3 Star – Page 15 – Books-n-Kisses

April 29, 2019April 28, 2019

Kimberly reviews Pirate’s Pleasure by Lisa Kessler

TITLE: Pirate’s Pleasure
SERIES #: Sentinels Of Savannah #3
CHARACTERS: John & Harmony
AUTHOR: Lisa Kessler
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/22/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No one steals from this pirate…

John Smyth has survived mutinous pirate crews, wars, and the passage of centuries by keeping his life as he did his ships, organized and well stocked. But when his crew is tasked with stealing Pandora’s Box for the government, it opens a door to destruction, and her name is Harmony Andrews.

Harmony is a risk-taking investment broker by day, and a thief by night. As a member of the underground Digi Robins crew, she steals relics to sell on the dark web and donates the money to people without insurance who need life-saving medical treatments. After taking a box from the docks in Savannah, she finds herself being hunted on multiple fronts, but she never expects the chaos trailing her to lead directly to her boss, the sexy, infuriating John Smyth.

The fearless thief has tangled with the wrong pirate, but he will be forced to choose: will he keep his heart safe at port, or follow it into the storm of pleasure.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the third in the series but I didn’t realize that when I requested it from NetGalley. While it can be read as a stand alone you can tell that you are missing some information from the previous books.

I have read this author off and on for years and to be honest have never been into the whole pirate thing but since I knew the author I thought I would give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed.

I felt the story was a little slow in the beginning and it took me a bit to understand that the series is about immortal pirates and the women they fall for. Seems an odd combination. But once the romance relaly got started it was an enjoyable read.

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

April 25, 2019April 23, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Husbands by T.J. Brearton

TITLE: The Husbands
CHARACTERS: Kelly Roth
AUTHOR: T.J. Brearton
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/17/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A BREATHTAKING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF SHOCKING TWISTS AND TURNS

He kills their wives. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. “Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.

Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal headshots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.

Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.

But is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this a cover for their own guilt? Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?

If you like Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Kendra Elliot, or JD Robb you will enjoy this compelling new mystery novel.

The book is set in New York State, an area the author brings to life with compelling detail based on his local knowledge.

ALSO BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR T.J. BREARTON HABIT SURVIVORS DAYBREAK BLACK SOUL DEAD GONE TRUTH OR DEAD GONE DARK WEB DARK KILLS

REVIEW:
3.25 Hearts So I am on the fence a bit on this novel. The psychological thriller side is interesting and kept me interested. The problem was the characters. I never really connected with any of them even the heroine, Kelly Roth. I found her strong and smart but any more of her personality was unexplained.

This is a heavy book, if you ask me. This is not a light read but one that makes you think about the human mind of the victim and the killer.

I was pretty sure I knew who it was a number of times but was still interested in how the mind works of the characters and the author.

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

April 3, 2019April 2, 2019

Kimberly reviews Avoiding The Badge by Dorothy F Shaw

TITLE: Avoiding The Badge
SERIES #: Arizona K9 #1
CHARACTERS: Rayna & Derek
AUTHOR: Dorothy F Shaw
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/04/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Rayna Michaels may be a veterinarian, but she knows a little something about the human heart—especially when it comes to worried pet owners. Law enforcement’s bonds with their K9 partners are legendary, and Derek Hansen is a perfect example—he’s had his dog Axle in more times than she can count in the last few months. And Derek’s sculpted muscles and heart-stopping smile would be truly irresistible, if only he wasn’t an officer of the law…

Derek can’t get Rayna’s stunning face and no-nonsense smarts out of his mind. Any excuse to see her will do, until he works up the nerve to ask her out. He’s not sure where her resistance to cops comes from, though he’s more than willing to prove he’s one of the good ones. But when casual dating turns into explosive lovemaking, Derek knows he has to come clean about his past before the woman he loves finds out what he’s been hiding and turns tail to run…

REVIEW:
This is a new series from a new to me author. Not knowing what to expect from this author I was hoping to find my new “go to” but I just didn’t. The story was fine if not a bit unoriginal. The problem was I never really connected with the characters. They never really seemed to bloom as characters.

I will try the next in the series just to see if the story improves as it goes.

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

March 27, 2019March 24, 2019

Kelly reviews My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

TITLE: My Lovely Wife
CHARACTERS: Millicent & Husband (aka Tobias)
AUTHOR: Samantha Downing
PUBLICATION DATE: March 26, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts What the actual………

Holy crow this book is crazy!

Millicent and her husband only know to us as Tobias are sick and twisted people. As this story goes on the level of twistedness elevates to a level I would have never ever expected! I am still trying to figure out what the heck I just read.

I don’t want to say to much and five you any kind of clues or hints. But if you are looking for a sick twisted love story you need to pick up a copy of My Lovely Wife.

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

March 26, 2019March 24, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Witch’s Kind by Louisa Morgan

TITLE: The Witch’s Kind
CHARACTERS: Barrie Anne & Charlotte
AUTHOR: Louisa Morgan
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/19/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of A Secret History of Witches comes an absorbing tale of love, sacrifice, family ties, and magic, set in the Pacific Northwest in the aftermath of World War II — perfect for fans of Practical Magic, The Witch’s Daughter, and A Discovery of Witches.

Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar — two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.

But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne’s long-lost husband — who is not quite the man she thought she married.

Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves — and the child they think of as their own — from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family…

For more from Louisa Morgan, check out A Secret History of Witches.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This book has a bit of everything. If you can think it up in the paranormal (ok maybe more fantasy) world then it is in this book.

There is a time jump between present day and WWII era and I have to say while it worked in both times the present day was a bit more enjoyable to read about. Usually in time travel I enjoy the olden era better but this one seemed to have more enjoyable times in present day.

I enjoyed the writing and the characters mostly. Some were a bit overboard but still an enjoyable fantasy read.

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

March 20, 2019March 18, 2019

Kimberly reviews What I’ve Done by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: What I’ve Done
SERIES #: Morgan Dane #4
CHARACTERS: Morgan & Haley
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/18/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Morgan Dane’s new client has blood on her hands—and no recollection of what happened—as the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling series continues.

Haley Powell wakes up covered in blood, with no memory of the night before. When she sees a man lying in the backyard, stabbed to death, she has only one terrified thought: What have I done?

Agreeing to take the case as a favor to her PI friend Lincoln Sharp, Morgan must scale a mountain of damning circumstantial and forensic evidence to prove her client innocent. Haley couldn’t appear more guilty: her bloodstained fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and she has no alibi. But Morgan can’t shake the feeling that this shocked young woman has been framed.

Someone out there is hell-bent on sabotaging her defense, targeting Morgan, her partner, and especially Haley. Someone who will stop at nothing—and whose next move will be deadly.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So I picked up this book because I have heard this authors name so many time from friends and family who enjoy her writing and after reading this I understand why. However, the problem was I didn’t realize this was the fourth in the series and I have to say I was a bit lost.

Morgan has a new client and that part is easy to follow. But the problem is Morgan herself.. And that is not really a “problem”… I wish I had read the other stories first just to understand a bit about Morgan herself. But that does not take away from the story.

I get it now. Leigh is certainly one that I will want to read again.

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

March 13, 2019March 10, 2019

Kelly reviews by Awaken The Darkness by Dianne Duvall

TITLE: Awaken the Darkness
SERIES #: Immortal Guardians #8
CHARACTERS: Stanislav & Susan
AUTHOR: Dianne Duvall
NARRATOR: Kirsten Potter
RUN TIME: 8 Hours & 46 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: July 10, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Kindle | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her.
When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that—against all reason—she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Awaken the Darkness was a good read. It was not my most favorite of the series but it was a great book to learn more about Stanislav and what happened to him after the battle that killed Yuri. Awaken the Darkness was a bit of a slow start but at about the halfway point it started to pick up. I still love this series and can’t wait to see where we go next.

As always I let the wonderful Kirsten Potter read this book to me. I love how talented she is with the amount of voices she can do. I really enjoy the fact that I don’t feel like she is just reading words on a page but telling me a story!

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

March 7, 2019March 4, 2019

Kimberly reviews Gown With The Wind by Stephanie Blackmoore

TITLE: Gown With The Wind
SERIES #: Wedding Planner Mystery #4
CHARACTERS: Mallory & Keith & Becca
AUTHOR: Stephanie Blackmoore
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/18/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Professional wedding planner Mallory Shepard knows her job is challenging under any circumstances. But when the groom is your ex and someone invites murder, there may never be another tomorrow . . .

Mallory’s fine–really–handling the wedding arrangements for her ex, Keith. But his fiance, Becca, has at the last minute decided to switch from a Japanese-cherry-blossom theme to a Gone with the Wind theme. She wants to honor her ailing grandmother, who owns an impressive collection of GWTW memorabilia–and who is fiercely at odds with the groom’s mother over the nuptial plans.

But among other complications, Becca gets into a fight with an old childhood rival over a replica Scarlett O’Hara wedding gown. She wins the dress–but soon becomes a murder suspect when the other woman is found dead in Becca’s swimming pool. And it’s up to Mallory to solve the mystery behind this unhappy occasion, before a different kind of civil war breaks out . . .

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts hearted and fun. This is the 4th in the series and though I have not read the other three it is a stand alone and can be read without feeling like anything was lost.

This is a quick read with a bit of thriller and mystery but mostly just cheesy light reading. Great book to take you out of your own head for a while.

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

March 6, 2019March 4, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Perfect Alibi by Phillip Margolin

TITLE: The Perfect Alibi
CHARACTERS: Robin Lockwood
AUTHOR: Phillip Margolin
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A young woman accuses a prominent local college athlete of rape. Convicted with the help of undisputable DNA evidence, the athlete swears his innocence and threatens both his lawyer and his accuser as he’s sent to prison. Not long after, there’s another rape and the DNA test shows that the same person committed both rapes—which is seemingly impossible since the man convicted of the first rape was in prison at the time of the second one. Now, the convicted athlete, joined by a new lawyer, is granted a new trial and bail. Shortly thereafter, his original lawyer disappears and his law partner is murdered.

