Kimberly reviews The Little Shop Of Found Things by Paula Brackston

little shop of found thingsTITLE: The Little Shop Of Found Things
SERIES #: The Little Shop Of Found Things #1
CHARACTERS: Xanthe & Samuel
AUTHOR: Paula Brackston
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/16/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A new series about a young woman whose connection to antiques takes her on a magical adventure, reminiscent of Outlander

New York Times bestselling author of The Witch’s Daughter Paula Brackston returns to her trademark blend of magic and romance to launch a new series guaranteed to enchant her audience even more.

Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. So when she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she has to know more.

It’s while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century. And shortly after, she’s confronted by a ghost who reveals that this is where the antique has its origins. The ghost tasks Xanthe with putting right the injustice in its story to save an innocent girl’s life, or else it’ll cost her Flora’s.

While Xanthe fights to save her amid the turbulent days of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.

With its rich historical detail, strong mother-daughter relationship, and picturesque English village, The Little Shop of Found Things is poised to be a strong start to this new series.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This cover is breathtaking isn’t it? I just love it. So how could I not request this book and I am glad I did. I love magic and wish so much that I could have some but when asked that question “if you had a super power what would it be?” I always say I do not know. But after reading this I wonder if I wouldn’t want the ability to know the history of anything I touched. This may be my answer from now on.

Back to the book…. I found the story as mesmerizing as the cover. This story has a bit of history thrown into the magical world. I loved the relationship between mother and daughter.

I look forward to reading the next in the series.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet

nightchaserTITLE: Nightchaser
SERIES #: Endeavor #1
CHARACTERS: Tess Bailey & crew
AUTHOR: Amanda Bouchet
PUBLICATION DATE: January 1, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A delicious new heart-pounding romantic adventure from USA Today bestseller Amanda Bouchet!
Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of Robin Hood-like thieves are desperate and on the run. Pursued by a vicious military general who wants them dead or alive, Tess has to decide if she can trust Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with abiguous motivations.
Shade Ganavan had oodles of arrogance, oodles of charm, and oodles of something that made me want to kick him in the nuts.
What Tess and Shade don’t know about each other might get them killed…unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other—while ignoring their off-the-charts chemistry.

REVIEW:
When I learned that Amanda was starting a new series I was extremely excited. I really enjoyed her Kingmaker’s Chronicles so I knew I had to give her new Endeavor series a go.

Tess is awesome! I loved learning who she was and why she is so important! Throw in the smexy Shade Ganavan and his own secrets and you have a great start of a new series. The secondary characters are great too!! Ms. Bouchet does a great job of making you fall in love with the secondary characters as much as the main characters!

I can’t wait to see where and what will happen in this series. It is going to be a great journey for sure!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Twisted Prey by John Sandford

twisted preyTITLE: Twisted Prey
SERIES #: Lucas Davenport #28
CHARACTERS: Lucas & Taryn
AUTHOR: John Sandford
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/24/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lucas Davenport confronts an old nemesis, now more powerful than ever as a U.S. senator, in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Prey series

Lucas Davenport had crossed paths with her before.

A rich psychopath, Taryn Grant had run successfully for the U.S. Senate, where Lucas had predicted she’d fit right in. He was also convinced that she’d been responsible for three murders, though he’d never been able to prove it. Once a psychopath had gotten that kind of rush, though, he or she often needed another fix, so he figured he might be seeing her again.

He was right. A federal marshal now, with a very wide scope of investigation, he’s heard rumors that Grant has found her seat on the Senate intelligence committee, and the contacts she’s made from it, to be very…useful. Pinning those rumors down was likely to be just as difficult as before, and considerably more dangerous.

But they had unfinished business, he and Grant. One way or the other, he was going to see it through to the end.

REVIEW:
Let me be clear… I think this story is well written and I have been a fan of the Prey series for a while but maybe it is because of the storyline I found myself zoning out more often than not.

The story is set in DC and there is just too much politics already that I just kept having to force myself to read the story. Maybe it would have been better at another time but I was just so over politics right now that reading about it left me empty.

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

3hearts-68-77

Kimberly reviews Not Quite Over You by Susan Mallery

not quite over youTITLE: Not Quite Over You
SERIES #: Happily Ever After #4
CHARACTERS: Silver & Drew
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/23/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold romances, proves there’s nowhere better than Happily Inc to rekindle first love.

Silver Tesdal has a head for business and a mouth made for kissing, and banker Drew Lovato has his eye on both. But ever since he was dumb enough to let her go, she’s kept him at a distance. When the bank turns her down for a loan, Drew sees a double opportunity—he can finance her brilliant, unique idea to rock Happily Inc’s wedding industry and win back her trust.

Despite her reputation, Silver’s not as tough as she seems. Losing Drew nearly destroyed her. Still, his kisses are as tempting as his offer to invest in her business. If she can’t quite get over him, maybe she should get under him and knock him out of her system once and for all.

But her best laid plans begin to unravel as Silver finds herself falling even harder than when they were high school sweethearts. Which means that she’ll have to come clean about the secret she’s been hiding from him for years—and risk losing him forever.

REVIEW:
Oh Susan! You have done it again!

