Category: 2 Star

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Kimberly review Master of the Opera: Crescendo by Jeffe Kennedy

master 6TITLE: Master Of The Opera #6: Crescendo
SERIES #: Master Of The Opera #6
CHARACTERS: Christine & Master
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/20/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the sixth and final installment of Jeffe Kennedy’s sizzling Master of the Opera, a man and a woman risk everything they’ve ever loved—for the most dangerous passion they’ve ever known. . .
Caught in a web of secrets and lies, Christy Davis has come under the suspicion of the local police. Since becoming an intern at the Sante Fe Opera House, she has witnessed strange occurrences in the underground tunnels. She has heard inexplicable whispers in the shadows after midnight. And she has found the lover of her dreams in the masked man who lives down below. But after the discovery of a dead body and other sinister events, Christy realizes that her life is in danger. Two men hold her fate in their hands: Roman, the opera house’s wealthy benefactor who uses his money and power to control her. And the masked maestro known as the Master who demands her surrender and commands her pleasure with each stroke. Both want her; only one can have her. . .
In a rising crescendo of madness, obsession, and lust, Christy must take a chance and follow her heart—to a breathtaking climax as powerful as love itself.

REVIEW:
This is the sixth and last installment. I am not really impressed with this series. I think it has a lot of potential if it had been a full story but with the short spurts it was lost between installments. I would also not consider this erotica. Very few moments of sexual encounters were written in.

I was disappointed in the story in general and while I was interested enough to find out how it ends I didn’t enjoy it very much.

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

2hearts


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Kimberly reviews Book Lovers by Various Authors

book loversTITLE: Book Lovers: Sexy Stories from Under The Covers
CHARACTERS: Varies
AUTHOR: Varies
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/25/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Forget poorly written prose and clichéd love scenes: Book Lovers answers the call for sexy literature with substance. This collection of toe-curling tales written by and for word-worshippers offers well-crafted fiction and creative nonfiction that connects literature to libido. From a Vonnegut-inspired tryst to an imaginary ménage à trois with Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin, the book encompasses a veritable buffet of literary fantasies.

Whether they’re conjuring Junot Díaz between the sheets or dreaming of a modern-day enactment of Wuthering Heights—this time refusing Edgar in favor of lusty, bodice-ripping nights with Heathcliff—the stories in Book Lovers are designed for readers’ brains and bodies.

Includes contributions from Izabella St. James, Slash Coleman, Trina Calderón, Cara Bruce, and Stephanie Auteri.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts Ok this book is just odd. Some stories are better than others and some are much worse. So it is as if pretty much a bunch of (mostly unknown) authors were ask to write a 10 page erotic story about their favorite book. In the style of Fan Fiction for lack of a better description. And I will be honest I have not read most of the “classics” these shorts are based on.

Maybe this is your style. It was not mine.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Her Summer With The Marine by Susan Meier

Her summer w MarineTITLE: Her Summer With The Marine
SERIES #: Donovan Brothers #1
CHARACTERS: Ellie & Finn
AUTHOR: Susan Meier
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/10/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Their competition has never been so irresistible

The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.

Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father’s struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This story was just ok for me. First it was so odd that it was set over the couple fighting for a funeral home. I mean it actually seemed at times like they were happy someone died so they got the business. Just weird.

I don’t really think the couple had much chemistry either. Something was just off about this book and the characters. The writing was good and the background characters were good but the main couple just didn’t seem to mesh. I liked some of the storyline and had a couple of good chuckles at some of the lines but most seemed like forced humor.

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

2hearts


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Kimberly reviews Master Of The Opera Act 5: A Haunting Duet by Jeffe Kennedy

master of opera #5TITLE: Master Of The Opera Act 5: A Haunting Duet
SERIES #: Master Of The Opera #5
CHARACTERS: Christine & Master
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/06/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the fifth erotically charged installment of Jeffe Kennedy’s scorching Master of the Opera, a daring young woman follows her reckless desire for the perfect lover—to the point of no return.

He is more than just the man of her dreams. He is the master of her destiny. A mysterious masked stranger who haunts the darkened tunnels beneath the Sante Fe Opera House, the Master is like no other lover Christy has ever known. He has lured the beautiful intern to the very brink of ecstasy—and beyond. He has pushed the boundaries of her sensuality and tested the limits of her passion. But now the Master wants more. If Christy accepts his challenge, she must be willing to go further than she’s ever gone. She must surrender to his every desire. She must submit to his every command. She must expose herself body and soul—or bear the scars of a broken heart forever. . .

Tonight is the night she must make a choice: to free herself from one man’s obsession. . .or bind herself to him for life.

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts This is the 5th of the installments in this series. And it just keeps getting weirder and weirder. While the erotica part of the story was actually there this time even it was weird. This story started out as a homage to Phantom Of The Opera and while there are still parts of that entwined in the story I just have a hard time with how odd this is. I really hope the next installment brings some understanding.

I think having the installments has actually hurt the storyline. The time between sections just doesn’t seem to flow. Maybe if it was one full story it would have had a better flow.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Wanton Heat by Nicola Marsh

Wanton HeatTITLE: Wanton Heat
SERIES #: Feel The Heat #2
CHARACTERS: Zoe & Dominic
AUTHOR: Nicola Marsh
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/24/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At his majesty’s service…or so he thinks.

With her job and her self-respect on the line, advertising executive and reformed bad-girl Zoe Keaton heads to Italy to score a vital business deal. Unfortunately, the guy she needs to convince is the wickedly hot—and totally closed-off—Prince Dominic Ricci, who has no intention of listening to her pitch. So with the queen’s help, Zoe does the only thing that will get the job done. She kidnaps him.

But the joke’s on her when the queen’s matchmaking strands Zoe and the prince on the royal family’s secluded island. Zoe vows not to mix business with pleasure—and prove that she’s more than a spoiled rich girl who bought her way to success—but when the prince turns up the heat, the chemistry between them ignites. Is it just sizzling sex, or could an Italian prince with a tragic past fall for a take-no-prisoners American?

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This was just “ok” for me. A little different but kind of cheesy really. I never really felt any chemistry between the characters and there was just too much bickering. It was a short read so I won’t make this too long. It just didn’t do it for me.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Master Of The Opera #4 by Jeffe Kennedy

Master of Opera 4TITLE: Master Of The Opera: Dark Interlude
SERIES #: Master Of The Opera #4
CHARACTERS: Christine & Master
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/20/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon< | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the fourth fiery installment of Jeffe Kennedy’s scintilliating “Master of the Opera,” a woman surrenders-body and soul-to the one man who is everything she desires, everything she craves, and, possibly, everything she fears…Reeling from the discovery of a dead body in the Sante Fe Opera House, intern Christy Davis is forced to reassess the strange, erotically-charged relationship she’s forged with the mysterious masked man who lives in the labrynths below. Could her masterful lover be capable of murder, and worse? Perhaps it was the thrill of danger that drew Christy to him in the first place-like a moth to the flame-instead of a more conventional romance with the opera house’s handsome benefactor, Roman. For the sake of her sanity, she must at least give Roman a chance. But for the love of her master, she must give in to every wild fantasy, every wicked game, and every whim he commands…

Is Christy prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? To surrender her heart, her soul, her everything? First she must acknowledge the truth: a woman in love can serve only one master…

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This is the fourth in the series of short sections of the same story. And I must say it is getting weirder and weirder. I found myself shaking my head with this one. Christine is just so innocent and naive. And I do not mean innocent in a good way. I mean she lets people walk all over her even people she doesn’t like. I find it hard to like her to be honest.

I was also disappointed that the Master only had a cameo in this story but giving how it ended I assume he will have a bigger part in Act 5. I hope that one is better.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Misbehaving by Tiffany Reisz

MisbehavingTITLE: Misbehaving
CHARACTERS: Bea & Ben
AUTHOR: Tiffany Reisz
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/11/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wanted: Adventurous, open-minded man willing to try anything…

As a popular sex blogger, Beatriz gets paid to have orgasms. So being on deadline the week of her sister’s wedding isn’t as rough as it sounds. There’s just one hitch: Bea’s assignment is to write a review of a sex position manual, but she doesn’t have a plus one to play with.

The good news: Ben, the one who got away back in college, is also attending stag–and he’s as temptingly gorgeous as ever.

The bad news: Ben turned down Bea’s offer of graduation night sex five years ago.

The best news: He’s not planning on making the same mistake twice.

A red-hot retelling of Much Ado About Nothing for people who love Shakespeare but thought his plays could use a few more sex scenes.

REVIEW:
Honestly this was just stupid. I have never read Much Ado About Nothing which apparently this is taken from but this story was boring. The sex was boring, the story was boring and way too unreal. I mean really who has a conversation about college and why he couldn’t get involved back then while they have sex? And this was not the only time this type of thing happened in the story. Just too much of some stuff and not enough of others to make this interesting.