Robin Lockwood is a young lawyer with a prestigious small law firm and a former MMA fighter who helped pay for Yale Law School with her bouts. She is representing the victim of the first rape for her civil lawsuit against her rapist, who is now convinced the rapist is stalking her and trying to intimidate her. At the same time, another client is up on a murder charge—one that should be dismissed as self-defense—but the D.A. trying the case is determined to bring it to trial. Now she has to mastermind two impossible cases, trying to find the hidden truth that links the two of them.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I enjoyed the suspense of this story but I was very confused in a number of parts of it. There are a bunch of characters and I kept having to reference back to who was who.

Margolin is a great writer who knows how to put it all into his books. But sometimes putting it all in the book might end up meaning too much stuff was put in. That is what it felt like reading this book. I kept asking “What more can he put in here?” and then he put more in and it seemed like a lot.

That all being said the suspense keeps you on your toes.

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

March 5, 2019March 4, 2019

Kimberly reviews Day Of The Dragon by Katie MacAlister

TITLE: Day Of The Dragon
SERIES #: Dragon Hunter #2
CHARACTERS: Thaisa & Archer
AUTHOR: Katie MacAlister
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TWO FULL NOVELS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! Fans of Lyndsay Sands and Gena Showalter will love this fiery paranormal romance from a New York Times bestselling author about a dragon shifter who finds his soul mate in the most unlikely place. Also includes WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle.

With dragons like him, who needs enemies?

Real scholars know that supernatural beings don’t exist. But the moment I meet Archer Andras of the Storm Dragons, all my academic training goes out the window. Thanks to Mr. Tall, Dark, And Infuriating, I’m learning that I really should worry about those things that go bump in the night. . . and that dragons like Archer are 100 percent pure trouble.

Now I’m caught in the middle of a war. On one side is Archer. On the other is his twin brother. And I am the key to translating an ancient text that could bring balance-or deadly ruin-to our world. But none of that is as dangerous as the seriously sexy sparks between Archer and me. He’s too tempting to be real. Too gorgeous to trust. And when it comes to dragons, there’s no smoke without deadly fire.

Includes the novel WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle: When Abby Carter is threatened by an anti-shifter organization, werewolf shifter Declan Reed will have to convince her that there’s no safer place in the world than in the arms of a big bad werewolf.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is two books in one so make sure that you have not read either one before spending the money. Especially the second book since it is from a different author and part of a different series…. WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle. You can read my review from when I originally read it in 2017. REVIEW

Now back to Day Of The Dragon… I was a bit bored. I never really connected with the characters and found them a bit maddening. I was just so bored that I wanted to stop reading but I didn’t. Thaisa just got on my nerves with the whole body image thing and Archer got on my nerves with his horniness. Just not my choice for reading.

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

February 22, 2019February 18, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Haunting Of Hillwood Farm by Kathryn Knight

TITLE: The Haunting Of Hillwood Farm
CHARACTERS: Callie & Luke
AUTHOR: Kathryn Knight
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/04/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted—the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear—the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist. While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.

Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits. He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose—he can watch out for his grandmother. He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie—the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.

As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.

BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE OF 2018 at N.N. Light’s Book Heaven Reviews

This title previously published in the USA TODAY Bestselling Love Under Fire Romantic Suspense Thrillers Box Set

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I was in the mood for a good old-fashioned ghost story. Well I sorta got it.

The ghost part was pretty obvious but kept me interesting. The romance was good and the suspense was fine too.

Problem was no part of it was great in my opinion. The writing was fine and it was a short read. A good read between more intense stories.

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

February 21, 2019February 18, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Last by Tawna Fenske

TITLE: The Last
SERIES #: The List Book #3
CHARACTERS: Sarah & Ian
AUTHOR: Tawna Fenske
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/04/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sarah Keating was sure she’d be married by 30. Husband, kids, the kick-ass career helping adults with Down Syndrome—she assumed she’d have it all, and there’d be no need to fall back on the marriage pact she made with her best pal from college.
But a tipsy message she sends from her birthday party brings Ian Nolan to her door ready to rock her world, and not just with mind-blowing sex. He’s up for tying the knot, and has a million pragmatic reasons it makes perfectly good sense.
As Sarah and Ian test drive their marriage-of-convenience, they navigate awkward business dinners, a slippery steam room hookup, and a costume party gone awry. Their friendship is stronger than ever, and the sexual chemistry is off the charts.
But is that enough to make a marriage work, or will one of them fall hard and end up brokenhearted?
Each book in the The List series is STANDALONE:
* The List
* The Test
* The Last

REVIEW:
3.5 This is the 3rd in the series. I have not read the other two. I really do not know if reading the others would have helped but I don’t think so since this book stood alone if you ask me.

This is a story any fan of the genre has read a hundred times. Pact is made that if friends are not married by 30 they will marry each other. But one doesn’t believe in love and the other wants a marriage based in love.

The writing was fine I just never really connected to the characters. I kept thinking they should have stayed friends. But there were times the romance fired and I enjoyed it but it was more like one step forward two steps back.

Fenske is a great writer this story just didn’t fall into one of my favs.

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