3 Star – Page 20 – Books-n-Kisses

August 23, 2017August 20, 2017

Kimberly reviews SEAL Wolf Undercover by Terry Spear

TITLE: SEAL Wolf Undercover
SERIES #: Heart Of The Wolf #22
CHARACTERS: Jillian & Vaughn
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/01/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No wolf is safe in USA Today bestseller Terry Spear’s new installment of the SEAL Wolf series.

Never be so foolish as to fall for the enemy…
Special wolf agent Jillian Matthews has joined the jaguar-run United Shifter Force to track down a deadly criminal. She’s even willing to work with PI Vaughn Greystroke―until the hot, growly SEAL wolf makes the mistake of getting in her way. Naturally, she shoots him. Who could blame her?

Vaughn Greystroke has always worked alone. But when a string of attempted murders puts him in the crosshairs, teaming up with the Shifter Force begins to sound like a good idea. Even if he has to work with alluring―and potentially treacherous―Jillian Matthews. Vaughn is a trained SEAL, after all. He can surely keep his distance from Jillian…no matter how much she’s getting under his skin.

REVIEW:

Maybe it’s because this is the 22nd in a long line of books in the series but I just never connected with this story. It was a tough read. Mainly because I just didn’t seem interested. The story was fine but I think the series has done as much as they can possibly do already.

It wasn’t that it is a bad book. It’s not. I think someone reading this for the first time would find it quite interesting. And I enjoyed the wolf/jaguar romance. I will probably go back and re-read this story at some point just to see if my opinion changes.

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

August 18, 2017August 16, 2017

Kimberly reviews Hunger by Jacquelyn Frank

TITLE: Hunger
SERIES #: The Energy Vampires #2
CHARACTERS: Felica & Halo
AUTHOR: Jacquelyn Frank
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/08/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Two strangers—one warm and human, the other deadly and craving—become pawns in an all-out vampire war as this series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightwalkers saga heats up.

As an energy vampire, Halo enjoys the chase for human blood—if it’s pure and consensual. But Halo goes from hunter to hunted when he is knocked unconscious and taken hostage by vicious sycophants. As he comes to, he realizes that he’s naked, starving, and trapped in a sealed room. With him is a deliciously human female, tempting him to feed—except her blood is heady with the scent of poisonous drugs. Never has nourishment been so near, yet so far . . . and it’s all part of the sycophants’ sick game.

The last thing Felice Mendoza remembers is everything going black. She awakens stripped, drugged, exposed, and alone—with a vampire. Halo is at once savage and tender, terrifying and alluring. Felice senses that her only chance to escape depends upon his survival. Given the choice between Halo and his enemies, Felice surrenders to his ravenous hunger. It’s a calculated risk—and a delirious pleasure. As Felice is ushered into a world as dangerous as it is desirable, their fight for deliverance is only the beginning.

REVIEW:
To be honest I am just not sure of this series. It is so different than what we are used to reading about vampires. Don’t get me wrong. It is well written and interesting but the story always has me thinking “that isn’t what I’m used to” and it takes away from the story for me.

Again the story is good. The writing is good. The characters are good. Just not my kind of story.

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

August 9, 2017August 9, 2017

Kimberly reviews Little One by Timothy G Huguenin

TITLE: Little One
CHARACTERS: Kelsea Stone
AUTHOR: Timothy G. Huguenin
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/18/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Death is cold.

Kelsea Stone can’t remember her childhood, and frankly, she doesn’t really care. She’s doing fine on her own in L.A. without any family to tie her down. But when she finds out her estranged birth parents have died and left her their house in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, she discovers more than just an inheritance waiting for her in the mountains. An angry presence lingers there, and it won’t rest until it has had its revenge.

REVIEW:
Here is what I think. You either love this story or think it is ok. No in between. At least I do not think there would be any who hate it. And my other thought is there are no longer any true ghost stories.

I really hoped this story would prove me wrong and be a true ghost story but it wasn’t. I mean seriously, I don’t think the ghost has done more than look at people for ¾ of the book. What is scary about that? However in the beginning the story seemed to catch my attention it just never stayed caught. The good thing is it is a short book (200+ pages) and a quick read.

