Author: Kimberly

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Kimberly reviews Dynamic Dames by Sloan De Forest

dynamic damesTITLE: Dynamic Dames
SERIES #: Turner Classic Movies
CHARACTERS: 50 Leading Ladies Who Made History
AUTHOR: Sloan De Forest
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Celebrate 50 of the most empowering and unforgettable female characters ever to grace the screen, as well as the artists who brought them to vibrant life!

From Scarlett O’Hara to Thelma and Louise to Wonder Woman, strong women have not only lit up the screen, they’ve inspired and fired our imaginations. Some dynamic women are naughty and some are nice, but all of them buck the narrow confines of their expected gender role — whether by taking small steps or revolutionary strides.

Through engaging profiles and more than 100 photographs, Dynamic Dames looks at fifty of the most inspiring female roles in film from the 1920s to today. The characters are discussed along with the exciting off-screen personalities and achievements of the actresses and, on occasion, female writers and directors, who brought them to life.

Among the stars profiled in their most revolutionary roles are Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbara Stanwyck, Josephine Baker, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Joan Crawford, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Dorothy Dandridge, Katharine Hepburn, Pam Grier, Jane Fonda, Gal Gadot, Emma Watson, Zhang Ziyi, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lawrence, and many more.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I don’t read a lot of these kinds of books but how could I not read this one? I mean 50 dynamic dames? And they truly are/were. I will be honest and say some of them I wasn’t even sure what I had seen them in or who they were (like directors or writers) but once I started reading their stories I was interested.

As a fan of the movies like Gone With The Wind, The Way We Were, Pretty Woman and so many more I loved reading the stories of the women of Hollywood.

This is a GREAT book for any fan of movies but also anyone who wants to be encouraged by the power of women!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts
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Kimberly reviews Alpha’s Promise by Rebecca Zanetti

alphas promiseTITLE: Alpha’s Promise
SERIES #: Dark Protectors #10
CHARACTERS: Ivar & Promise
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
To hell and back . . .

Though he has vampire, demon, and Viking blood rushing through his veins, Ivar Kjeidsen’s soul-crushing trip to hell broke him in ways he can barely fathom. One vow keeps the deadly immortal standing: To rescue the vampire brother who had sacrificed freedom for him. To do that, Ivar needs the help of a brilliant physicist with wary brown eyes, fierce brilliance, and skin that’s way too soft.

Dr. Promise Williams understands the underpinnings of the universe but has never figured out the human beings inhabiting it. Her function is to think—and not feel—until she’s touched by a vampire who’s nowhere near human. The primal hunger in his eyes awakens feelings in her that defy calculation. As she shows him the way to step between worlds, he brands her with a pleasure that could last more than a lifetime . . .

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts If the question is “Did you like the book?” The answer is “Of course, It was written by Rebecca Zanetti.”

This is the 10th in the series but can be read as a stand alone. But as I always say about Rebecca’s books I have no idea why you wouldn’t want to read every single one of them.

Ivar has been through hell… literally. And it changed him in so many ways. But then he set eyes on Promise. First he is mesmerized by her abilities but then he becomes enchanted by her in every way.

I always love the women in Rebecca’s books. They are strong and independent but are not afraid of love.

I have never found a book of Rebecca’s that I didn’t love.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Lost And Found by Danielle Steel

lost and foundTITLE: Lost and Found
CHARACTERS: Madison Allen
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
What might have been? That tantalizing question propels a woman on a cross-country adventure to reunite with the men she loved and let go, in Danielle Steel’s exhilarating new novel.

It all starts with a fall from a ladder, in a firehouse in New York City. The firehouse has been converted into a unique Manhattan home and studio where renowned photographer Madison Allen works and lives after raising three children on her own. But the accident, which happens while Maddie is sorting through long-forgotten personal mementos and photos, results in more than a broken ankle. It changes her life.

Spurred by old memories, the forced pause in her demanding schedule, and an argument with her daughter that leads to a rare crisis of confidence, Maddie embarks on a road trip. She hopes to answer questions about the men she loved and might have married—but didn’t—in the years after she was left alone with three young children. Wearing a cast and driving a rented SUV, she sets off to reconnect with three very different men—one in Boston, one in Chicago, and another in Wyoming—to know once and for all if the decisions she made long ago were the right ones. Before moving forward into the future, she is compelled to confront the past.