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

2hearts

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Kelly reviews Rule Breaker by Lora Leigh

Rule BreakerTITLE: Rule Breaker
SERIES #: Breed #29
CHARACTERS: Rule Breaker &
AUTHOR: Lora Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lion Breed, Rule Breaker had just a few rules he didn’t break. Not for anything. Not for anyone.

#1. Never have sex with a woman outside his own subspecies, especially a human woman.

#2. Never, at any time, accept a mission concerning a female when Jonas Wyatt stinks of a lie.

#3. Run don’t walk, skip or stumble. Run, hell for leather away from any female, human or breed, when his desire for her appears, in any way, to have so much as a single sign of Mating Heat.

Now, the woman believes he’s mated, is too helpless, to fun loving and too full of life to ever be able to protect herself, let alone aide him in protecting her.

If the damned animal inside him insisted on a mate, then why pick the woman it did? One that could be struck out at, at any time?

But, what he suspected was a mating, may not be. No swollen glands? No heat? Just his animal instincts rioting, pacing, irritated whenever he’s away from her.

Okay, he could handle that.

What ensues is a fiery affair that breaks all the rules of mating heat and will eventually endanger his mate with the very rules designed to protect the breeds when Jonas learns she’s possibly been working against them.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts WOW!!!!! 29 books in this series so far? And I think I read on Ms. Feehan that this series is going to be drawing to a close, but I would have to double check that. But I think that it might be time. While this was an okay book it really didn’t feel like the story went any where. And this was a long book around 450 pages. And it seems like a lot of those pages were just filled with random words. I honestly never felt a connection to Gypsy & Rule. I tried really hard to like them as a couple but it just didn’t work for me. I am not really sure of the why’s about this. Maybe it is just Gypsy’s personality. Maybe it is how Rule tries to denies what she means to him. Maybe it was a lot of things. Maybe it is because it has been so long since I read this series? And there is not enough time in the day to do a 28 book re-read.

Needless to say I am on the fence as to whether I will read the need book(s) in this series. I liked Gideon and would like to know more about him. But on the same hand I don’t want to be let down with a just okay story for him.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

2hearts

 

Meet Lora here: Website | Facebook | Goodreads

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Kelly & Kimberly review Bare Essentials by Shalvis & Kelly

Bare EssentialsTITLE: Bare Essentials
SERIES #: Naughty but Nice\Naturally Naughty
CHARACTERS: Cassie Montgomery & Sean Taggart\ Kate Jones & John Winfield Jr.
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis\ Leslie Kelly
PUBLICATION DATE: January 28, 2014 (reissue)
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Naughty But Nice by New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis

Lingerie model Cassie Tremaine Montgomery intends to have her revenge on the citizens of her hometown—starting with seducing the sheriff, Sean “Tag” Taggart. Tag, however, isn’t cooperating. He’s more than willing to set the sheets on fire with her, but he’s asking for more than just sizzling sex…. He knows Cassie’s not as tough as she pretends. And he knows she cares about him—even if she won’t admit it. So he’ll just turn up the heat until she concedes there’s more between them than this red-hot passion.

Naturally Naughty by New York Times bestselling author Leslie Kelly

Kate Jones, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, is home. And she’s got an agenda. To get revenge on the man who humiliated her mother, Kate’s going to seduce that man’s son—the town’s golden boy, John Winfield Jr.—and then leave him drooling in a puddle of lust. However, when she finds herself seduced by a sexy stranger named Jack, little does she guess that the tables have just been turned….

KELLY’S REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts I think this might have been the first time I picked up a Jill Shalvis book and didn’t fall head over heels in love the the characters. I am not sure what it was but I just didn’t care for Cassie at all.

This was my first read of a Leslie Kelly story and while I liked Kate and John I just never felt totally vested in them.

Not to say that these were bad stories or anything. I just didn’t get sucked into the world.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts This is a reprint from 2002 but to be honest I didn’t know that until I pulled up the information to type of this review. There were a couple of small things written that now I realize are dated but a handful of small comments does not take away from the story and 99% of the story is not dated at all.