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

July 31, 2017July 30, 2017

Kimberly reviews Ominous by Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush & Rosalind Noonan

TITLE: Ominous
SERIES #: Wyoming #2
CHARACTERS: Ruth, Shiloh & Kat
AUTHOR: Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush & Rosalind Noonan
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/25/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Someone is watching. . .
New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush, and Rosalind Noonan join together in a gripping novel of suspense, as a long-guarded secret plunges three friends into a new nightmare.
NO WARNING
In the photograph, three teenaged girls splash in the river on a sweltering summer evening. Shiloh, Kat, and Ruth are unaware of the man who spies on them from the woods. They have no idea how their lives will be changed by the brutal violence that follows and the vow of secrecy they take.
CAN PREPARE YOU
Fifteen years later, Ruth and Shiloh have both returned to Prairie Creek, Wyoming, where Kat is deputy sheriff. Though they’ve tried to leave their shared past behind, each has the feeling that someone is lurking in the shadows. When a local girl vanishes, Kat is convinced there s a connection to that long ago night. But as the friends unite to find the missing teenager, a killer sends a chilling message.
FOR A KILLER’S VENGEANCE
He s still there. And he hasn’t forgotten. For so long he’s made do with other victims, but they can’t compare to the ones who got away. The ones who keep searching for him, blind to the terrifying truth that they are not the hunters, but his prey . . .”

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a great name for this book, because Ominous is what it is.

First, this story is very explicit and has some violent scenes. These scenes were a bit hard to read but as sad as it is these exact situations happen every day.

Three girls had to deal with a night of terror after having a little bit of fun skinny dipping. Now the girls are adults and have come back to town for various reasons. And the man who wanted to kill them on that terrible night 15 years ago is back after them because they are the girls “who got away”.

This is good and yet scary story. I think you really have to be in the mood for this kind of story. It is not a light suspense novel. This is one that makes you leary as soon as the lights go out.

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

July 28, 2017July 3, 2017

Kimberly reviews Arrowood by Mick Finley

TITLE: Arrowood
CHARACTERS: Arrowood
AUTHOR: Mick Finley
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/18/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
London Society takes their problems to Sherlock Holmes. Everyone else goes to Arrowood.

The Afghan War is over and a deal with the Irish appears to have brought an end to sectarian violence, but Britain’s position in the world is uncertain and the gap between rich and poor is widening. London is a place where the wealthy party while the underclass are tempted into lives of crime, drugs and prostitution. A serial killer stalks the streets. Politicians are embroiled in financial and sexual scandals. The year is 1895.

The police don’t have the resources to deal with everything that goes on in the capital. The rich turn to a celebrated private detective when they need help: Sherlock Holmes. But in densely populated south London, where the crimes are sleazier and Holmes rarely visits, people turn to Arrowood, a private investigator who despises Holmes, his wealthy clientele and his showy forensic approach to crime. Arrowood understands people, not clues.

REVIEW:
There is one phrase I kept thinking while reading this book “a poor man’s Sherlock”. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes I guess I should have realized I would have a hard time not comparing the characters. But I have to say the tag line caught me “London Society takes their problems to Sherlock Holmes. Everyone else goes to Arrowood.” I mean come on any fan of Holmes and Watson would fall for this line.

I think the story was ok. Nothing more, nothing less. Not sure I will be picking up the next in the series.

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

July 27, 2017July 3, 2017

Kimberly reviews Little One by Timothy G. Huguenin

TITLE: Little One
CHARACTERS: Kelsea Stone
AUTHOR: Timothy G. Huguenin
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/18/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N (Coming Soon)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Death is cold.

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

July 25, 2017July 2, 2017

Kimberly reviews Dark Rites by Heather Graham

TITLE: Dark Rites
SERIES #: Krewe of Hunters #22
CHARACTERS: Vickie & Griffin
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/25/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The witches, they are real…

A series of bizarre assaults is mystifying Boston police: an unknown attacker is viciously beating random strangers and leaving a note quoting an old warning about witchcraft. History professor Alex Maple was one of the victims, and now he’s gone missing. Vickie Preston is certain that someone has taken her friend for malicious purposes. She’s having blood-drenched visions that seem to be staining her waking life, and the escalating attacks suggest that a dangerous cult is at work behind the scenes—a cult so powerful that its members would rather die than be apprehended.