As the miles and days pass, and with each new encounter, Maddie’s life comes into clearer focus and a new future takes shape. A deeply felt story about love, motherhood, family, and fate, Lost and Found is an irresistible new novel from America’s most dynamic storyteller.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a story about finding yourself not only in your choices you made in your past but where you are right now.

Maddie has a difficult life. Mainly she is a loner. And she has time to reflect on the choices she made, the same questions we would ask ourselves. Why did I marry __? Why did I divorce __? Did I raise my kids right? If so why are we not close? And so on and so on…. The questions are endless for Maddie… and for us!

This is certainly women’s lit. This is about looking at ourselves through Maddie’s eyes. I had a bit of a problem in the beginning because I really wasn’t invested in Maddie and to be honest I felt she was a doormat under her own daughter’s feet but as her journey goes on I could relate to her a bit more.

I have a feeling, anyone who reads this will take some time, even if just a moment, to reflect on something about themselves.

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

3hearts-68-77

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Kelly reviews Crooked Street by Brian Freeman

crooked streetTITLE: Crooked Street
SERIES #: Frost Easton #3
CHARACTERS: Frost Easton
AUTHOR: Brian Freeman
PUBLICATION DATE: January 29, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The hunt for a killer in San Francisco becomes a dizzying game of cat and mouse in a thrilling novel of psychological suspense.
“Lombard is your Moriarty, Frost. Taking him down will be the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done.”
San Francisco homicide detective Frost Easton hadn’t seen his estranged friend Denny in years. Not until he dies in Frost’s arms uttering a final inexplicable word: Lombard. Denny appears to be the latest victim in a string of murders linked by a distinctive clue: the painting of a spiraled snake near the crime scenes. Is it the work of a serial killer? Or is Denny’s death more twisted and personal?
To find the answer, Frost reaches into a nest of vipers—San Francisco’s shady elite—where the whispered name of Lombard is just one secret. Now, drawn into a cat-and-mouse game with an enemy who knows his every move, Frost finds there is no one he can trust. And somewhere down the crooked streets of the city, Frost’s cunning adversary is coiled and ready to strike again.

REVIEW:
Crooked Street is the third installment in the Frost Easton series. This was another great story. In Crooked Street we follow the trail of another set of murders that seem to have some very strange connections, from the snakes painted near each death to the name Lombard. This case will take Detective Easton on a wild ride of who done it. But even a veteran Detective will not fully be prepared for the answers that he will get.

If you have not started this series I would recommend that you start with book one The Night Bird as Detective Easton’s story builds with each book. I can’t wait to see what is next in this series.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Wolf Instinct by Paige Tyler

wolf instinctTITLE: Wolf Instinct
SERIES #: SWAT #9
CHARACTERS: Alyssa & Zane
AUTHOR: Paige Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He’s a wolf shifter.
She hunts monsters.
How can she be The One for him?

SWAT werewolf Zane Kendrick will do whatever it takes to take down the man who attacked his pack. His search takes him to Los Angeles, but when he meets Alyssa, the smart, sexy agent who comes to his aid, he’s immediately interested in pursuing more than just the next lead. All his wolf instincts tell him that she’s The One.

FBI agent Alyssa Carson has investigated some weird stuff lately, and finding missing people drained of their blood definitely falls into that category. When following a clue leads her to Zane, she agrees to work with him and his team. She’s attracted to the gorgeous Brit, but she doesn’t have time for anything but finding answers.

When Zane and Alyssa discover the sinister truth, it’ll take everything they have to make it out of this mission with their lives―and hearts―intact.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts While this can be a stand alone I suggest that you read the series so you understand what SWAT is all about. That being said you can read this on its own and enjoy it. This is Zane and Alyssa’s story. Alyssa is FBI who looks for exactly what Zane is. Zane is SWAT (Special Wolf Alpha Team).