The story of Cassie and Tag is very engrossing. I enjoyed the way they came together. I story background is interesting and comprehensive. I think Tag is a great character and I love that he has a list of what he wants in a woman and yet realizes that Cassie is none of those things and yet everything he wants. Cassie has issues but she is still fun to read about. She has an interesting way of thinking. Shalvis is one of the best and from this story you can see she had the golden touch even a dozen years ago.

The story of Jake and Kate was just as sweet as the story of her cousin. Jake is a great guy. I enjoyed the instant chemistry they had and the interesting history of the town. The sexual side of this story is a lot more intense than the first story but it is done in a fun and interesting way. Kelly has a much different way of writing then Shalvis does but their writing seems to mesh really well.

I enjoyed these stories very much.

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

2hearts4 Hearts

4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews Dark Moon by Kate Douglas

Dark MoonTITLE: Dark Moon
SERIES #: Spirit Wild #2
CHARACTERS: Igmutaka, Star, Sunny & Fen
AUTHOR: Kate Douglas
PUBLICATION DATE: January 28, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Chanku spirit guide Igmutaka has known since the day he held the newborn daughter of Tala and Mik Fuentes in his hands, that she would grow up to be his. Unfortunately, no one thought to copy Mikaela Star on the message.

After years of avoiding her overbearing spirit guide, Star has decided to return to Montana and face the beautiful and irritating man who has haunted her nights for much too long. But first, she takes a small vacation in California, where Igmutaka just happens to be waiting.

Sunny Daye has known this day was coming. She and Ig have been lovers for years, but both of them accept that they are not meant to be a mated pair. When Igmutaka tells Sunny her man is “out there, and coming closer,” she can barely contain her excitement. But Fen Ahlberg is not at all what Sunny expected—in fact, he is so much more that his mere existence may change the Chanku forever.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts To say that this book was a bit naughty would be a totally understatement. While I don’t mind a little sex with my story I felt like this was sex with a little story. There was so much bed hoping that I couldn’t handle it. I just didn’t get how Ig could continue to bed Sunny even though he was in love with Star. It just drove me nuts. I didn’t expect the m/m relationship either.
I am still recovering from reading this book. If you like your books naughty then pick up a copy of Dark Moon. If you don’t like any kind of naughty this is not the book for you.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Silver Chain by Primula Bond

Silver ChainTITLE: The Silver Chain
SERIES #: Unbreakable Trilogy #1
CHARACTERS: Serena & Gustav
AUTHOR: Primula Bond
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/05/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.

One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…

Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.

To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.

As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?

A seductive and beautifully written novel for erotic romance fans. The Silver Chain is the first in the sexy, passionate and addictive Unbreakable Trilogy by Primula Bond.

The next book in the trilogy, The Golden Locket, is out in ebook on 21st November and paperback on 19th December.

REVIEW:
I really did not enjoy this book. It was difficult to read for me. I really do not like when we get cliffhangers in books and this has one. The characters are uninteresting to me and have no connection. The story starts way to slow. The story says it is for fans of Fifty Shades but honestly doesn’t every book that claims it is erotica do the same thing? And trust me this is not up to par with Fifty Shades.

Had to force myself to finish it and really won’t read the next two in the series.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Snow White and The Vampire by Marina Myles

snow white and vampireTITLE: Snow White and The Vampire
SERIES #: Cursed Princess #2
CHARACTERS: Alba & Dimitri
AUTHOR: Marina Myles
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/19/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fog And Fascination

Alba Spencer thought her past in Romania and the dark magic that haunted it was behind her forever. She is one of the first female barristers now, safe in London. But London has its dark side, too. A man called the Ripper stalks the midnight streets. There are rumors that her hated stepmother has found her again, suggestions that the nightmares of her childhood are returning. And with them appears the cursed Gypsy boy she once loved, grown into a man more seductive and more terrifying than she ever could have dreamed…

Dimitri Grigorescu has become a surgeon, a gentleman—and a vampire. The lusts that drive his body are scarcely under control, and even he does not truly know what he is capable of. To fight evil and confusion, Alba must rely only on her wits—and a desire that overwhelms her doubts…

REVIEW:
2.5 HEARTS Hmmm well lets see. This is an interesting story with a very big twist on both Snow White and on vampires. The story held my attention. I wanted to know what was going to happen, mainly because of how unique the story is. However, the characters are not interesting in the least. I didn’t care for any of them to tell the truth.

If you are interested in the fairy tale or of the lure of vampires this is not for you. If you enjoy a oddly written historical paranormal then, hey, this might be just up your alley.

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

2hearts