Vickie is grateful to have Special Agent Griffin Pryce and the FBI’s elite Krewe of Hunters on her side. Vickie and Griffin are finding their way in an increasingly passionate relationship, and he’s keeping her safe and sane amid the disturbing investigation. The search for Alex will take them deep into the wilderness of Massachusetts on the trail of a serial killer, where an ancient evil is waking.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This series is one of my favorites. I always look forward to picking up the latest but this one didn’t do it for me. I think it might have been because it was the same characters from the previous book. We met Vickie and Griffin in Dying Breath which was a really good book. I am not exactly sure why we have a follow up book to that one. Usually the books in this series bring the previous characters back as background but this one focuses on the same couple again.

Now that being said one of the things I enjoy most about this series is the history that Graham includes. I feel the need to mention this in every review because by the end of each other books I am ready to jump on a plane to visit the location and this was no different. The location is still Boston and the surrounding areas and this is an area with so much history that Graham had to work with.

This might not have been one of my favorites but I can’t wait for the next one. Because even the non-faves are still a joy to read.

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

July 20, 2017July 2, 2017

Kimberly reviews Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman

TITLE: Blue Hollow Falls
SERIES #: Blue Hollow Falls #1
CHARACTERS: Sunny & Sawyer
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/27/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From her free-spirited mother, Sunny Goodwin learned the value of peace, love, and Jerry Garcia. The inheritance from the father she never knew? That’s a little more complicated…

Sunny never expected to find herself owning a centuries old silk mill in the shadow of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains . . . or becoming a half-sister to a ten-year-old named Bailey. Once the shock subsides, she plans to cash in and head back home. But the overgrown greenhouse she finds on the property calls out to the gardener in her, and she senses Bailey’s need for nurturing too…

And someone else is making it hard for Sunny to leave: Sawyer Hartwell, an Iraq War hero who wants to make the old mill a creative hub for the artisans of Blue Hollow Falls . . . and wants Sunny to share his vision, and his life. But sexy as this ex-soldier may be, she’s not sure she’s ready to give love a chance…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts It took me quite a few chapters to get into this story. Being it is the first in a new series there was a lot of description and a lot of characters. Because of that the story was slow in the beginning. But once that part is done the story started catching my attention.

But even while I started getting into the story I didn’t feel the connection between the characters. Sunny is an odd duck but seems nice but a bit confused about her life. Sawyer is a good guy but as dreams of grandeur and Bailey is just off.

This story just wasn’t up to Kauffman’s storytelling ability. However, that being said Kauffman is high above most authors. I will be picking up the next in the series, well because it is Kauffman!

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

July 13, 2017July 2, 2017

Kimberly reviews Run To Ground by Katie Ruggle

TITLE: Run To Ground
SERIES #: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #1
CHARACTERS: Theo & Jules
AUTHOR: Katie Ruggle
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/06/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He lost his mentor.
He lost his K9 partner.
He almost lost his will to live.
But when a ruthless killer targets a woman on the run, Theo and his new K9 companion will do whatever it takes to survive—and save the woman neither can live without.

Grieving the death of his partner, Theo Bosco has no room in his life for distractions. Though his instincts scream that he should avoid Juliet ‘Jules’ Jackson, he can’t seem to stay away. It doesn’t help that Theo’s new K9 companion has fallen head over paws with Jules’s rambunctious family.

Or that when he’s with her, Theo finally knows peace.

When Jules rescued her siblings, whisking them away to the safety of the beautifully rugged Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye—or the heart—of a cop. Yet as Jules struggles to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another threat lurks much closer to home…

And this time, there’s no escape.

REVIEW:
3.25 Hearts Ok so I had a bit of a hard time with this story. First, Theo is a bit hard and stays that way for more than half of the book. While I can see that he has potential I have no idea why Jules becomes interested in him. Jules is on the run with her siblings and is on edge every moment of her life now. Even Viggy, the dog, is going through a hard time. Everyone is just so low.

The story is interesting and keeps the reader’s interest to see what is going on. I do have to say I figured out the “who-dun-it” shortly before it was revealed but that was fine. It is not like I had it from page 5 or something.

There is a lot of repetitive internal dialogue. I got to the point where I skipped over a number of paragraphs about how Jules knew it was the right thing to take her siblings and shouldn’t be involved with a cop but the story is still good. I also got aggravated at the end of the book. There was no definite ending. We never find out EXACTLY why Jules took her siblings, yes we get a general idea, but it doesn’t finish up. It gives us a setup for the next book though.

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

May 30, 2017May 29, 2017

Kimberly reviews Blue Heaven, Black Night by Heather Graham

TITLE: Blue Heaven, Black Night
CHARACTERS: Elise & Bryan
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/30/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
THE DREAM
The living image of a knight’s dream, Elise conceals a shocking secret: she is the illegitimate daughter of Henry II.

THE BLACK KNIGHT
A fierce and magnificent warrior, Sir Bryan Stede follows no law but his own . . . until he beholds the exquisite Elise.

Duty keeps her his reluctant prisoner. Fate will transform her into his cherished bride. Despite everything between heaven and hell that will come between them . . .

REVIEW:
This is a re-release under Shannon Drake from 1995. And while it may sound weird when talking about a historical romance this story is dated. There are a few things in the book that if written now would make a woman’s spidey senses go nuts like rape and just all around women being less than, if you know what I mean.

Now that being said, the story is good and as always Graham’s writing keeps you interested. She is one of the few I still read historical romance for.

I think you just need to give it a read and accept it for what it is. A dated historical romance.

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

May 16, 2017May 14, 2017

Kimberly reviews Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child

TITLE: Full Wolf Moon
CHARACTERS: Jeremy Logan
AUTHOR: Lincoln Child
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/16/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Forgotten Room and Deep Storm is back with a new thriller that follows the trail of a killer who cannot exist…featuring Jeremy Logan, the renowned investigator of the supernatural and fantastic.

Legends, no matter how outlandish, are often grounded in reality. This has been the guiding principle behind the exhilarating career of Jeremy Logan, the “enigmologist”–an investigator who specializes in analyzing phenomena that have no obvious explanation–previously seen in The Forgotten Room, The Third Gate, and Deep Storm. Logan has often found himself in situations where keeping an open mind could mean the difference between life and death, and that has never been more true than now.
Logan travels to an isolated writers’ retreat deep in the Adirondacks to finally work on his book when the remote community is rocked by the grisly discovery of a dead hiker on Desolation Mountain. The body has been severely mauled, but the unusual savagery of the bite and claw marks call into question the initial suspicions of a wild bear attack. When Logan is asked to help investigate, he discovers no shortage of suspects capable of such an attack–and no shortage of locals willing to point the finger and spread incredible rumors. One rumor, too impossible to believe, has even the forest ranger believing in werewolves. As Logan gets to know the remote deep-woods landscape, including a respected woman scientist still struggling with the violent loss of her father in these very woods, Logan realizes he’s up against something he has never seen before.
His most action-packed and white-knuckled novel to date, Full Wolf Moon is the perfect combination of exotic locales, provocative science, and raw action that make for a deeply entertaining Lincoln Child blockbuster.”

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the 5th in the Jeremy Logan series. Logan is one who studies odd phenomenon. So when he goes up to the mountains to work his friend from the area asks him to help investigate some problems that seem to happen when there is a full moon. Logan can also feel the feelings of others when he touches items. Be ready for a bit of paranormal/psychological storyline.

This is a quick read mainly because it has your interest from the first chapter. All stories from Lincoln Child are a bit out of the norm but that is what makes his books so interesting.

This can be a stand alone but I really feel like the reader would understand the story better if the others in the series have been read. Logan is not a normal character and having read his whole background.

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

May 8, 2017May 7, 2017

Kimberly reviews The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

TITLE: The Girl Who Knew Too Much
CHARACTERS: Irene & Oliver
AUTHOR: Amanda Quick
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/09/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Amanda Quick, the bestselling author of ’Til Death Do Us Part, transports readers to 1930s California, where glamour and seduction spawn a multitude of sins…

When Hollywood moguls and stars want privacy, they head to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every need. It’s where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician—until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago.

With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under…

REVIEW:
I am a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick so I was looking forward to this story but it just didn’t meet my expectations. Most of the book Amanda Quick are historical romance but this was set in the 1930’s. The other problem is it just didn’t have the writing style I am used to with Quick/JAK.

I think it was supposed to be a form of Film Noir but it felt really cheesy. Gosh I really hate saying that since I love JAK so much and wouldn’t miss one of her books if at all possible.

I want to make one thing clear though. I have based the stars on the books I normally read by this author. If based on a standard book the stars might be higher but this book is just not up to JAK/Quick’s par.

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