Category: 2 Star

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Kimberly reviews True by Erin McCarthy

trueTITLE: True
CHARACTERS: Rory & Tyler
AUTHOR: Erin McCarthy
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/0/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

REVIEW:
OK so here is the problem… I am not in college.. I am years and years beyond college. This does not say it is a YA book but I really think it is.

First I mean really hasn’t the story about the friends setting up the virgin been done enough? The first thing that got to me was only a page or two in when Rory is wanting to kiss Grant and Tyler the “hero” of the story is sleeping with someone else.

The story is just too juvenile for me I am sad to say. But if you want to read about college kids getting it on then give this a try.

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

2hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews The Keepers: Christmas In Salem by Graham, Leblanc, Pickering and Ciotta

the keepersTITLE: The Keepers: Christmas In Salem
CHARACTERS: Various
AUTHOR: Graham, Leblanc, Pickering, Ciotta
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/05/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
This holiday season, armed with love and passion, can the Keepers stop the reign of Darkness?

Christmas is coming to Salem, but so is an evil force that threatens all mankind. In this memorable collection led by New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham, four powerful Keepers must save their community as a strange, eternal night creeps over the town. Forced to choose between their time-honored responsibilities or the lovers their hearts desire, these four extraordinary women must risk their own happiness to save the holiday. But Christmas is a time for miracles, and as each Keeper’s greatest longing is met, the Season of Light returns. Don’t miss this magical holiday collection from Heather Graham, Deborah LeBlanc, Kathleen Pickering and Beth Ciotta.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This just didn’t do much for me. I enjoyed the story by Graham and was looking forward to the others but they just got repetitive. They were just too much alike so by the third story I was bored.

Not a great book to put you in the holiday spirit. Think I will stick with Graham’s Krewe Of Hunters series and leave the Keepers to others.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Perfect Mate by Aubrey Rose

perfect mateTITLE: Perfect Mate
SERIES #: A Werewolf BBW Romance #2
CHARACTERS: Julia & Damien
AUTHOR: Aubrey Rose
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The standalone romance novella which follows the #1 Bestselling Shifter Romance Blind Wolf!

Julia always thought that she was human. When the blind leader of a pack of straggling misfits claims her as his one true mate, she accepts that she is in love with Damien despite their radical differences.

But after another shifter wolf attacks them, he points to her as he dies and utters words that will change Julia’s life forever:

“…she’s not what you think she is…”

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This is the second in the novella series and I have to say it was just ok for me. The writing of the character was a bit immature. The story is sort of interesting but not much different than many others except Damien in blind. It is a short story so I won’t make this long but I do think you need to read the first novella before reading this one if you do chose to read it. There is not much to the BBW part and not much to the erotica part but if you like shifters you could possibly enjoy it.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Captive by A.D. Robertson

captiveTITLE: Captive: The Forbidden Side Of Nightshade
CHARACTERS: Sarah & Tristan
AUTHOR: A.D. Robertson
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/22/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The first adult novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade series, Captive delivers a steamy, forbidden romance between sworn enemies drawn together by an irrepressible desire.

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts Ok so here is the deal. I have no idea what Nightshade is and what it is all about. I’ve never heard of it so even though it has Nightshade in it’s title I didn’t realize it was referring to a series by someone else. So when I started this book I was lost. Totally completely lost. I have no idea who the characters are or what they do. There are a bunch of titles like Guardian, Arrow, Keepers, etc and it was just too much to try and comprehend.

I also could not get excited about Tristan. Honestly he seems like a wuss. Sarah is the one who wears the pants in this relationship and that just doesn’t work for me. And while I can see where the sex scenes are plenty I really am not sure I would say this is erotica. Based on the information that Nightshade is a YA series I can understand it being classified as Adult and not for YA readers but erotica? Nope.

Based on all that I tried to enjoy it. I just couldn’t.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Gabriel’s Outlaw by Sandra Chastain

Gabriels OutlawTITLE: Gabriel’s Outlaw
CHARACTERS: Jessie & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Sandra Chastain
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jessie James gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to participate in her hometown’s Gold Rush Days celebration. She’s supposed to lead a historical reenactment of a wagon train delivering gold to the capitol building in Atlanta. But after an anonymous phone call tips off a planned robbery, the governor sends someone to protect the payload—the man who broke Jessie’s heart. And when he strides into her bar, looking tempting in his cowboy boots and jeans, Jessie is consumed by righteous fury . . . and overwhelming desire.

Haunted by old memories of the sexy, enigmatic Jessie, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Gabriel St. Clair isn’t too keen on returning home. His goal is to complete his assignment and skip town as soon as possible. But there’s no way Gabriel will be able to make a clean getaway once he feels the pull of the fierce daredevil he loved and lost.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts Well I really didn’t enjoy this story. While I usually enjoy these re-releases, even though some sections are dated, this one just didn’t have the same appeal.

The characters didn’t have any chemistry. The story was different but it didn’t flow very well. There are some dated sections but not many. The problem wasn’t the time period but the story itself I am sad to say.

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

2hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Secret Santa by Michael, Levine, Bostwick and Myers

Secret SantaTITLE: Secret Santa
CHARACTERS: Various
AUTHOR: Michaels, Levine, Bostwick and Myers
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Christmas is the time for miracles, mayhem, and holiday romance in these wonderful stories from four of today’s most beloved authors…

“Mister Christmas” by Fern Michaels
A week before Christmas, attorney Claire O’Brien is summoned to Ireland to change her wealthy client’s will–only to encounter resistance from his handsome nephew. Will Claire be forced to spend the holidays up close and personal with her irresistible Irish nemesis?

“The Yellow Rose of Christmas” by Marie Bostwick
Though Miss Velvet Tudmore wrote off romance years ago, rumor has it she has a secret admirer. And when her surprise suitor promises to reveal himself at the annual Christmas ball in Too Much, Texas, Velvet starts to wonder: is it ever too late to find love?

“Nightmare on Elf Street” by Laura Levine
Aside from the mortifying costume, how bad can a gig as a mall Santa’s elf be? Jaine Austen finds out when she’s teamed up with the Santa from Hell. But things go from bad to worse when he’s found murdered on the job–and Jaine is a suspect. Now all she wants for Christmas is to find the real killer…

“Room at the Inn” by Cindy Myers
When a Rocky Mountain blizzard forces Barb and her husband to spend Christmas in a remote Colorado cabin with their fellow travelers, Barb struggles to cope–especially when her husband reveals troubling news. But sometimes a holiday shake-up is all a woman needs to discover what she’s truly made of…

REVIEW:
I was going to review each story separately but in all honesty they were all equally boring. There was no true connection between any of the characters. There was no real feel of the holidays either.

I just couldn’t get into these stories and I love the holiday stories when they come out. I’m sorry I just couldn’t enjoy this book.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews Desired By Shadow by Cynthia Luhrs

Desired By ShadowTITLE: Desired By Shadow
SERIES #: Shadow Walkers #2
CHARACTERS: Maggie & Robert
AUTHOR: Cynthia Luhrs
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/07/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A modern-day ghost story with a twist.

Betrayed. Kidnapped on her way home from work, Maggie is thrown into a terrifying world of shadow. Narrowly escaping death, she flees her kidnappers only to come face to face with the enemy.

Coming across a dying stranger, Maggie unleashes a terrible curse when she saves Robert. Now with only a week to break the curse, time is running out as they are locked in a deadly fight with forces that will stop at nothing to destroy them before they succeed. Intensely romantic and thrilling, Desired by Shadow portrays the struggle between redemption, retribution and the desire to find a love that transcends time.

REVIEW:
To be honest this book was just too weird for me. I just couldn’t get into it at all. Maybe if I had read the first in the series (I didn’t realize it was one when I got it) I might have understood it more but it was just too out there.

I like ghost stories (like Heather Graham) and from the synopsis I thought it was something like that but it is so far from that it is hard to even say they both write ghost stories. First the ghost are able to manifest to physical form which I didn’t like. There are all kinds of supernatural creatures which I might have been able to appreciate if that is what I thought the book was about. The romance part is weird too and I didn’t like how Robert was sleeping with three women at the beginning of the book.

Maybe it is your style and I wouldn’t tell you not to read it but I think you need to know the real synopsis of the book before you choose this story.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly review The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgans

The Next Big Thing

TITLE: The Next Best Thing
CHARACTERS: Lucy & Ethan
AUTHOR: Kristan Higgins
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/27/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lucy Lang isn’t looking for fireworks.

She’s looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who’ll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbecue, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important: someone who won’t inspire the slightest stirring in her heart or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can’t risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn’t enough either. So it’s goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate friend with privileges and hello to a man she can marry.

Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn’t going anywhere. As far as he’s concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?

REVIEW:
First let me say that I am a big fan of Higgins so I was surprised how much I did not enjoy this book. It was originally released in 2010 but it still did not seem like her MO of writing. First it is written in the first person which I can deal with but I am not sure why the author felt this book should be written that way. Second I am not a fan of someone who is pining away for a lost love the whole book somehow changing and falling in love again in a snap. I guess I should have realized from the title but I had no idea that Ethan really would stay “The Next Best Thing”.

I am really glad this was not my first Higgins book because honestly I am not sure if I would have picked up another one but thankfully I have read others so I will stay a fan and look forward to reading more of her books.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

Accidental demon Slayer

TITLE: The Accidental Demon Slayer
SERIES #: Demon Slayer #1
CHARACTERS: Lizzie & Dimitri
AUTHOR: Angie Fox
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/23/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It’s never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that’s just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she’s seen it all, Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer-and all hell is after her.

Of course, that’s not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you’ve never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn’t work, how dangerous could a little seduction be…?

REVIEW:
If you like silly and paranormal then you will enjoy this book. I was going to give it 1 stars because I really did not enjoy this however I can see that someone who enjoys silly movies, books, etc would like this.

I am also not a fan of talking animals even though Pirate has some ok lines it is not enough to make this book worth while. I am not a fan of silly movies (Austin Powers, The Hangover, etc) and know I am one of the minority but if you are a fan and like a good paranormal then do not take my word for it. Try it yourself and see.

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

2hearts

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Kimberly reviews All In by Raine Miller

TITLE: All In
SERIES #: The Blackstone Affair #2
CHARACTERS: Brynne & Ethan
AUTHOR: Raine Miller
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/09/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The second part in The Blackstone Affair series! Looming danger. A love worth fighting for. A man who’ll go all in.

Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who is willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

Here is the fiery story of what happens when two people surrender to a love so great it can heal the scars of the past and give way to a life of pure, rapturous ecstasy.

REVIEW:

2.5 Stars This is the second in the series. I have to say that it is not as good as the first in the series. This one is written in Ethan’s point of view while the first one was Brynne’s and it just did not seem the same. Ethan is such a needy character and while he is supposed to have a domineering side it is just not much there as far as I can tell. He also seems to be obsessed with sex with Brynne but it always seems to be the same type of sex if you ask me and he seems to confuse sex with love. He can actually sometimes turn irritating.

Brynne seemed off in this story too she seemed to turn marshmallowy in this book. While we learned more about her background and wow what a background it is and explains her attitude I actually wonder if a person who has gone through what she has would actually become the sexually submissive and everyday marshmallow that she is.

I hope the next in the series end up being better than this one.

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

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Kimberly reviews Stuck On You by Cheryl Harper

TITLE: Stuck On You
CHARACTERS: Laura & KT
AUTHOR: Cheryl Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/23/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon |B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Big shot producer KT Masters never apologizes. Especially not to showgirl waitresses. But when he tears Laura Charles’s feathered costume and she gives him a piece of her mind, it sets him aflame. In fact, between Laura’s feisty temper and how damn good she looks in that little number, KT wouldn’t mind seeing a lot more of that costume . . . balled up next to his bed, that is.

Despite KT’s arrogant attitude, Laura can’t help but be drawn to him. And when he offers her the fling of a lifetime—a week spent in his gorgeous celebrity arms—she’s willing to play along . . . just so long as her heart stays out of it.

But as things heat up between them, going back to the way things were isn’t so easy. Could their passion be the real thing . . . or just a vacation from reality?

REVIEW:
2.5 Stars Well I can sum of this book in three words: cheesy by cute. I actually wondered if this was the first book from this author but I see she has had a couple before this one. The dialogue is very immaturely written and well cheesy. The characters do not have a lot of connection and actually are written immaturely as well. KT actually is written like he could not find his head if it was not screwed on.

However that being said the story is very cute. The setting is different and the background characters are adorable. This story had a lot of potential but just didn’t meet it.

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

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Kimberly reviews Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe

TITLE: Paradise Hops
CHARACTERS: Lori/Garret/Eli
AUTHOR: Liz Crowe
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/15/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A brutal attack left Lori Brockton convinced she was damaged goods. By the time she emerges from hiding two years later, ready to run her family’s famous brewery, she’s determined to be independent–never rely on anyone ever again. Nearly a year of working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, teaches her all she needs to know about the business. Then, she comes face-to-face with masculine perfection in a suit and her world is rocked in more ways than one. Garret Hunter is the new Brockton business manager who takes one look at the beautiful, sad young woman and his entire existence coalesces around winning her heart.

But standing between Garrett and what he believes is his true love, is a six-feet six-inch blond-haired bad boy brewer.

Eli Buchannan is a craft beer rock star, recently hired by Brockton to drag the company into the 21st century. He brings innovation and attitude plus a prima donna ladies’ man reputation. But he’s sworn off anything resembling commitment, personal or professional, after getting burned at his last job on both fronts.

Garret Hunter is “The Perfect Man” — handsome, successful, stable, eager to settle down. Eli Buchannan… is not. Compelling, smoking hot, creative and elusive, he represents everything Lori Brockton should avoid. But just as she makes a difficult choice, a drastic life-changing shift occurs, and nothing is ever the same again.

REVIEW:
I just could not get into this book. The character of Lori is way beyond irritating and I just never cared about her circumstances. I am not big on the love triangle storyline anyway but wanted to give this book a shot and I am kinda sorry that I did.

Eli is crass and I just hated every scene he was in. Garret was very sweet but a bit OCD. Lori is selfish and I just never understood why she had to go back and forth between the two. And the end… UGH! I was just disappointed. I think this is a love it or hate it kind of story and I just didn’t love it at all.

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