Susan Mallery is *THE* author that I always turn to when I want to read a contemporary romance. Happily Inc is a branch off of Fool’s Gold and this is the 4th in the series. Fool’s Gold was always my dream (novel) vacation spot. And Happily Inc is really starting to be where I want to visit after Fool’s Gold.

Mallery is great at drawing you in with the very first few pages. We have met Ronan in the first two of this series and not it is his turn at love. This is Drew’s story and we have known all along this would be the story of the Mitchell brother we all wanted to read. Worth the wait!

Never a disappointment!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Billionaire Wolf For Christmas by Terry Spear

billionaire wolf for christmasTITLE: A Billionaire Wolf For Christmas
SERIES #: Heart Of The Wolf #26/Billionaire Wolf #2
CHARACTERS: Aidan & Holly
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When the wolves’ own blood betrays them, they risk their lives to find a miracle.

Wolf shifter Dr. Aidan Denali has been working day and night to find a cure for werewolves’ alarmingly sudden decline in lifespan. The key to the problem eludes him. But when Aidan grudgingly leaves his work to do some holiday shopping, he meets a remarkable she-wolf whose mysterious pack could bring him one step closer to the answer.

Dr. Holly Gray is thrilled to meet the wolf who’s been working so hard to help others. Now, it’s her turn to help him. But while their attraction is sizzling, the packs are at odds, and the danger is increasing. It’s going to take a holiday miracle for Holly and Aidan to get themselves–and their loved ones–out of this alive…

Billionaire Wolf series:
Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing (Book 1)
A Billionaire Wolf for Christmas (Book 2)

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Depends on how you look at this. It is either #2 in the series or #26… Mainly I look at it as #26 and to be honest I have enjoyed most of the series but it is getting a bit old for me. Spear has found her niche’ which I get and she has stuck with it a long time but I wonder what else she can write. There is only so much you can do with wolf shifters.

That being said the story is good. It has a bit of Christmas feel to it but after having read so many of her books I want for something different.

The romance is good and if you are a fan of the genre with a Christmas flair pick it up.

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

3hearts-68-77

Kimberly reviews Return To Me By Jill Sanders

return to meTITLE: Return To Me
SERIES #: The Pride #7
CHARACTERS: Becca & Nick
AUTHOR: Jill Sanders
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/31/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Becca and Nick were destined to be together. He was the love of her life, or so she thought. Then tragedy strikes and Becca is left heartbroken and devastated. The road to recovery seems almost hopeless at times, but with love and support from the good people of Pride, she’s looking forward to putting the past behind her. When Nick’s best friend, Sean, returns home a year later, he brings with him an unexpected gift that has her reliving the past all over again.

Sean’s homecoming is tarnished with the loss of his best friend along with the recent discovery of his fiancees infidelities while he was deployed. If Sean needs anything right now it’s a good friend to lean on and Becca has always been there for him. When the two decide to get away for a while, they’re forced to accept the undeniable attraction between them. But now an unforeseen challenge threatens to rip them apart forever.

REVIEW:
This was released in 2015 and I had not read any of the Pride series. I recently found Jill Sanders as an author and have enjoyed her works so I am not sure if this is a re-release or if it was put on NetGalley for recognition.

The story was well written but seemed young. Not in age but as a writer. However the story is #7 so I am not sure that that terminology is correct.

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

3hearts-68-77

Kimberly reviews Wolf Rising by Paige Tyler

wolf risingTITLE: Wolf Rising
SERIES #: SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #8
CHARACTERS: Jayden & Selena
AUTHOR: Paige Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/30/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Werewolf SWAT Officer Jayden Brooks has yet to meet The One—but when he rescues teacher Selena Rosa from a hostage situation at her high school, he knows he’s in trouble. Her scent is irresistible.

There’s a reason for that powerful scent—and it isn’t an expensive perfume. Thanks to the traumatizing events at the school, the werewolf gene flipped on and Selena’s going through the change. Even scarier, she’s on track to become an omega—an out-of-control and violent breed. It’s going to take everything Brooks has if he wants any chance to pull her back from the edge…and ultimately win her heart.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This has a little bit of everything… Is there a genre for Suspenseful Shapeshifting Romance? Well there is now.

Selena is going through the shift change and Jayden has his heart flip. Jayden is perfect alpha with a capital A. He has everything a new wolf would want in a mate but Selena is going through enough already… Can she really let her heart fall for such an alpha wolf?

Well worth the read if you enjoy the genre. It has everything and a bit more.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells by Donna Kauffman

lock stock and jungle bellsTITLE: Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells
SERIES #: Hamilton Christmas #2
CHARACTERS: Holly & Sean
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The best holiday gifts aren’t always under the tree . . .

Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she received her very early inheritance: her mother’s Christmas novelty store. Now she has to put her life on hold to deal with the shop, while her parents settle into their busy sunny Florida retirement. But Holly’s childhood pal, Sean, is determined to warm her up—to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever . . .

Originally part of the Kissing Santa Claus anthology.

REVIEW:
This is the second in the Christmas novellas that Kauffman has put out this year. And was originally part of an anthology.

Another cute holiday story that will certainly get you in the Christmas mood. I read the first one and had hoped it was a bit of a continuation but it was not but that does not mean it is any less interesting.

Kauffman is always one of my go to authors. I have never been disappointed by her stories and this one is no exception. This is a very quick read with just about 100 pages.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts