offered to the highest bidder–blackmail that both the United States and Russia want, but for vastly different reasons.

The price of admission to that auction is one of the relics, so Malone is first sent to a castle in Poland to steal the Holy Lance, a thousand-year-old spear sacred to not only Christians but to the Polish people, and then on to the auction itself. But nothing goes as planned and Malone is thrust into a bloody battle between three nations over a secret that, if exposed, could change the balance of power in Europe.

From the tranquil canals of Bruges, to the elegant rooms of Wawel Castle, to the ancient salt mines deep beneath the earth outside Krakow, Malone is caught in the middle of a deadly war–the outcome of which turns on something known as the Warsaw Protocol.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I have read some of this series but not all. But the thing is each book can be a stand alone. Even though knowing Malone from the beginning helps but it really isn’t mandatory.

What a book this one was! I was so glad I didn’t miss this one in the series.

One of the things I enjoy best about Steve Berry books is the history he puts into every one. History that most likely you have never heard about. I want to climb into the book and visit every city Berry writes about. And the concept story is great too.

Malone is serious but has his moments of levity which makes me enjoy him even more.

Right up there with Brad Meltzer and for me that says a lot.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Sisters By Choice
SERIES #: Blackberry Island #4
CHARACTERS: Sophie, Kristine & Heather
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/11/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Cousins by chance, sisters by choice…

After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.

Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.

Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?

Told with Mallery’s trademark humor and charm, Sisters by Choice is a heartfelt tale of love, family and the friendships that see us through.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Oh how I adored this story and Oh how I love Susan Mallery! Susan has a way of bringing you right into her world and you not only want to visit you want to pack up and move there. Blackberry Island has been no different.

In this story we meet Sophie, Kristine and Heather. They are “Sisters By Choice”. We all have one of those or maybe more than one like in this case.

Having my own Sister By Choice made this story more real to me. My SBC and I have been through so much and yet when we should have fallen apart we grew closer together. As I read about Sophie, Kristine and Heather I knew they could and would survive it all together.

Susan Mallery is simply the best when it comes to writing. She is always the first I mention when someone asks who I read. And this story is just proof as to why. Another wonderful trip to Blackberry Island.

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

4 Hearts