I really enjoyed the storyline of them meeting. And the romance was sweet and sexy at the same time. Paige Tyler has written a lot of shapeshifter books and I have to say that sometimes they get routine but not this one. This one I have enjoyed more than I have in a while.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

Of Blood and BoneTITLE: Of Blood and Bone
SERIES #: Chronicles of the One #2
CHARACTERS: Fallon Swift
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
NARRATOR: Julia Whelan
PUBLICATION DATE: December 4, 2018
RUN TIME: 13 hours & 42 minutes
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the epic Year One returns with a new tale of terror and magic in a brand new world.
They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.
Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.
In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.

REVIEW:
Of Blood and Bone is book 2 in Nora Roberts’ Chronicles of One series. We pick up almost 13 years after the end of book 1 (Year One). Fallon Swift “The One” is swiftly approaching her 13th birthday and the beginning of the next chapter in her journey to save the world. Fallon’s journey will take her back to the town of New Hope that her mother and birth father helped found. The people of New Hope will play a very important role in Fallon’s journey.
Of Blood and Bone was a great second book in the series. The story is a little slow because the is a lot that Fallon has to learn in two short years. There is a lot of build up to what may happen in the final book of this trilogy. I am very much looking forward to seeing what is next.

Again Julia Whelan did an amazing job narrating this story. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series. I will also be looking for more books narrated by Julia.

If you have not started this series yet, I would highly suggest it! But you must read in order!!!!

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Audio Sample:

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Book 1 Book 3

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Kelly reviews Year One by Nora Roberts

year oneTITLE: Year One
SERIES #: Chronicles of The One #1
CHARACTERS: Lana, Max, Arlys, Fred, Chuck, Rachel, Jonah and many more
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
NARRATOR: Julia Whelan
RUN TIME: 12 Hours & 20 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: December 5, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It began on New Year’s Eve.

The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed–and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.

Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river–or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next.
 

 

REVIEW:
When the end of the world happens what will you do. Will you take it sitting down? Will you hide and hope it passes you by? Or will you fight with every fiber of your being?

Year One takes us on an amazing journey of the people of the world as they face the end of the world. We meet so many characters along the road, some will be allies and some will be enemies. The question will be can they figure out who is who before it is to late.

This is was a wonderful book. Nora Roberts is a great world and character building. I am very much looking forward to the next two installment in this series.

This was the first book I have listened to that was narrated by Julia Whelan. Julia did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life for me. I love when a narrator is able to narrate a book and it feels like I am in the story.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

5hearts-68-77

 

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Kelly reviews A Merciful Promise by Kendra Elliot

A Merciful PromiseTITLE: A Merciful Promise
SERIES #: Mercy Kilpatrick #6
CHARACTERS: Mercy Kilpatrick
AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot
PUBLICATION DATE: June 18, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audiobook | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The Wall Street Journal bestselling series continues as Mercy Kilpatrick becomes embedded in the nightmare of a terrorist conspiracy.
The job: infiltrate a militia amassing illegal firearms in an isolated forest community. FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick is the ideal candidate. She knows Oregon. She’s near the compound. And having been raised among survivalists, Mercy understands the mind-set of fanatics. Lay low, follow rules, do nothing to sound an alarm, and relinquish all contact with the outside world. She’s ready to blend in.
As Mercy disappears into the winter hills, something just as foreboding emerges. Mercy’s fiancé, Eagle’s Nest police chief Truman Daly, is faced with a puzzling series of murders—three men dumped in random locations after execution-style shootings.
Now, for Mercy, trapped in a culture where suspicion is second nature, and betrayal is punishable to the extreme, there is no way out. No way to call for help. And as plans for a catastrophic terrorist event escalate, there may be no way to stop them. Even if Mercy dies trying.

REVIEW:
Mercy Kilpatrick takes a last minute undercover job that will test all her skills. Will being raised by preppers and being trained by the FBI be enough to get her out of a very deadly situation?

A Merciful Promise is the sixth and final book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I am sad to see this series come to an end. In this last installment Mercy and Truman are tested again. I did find the story a little slow but was still a great story and showed us how strong Mercy and Truman are as a team.

I honestly hope that this is not the last time we see Mercy and Truman.

I am very much looking forward to what Kendra has in store for us next.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts