Category: 2 Star

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Can’t Hurry Love by Molly O’Keefe

TITLE: Can’t Hurry Love
AUTHOR: Molly O’Keefe
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Victoria Baker, the penniless widow of a disgraced financier, is ready to stand up, be counted, and make a new life for herself and her beloved son in Texas. She’s taking over Crooked Creek ranch, her birthright, and turning it into something special. All that stands in her way is Eli Turnbull, a rugged, too-handsome cowboy who wants the land just as badly. If Victoria wants a fight, Eli will give her one. He’s devoted his life to Crooked Creek, and he’s not about to let some pampered city girl-even one as brave and beautiful as Victoria-turn it into some silly spa. But Victoria’s and Eli’s burning anger and frustration only fuel heat of another kind: uncontrollable passion. And soon they each realize that the person standing in their way is the one they can never do without.

REVIEW:
There is a thin line between love and hate best describes this book. This is the second in the Crooked Creek Ranch series. And I will admit that I have not read the first one and based on this book I will not be picking it up anytime soon. I was very disappointed in this book. The characters are mean, hostile and dark. While I can handle the fighting in the beginning I expected the characters to have a change of heart that never happened. They fought on a constant basis. The characters never connected even during the “love” scenes.

I do not read a book to live vicariously in a dysfunctional situation and that is what this story was. Having never read this author before I am not sure if this is how she normally writes but I will say this series is just too dark for a fan of the romance genre.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Starstruck Romance & Other Hollywood Tails by Julia Dumont

TITLE: Starstruck Romance & Other Hollywood Tails
AUTHOR: Julia Dumont
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/04/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
As her Second Acts Dating Service truly takes off, Cynthia Amas discovers that in the heady world of high-end Hollywood romance, with success comes complexity. In this wildly seductive romp through the lush canyons and lavish neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the line between business and pleasure quickly blurs in a dizzying rush of sex and celebrity. Just as our heroine’s uncanny genius for matching up her growing roster of exclusive love seekers continues to deepen, her own love life reaches a fever pitch. Things get complicated. And funny. And excruciatingly sensual. Cynthia’s high-maintenance lovelorn mother, her maddeningly hot ex-fling Max, a long-lost high school crush, and of course her best friend, the libidinous, star-crazed Lolita and her mysterious pack of telepathic canines, are all along for the ride. Not to mention one very rich, very famous film producer. On top of everything else, her newest, most important client is literally the biggest movie star in the world. In more ways than one. When it comes to extra curriculars, he is the hardest-working stud in show business. Try as Cynthia may to hook him up with any number of gorgeous ladies in waiting, his notoriously one-track mind is set on her. She’s determined to steer the dating service to the next level, but it’s hard to focus, let alone keep your hands on the wheel, when you’re hot, bothered, and nearly driven to distraction along the steamy highways and byways of love and lust. What a way to make a living.

REVIEW:
This is the second in a new the series called Second Act. This book is a cute quick read. There are some funny pages and the dogs are adorable. The problem is that I never really found myself liking Cynthia. She and the rest of the cast can be very annoying. I never felt any chemistry with Max and Cynthia at all and spent the whole time trying to figure what she saw in him. Don’t get me wrong this is a cute read but just really didn’t have enough romance in it for me. Something is just off about this book for me even though I am not sure what it is.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Soul Weaver by Hailey Edwards

TITLE: Soul Weaver
AUTHOR: Hailey Edwards
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/07/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Since the accident that nearly took her life, Chloe suffers from acute agoraphobia. Living alone above her family’s bookstore, she spends restless nights terrified by strange visions . . . until a mysterious stranger appears and offers her salvation. Chloe is drawn to the ethereal, gorgeous Nathaniel-but her haunted soul warns her there is more to him than meets the eye.

An archangel who roams Earth collecting souls of the newly departed, Nathanial is the sole witness to the accident that should have taken Chloe’s life. Seduced by the purity of her soul, he defies Providence by saving her life. But his attempt at kindness marks Chloe for damnation, and makes her an unwitting pawn in a game of unholy ambition. Now together they must fight the demons of Hell itself-for a love that defies the boundaries of Heaven and Earth.

REVIEW:
Honestly it is hard to say if I liked this book or not. In the beginning there were so many characters introduced (and of course they were complicated angel names) that it was difficult to remember who was who and why they were doing what they were doing. The characters of Nathanial and Chloe just never connect for me. The characters of Chloe and Neve are actually a bit more interesting.

I was just so lost in the beginning of the story that I think I never fully got into the storyline. Yes the story got better but just never up to the potential the story had. There seem to be a lot of holes in the story. I mean supposedly Chloe has no ties to anyone (or atleast her soul doesn’t) but she seems to have a family she loved and people calling her and helping her.

While I have read books with angels/fallen angels I have not read one (not that I remember) solely on them so maybe I am not used to the genre and if someone is into this kind of story I can see them enjoying the book. It just really was not my cup of tea.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies by Cynthia Cooke

TITLE: Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies
AUTHOR: Cynthia Cooke
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/13/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Family secrets must be kept, and painful wounds must be ignored.
After an all-out assault by a vicious terrorist bent on destroying her entire family, a former government agent must break the strict rules she has always lived by when she emerges from hiding to reluctantly accept the help of her all-too-sexy ex-lover. Running a deadly race against time, they rush to rescue her kidnapped sister, find her missing father, and bring the notorious villain to justice. But nothing ever goes as planned. Bullets fly, danger abounds, and their
passion reignites even faster than the lies are flowing. But their stubbornly held secrets just might spell the end of their rekindled love and hopes for the future…as well as their very lives.

REVIEW:
This is a short novella. Genie has gone into hiding after leaving the CTA (Counter Terrorism Agency) but when terrorist come after her Kyle (her ex-boyfriend) and the CTA come to her rescue. Now she needs to find out who the people after her are, how they found her and figure out how to save herself and her family. But she has so many secrets and she is afraid to lean on Kyle and reveal those secrets.

The problem was Genie and Kye have no real connection. While the story can be a little interesting it is just not a story that is believable enough to keep your interest completely. Luckily it is not a long story so reading it to the end was doable, at best.

The story has potential but the author just did not get the characters right. There is no connection to any of them (boyfriend, sister, dad, etc) and the reader just doesn’t get to the point of caring about them either. Plus as I said it is so unbelievable it just never meshes and it manages to get more off course with every page.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of The Bloodgate Warrior by Joely Sue Burkhart

TITLE: The Bloodgate Warrior
AUTHOR: Joely Sue Burkhart
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/06/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
As the Mayan hero Técun lay dying, a sorceress cast a spell tying her bloodline to him, so that one day he could return and avenge their people…
Following a near-death experience, Cassandra Gonzales is haunted by erotic dreams of a mysterious man. As the dreams intensify, she is compelled to travel to Guatemala in search of him. There she learns that her blood has opened a gate—and she is the only one who can bring the great warrior back from the afterlife.
Once faced with Técun in the flesh, Cassie fears the need he stirs within her. She aches to submit to the pleasure he promises, but first she must learn to trust in him, and in her own desires. Their time for sensual exploration is brief—Técun’s killer has escaped, intent on sacrificing Cassie and wreaking havoc on the world. Now, only Cassie’s complete and willing surrender to Técun will give him the power to defeat the demon once and for all…

REVIEW:
First let me say I have not read a lot of time travel books so I am not sure if this is common for most of this genre but it seemed so unbelievable. I know that time travel does not really happen but when I read a book I want to believe it can come true. I was unsure if I could buy the whole going all the way to a different country to find a man who is only in my dreams just to have him come through some gate in a cave but when the zombie came out I was beyond enjoying this book.

I was not too thrilled with the writing style of the book. First it was written in the first person which really did not seem to fit the story somehow. Also it seemed that Tecun was using Cassie more than was there for her. They did not have a connection at all. In one of the chapters one of the characters says “It’s like a bad B-movie” and I have to say I felt like the whole book was like that. But if you like B-movies, time travel, warriors and zombies this might just be the book for you.

Disclaimer:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received this book free from the author.

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Lord Atwood’s Lovers by Eva Clancy

Lord Atwood’s Lovers
AUTHOR: Eva Clancy
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
To the rest of the ton, Lord and Lady Atwood seem to have the perfect marriage. They wed for love and their marriage bed doesn’t lack for passion—but Imogen is haunted by the memory of her first marriage…while Charles harbors secret thoughts and desires he’s been unable to confess to his wife.

Then Charles’s ex-lover, Alexander Lambert, arrives in town, throwing Charles into a tailspin—and awakening a surprising attraction in Imogen. Now, both have to face the possibility that they may need more than just each other to be truly complete.

REVIEW:
I think this was trying to be a story of erotica but it just didn’t work. While the background story was interesting there was not enough of it. And there was not enough of the sex scenes to have it fall under the erotica heading. Surprisingly though the story might have made a really good novella since there could have been more put into the characters story but it felt like the story was being rushed to get to where Alex is brought into the story but yet when he finally is brought it there is nothing interesting that happens. It could have been written so we see more of how Charles enjoys watching Imogene flirt with other men and more about the nightmares she has. Then we could have maybe met Alex with more of a storyline like maybe Alex and Imogene flirt at first without Charles knowing or something… I do not know I just know that there was not enough to this story in any way shape or form which is too bad because the premise was really good.

Posted on

Kelly’s review of A Perfect Knight For Love by Jackie Ivie

 A Perfect Knight
AUTHOR: Jackie Ivie
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/04/12
ORDER LINK:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Deep in the Scottish Highlands, a stalwart clansman and a wayward bride confront duty and desire…

A Man of Misfortune

With his reckless, drunken brother bringing ruin to the clan, and the lass he’s loved all his life in the clutches of a violent husband, the last thing Thayne MacGowan needs is a spirited, sharp-tongued damsel to contend with—no matter how enticing she may be…

A Woman With A Secret

Having narrowly escaped an objectionable arranged marriage, Amalie is starting a new life—with a new identity. But her freedom is cut short when a surly but irresistibly handsome Highlander is forced to take her as his bride. If only he knew who she really was…

An Unlikely Love

Fate designs an improbable match, and a battle of wills ensues. As Amalie struggles to protect her identity, Thayne finds himself fighting for an unexpected love—and a passion neither can refuse

REVIEW:
Ok, I have to admit I am not overly wild about Highlander books.  Yes, I know many of you are.  And I can kinda see the appeal, but there is something about them that I just can not engage with.  I am not sure if it is the dialog or just the world in general.  So take my review with a grain of salt.

Thayne is a bit, okay a lot, of an ass as a hero.  Not only does he force Amalie to go along with his plan, when she saves his back he is not very greatful.  Not only does he use the whole “I am the lesser of two evils” link on her over and over again, when he finally gets what he is after he is not very nice about it.  I tried to like Thayne, I really did.  And at times I thought that maybe this is the time that he is going to turn around, but sadly it took the whole book right up to the very last page for me to finally kinda like the guy.

If you are a fan of Jackie Ivie or love Highlander books I am sure you will enjoy A Perfect Knight, but for me it just was not my cup of tea.

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

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Start Me Up by Angela R Sargenti

TITLE: Start Me Up
AUTHOR: Angela R Sargenti
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/30/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon (Kindle Only)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Among this collection of enticingly lustful tales you’ll find: Jeff of the Jungle, where a lady scientist gets more than she bargains for when she captures a real-life ape man; Shrimp, or what happens when a straight girl gives in to her bi-curious yearnings; and Warped, where a sweet little teaser drags her strait-laced boyfriend, kicking and screaming, into the world of kink.

For those who love the supernatural, you’ll find such stories as Christmas Magic, where an office party escapee hooks up with a fun-loving vampire and experiences some real magic for a change; in The Cougar’s Mate, a young woman has her first sexual encounter with the shape-shifter of her dreams, and in Vlad the Impaler, the title character tries to rejuvenate himself at his lover’s expense.

A spanko explains the attraction in From Behind; and Persistence tells of a man’s girlfriend who wears down his resistance to a certain activity. Love-hate relationships feature in Paradox and Pissed Off, and a girl rescues a cute guy who’s struck down in the street in What Hit Me?

Then there’s the aptly titled Knife Play; and last but not least, you’ll find the two-part tale of how a man seduces his best friend’s barely-legal sister in Little Sister and Alpha Dog.

REVIEW:
This is a collection of “supposed” erotica. It has a number of stories some a few pages and a number that are less than one page long. And none of them erotic to me at all. Maybe it is just my taste but there was not much sexual about any of these stories.

There really is not much good I can say about these stories so I will not say anything much at all.