Category: 3 Star

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Kimberly reviews The Righteous & The Wicked by April Emerson

Righteoous and WickedTITLE: The Righteous and The Wicked
CHARACTERS: Emma & Eric
AUTHOR: April Emerson
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/10/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Small moments can seem insignificant until they change the course of a life forever. The sound of a bulldozer. A chance meeting at a gas station. A gust of wind through a chime. Benign events become something more when viewed through the lens of fate.

Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.

That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.

That all changes when he meets Emma. She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.

Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.

They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.

REVIEW:
I had the hardest time reading this story. First the writing is just different. Something is off about it and it made it hard to enjoy the story for me. Second Both Emma and Eric are such lost characters that I didn’t understand how they could be attracted to each other. I mean really can one lost soul really find and heal another? Eric sleeps with everything that walks and I really do not enjoy when one of the character sleeps around. And Emma has her own secret that disappointed me when I found out.

This is a very dark and not a carefree love story and while I can appreciate the story for what it is and appreciate it this was just not the story for me.

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

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Natasha reviews The Genesis Project by Tigris Eden

Genesis projectTITLE: The Genesis Project
SERIES #: New Earth #1
CHARACTERS: Genesis Blackmore, Xander Treegold and Adam Reynard
AUTHOR: Tigris Eden
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/28/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Old earth has been deemed unsuitable for life, New Earth is home. With the Uni-Wars over, races have joined together in order to sustain their way of life. All life was considered worth saving, but only one race failed to submit. Humans.
Now extinct, humans are a thing of the past. The people of New Earth won’t acknowledge their hand in their eradication, but they have benefited from it. Dr. Vaggo Blackmore has found the answer, he’s restored his races way of life- sustenance through farming. The one thing that will give them back their long lives….. Blood, human blood.
Biologically engineered in a lab, Genesis Blackmore has always been different. Her father has told her it’s due to her enhancements, the Federated Council sees her as a genetic mutation; and her fellow peers see her as the shiny new toy. Gen has had better days.
Everyone on New Earth has milky white skin, platinum blonde hair, and electric blue eyes. It’s the norm. Genesis’ glossy, black hair, ice blue eyes ringed by gold, would have almost made her socially acceptable- if it wasn’t for her golden skin and blue, gold veins. In a sea of milky white she alone is the dark anomaly.
All Pars get their life’s nourishment through blood plasma. All Pars find their match through the tasting. Gen can do neither, forbidden by her father to do so. She can neither taste, nor be tasted. Something that’s never bothered her until now.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Oh, I’m intrigued! I really enjoyed this book. The beginning is filled with a lot of information that kinda bogs down the story a bit. There is a lot of back-story and information to be shared about the world the characters live in, and at times I was confused by it all. But it does eventually pick up and I’m happy I kept reading. About halfway through, I couldn’t put it down! Genesis is a very strong character, and the author wrote her in such a manner that she will continue to grow and become even stronger. I can’t wait to see the things that Genesis will work through and discover. I also really enjoyed the other two main characters: Xander and Adam. I will say though, that I’m kinda Team Xander! He’s a sweetie, underneath it all – I’m convinced! As a general rule I don’t enjoy love triangles, but the uncertainty with these characters is exciting and I’m enjoying the tension. The book had a few minor editing issues, but it did not take away from the story at all. I’m very excited to read the next installment of this series, because that ending just wasn’t fair!

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

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Kimberly reviews Breathe Into Me by Sara Fawkes

Breathe into MeTITLE: Breathe Into Me
CHARACTERS: Lacey & Everett
AUTHOR: Sara Fawkes
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/08/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
How did my life get so broken? It’s a question Lacey St. James asks herself every day. Stuck raising her little brother in a trailer park while she works a dead end job at a grocery store, she has a stalker ex-boyfriend, a bad reputation, and no way out.

And then, she meets Everett, who changes her entire existence.

Everett is an outsider who’s housesitting his family’s mansion off the coast, and for reasons Lacey can’t understand, he’s completely transfixed by her. He seems determined to show her that life can offer more than she’d ever hoped for, if only she believes in herself. She desperately yearns to trust him, but what happens when she finds out that everything he’s told her is a lie?

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This book is so sad. Pulled from recent headlines it hits home to bullying. I am not sure Lacey could have anything else go wrong in her life. She is such a sad case and yet someone you want to see pull herself together and show the world she can make it. Everett is so not the alpha male, unless he needs to be, but there is still something about him.

I enjoyed this book. There is just so much that goes on in it that it is hard to not want to keep reading it. The characters, including background characters, are very interesting and their feelings palpable. Well written. And I loved the cover art.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Education of Victoria by Angela Meadows

education of victoriaTITLE: The Education Of Victoria
CHARACTERS: Victoria
AUTHOR: Angela Meadows
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/01/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lessons in love and a whole lot more, are in store in this saucy romp set in a European finishing school for young ladies. Packed off to a continental finishing school, 16-year-old Victoria thinks she will be taught how to be a dutiful wife for a gentleman. But she soon discovers that she has a lot to learn in the arts of pleasure at the Venus School for Young Ladies. There she encounters the strictness of Principal Madame Thackeray and her team of tutors. Under their guidance she learns the finer arts of sexual pleasure and discovers that there are plenty of fellow students and staff willing to share their carnal knowledge with this sweet young English rose. On returning to England, she finds her father in financial difficulty, and must turn her newfound education to good use to save the family estate.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Umm Wow ok… did I say wow… This was not erotica this was written porn. Good written porn but still. I am not sure there is more than 3 paragraphs written at a time that does not have some kind of sex scene. There is sex is every form and with every person. Nothing is too taboo in this book. Including the fact the main character who starts this journey at what her father thinks is a finishing school but it more of a school of sex is only 16.

First not that I would compare the writing of this book with the Sleeping Beauty series from Anne Rice but if you enjoyed the type of book that the Sleeping Beauty books are then you will enjoy this. There is a slight story wrapped around the character having sex with everything that moves.

I enjoyed the story for what it was but it was a little much at some points. That being said if there is another in the series I will pick it up.

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

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Kelly review Midnight Pursuit by Elle Kennedy

Midnight PursuitsTITLE: Midnight Pursuits
SERIES #: Killer Instincts #4
CHARACTERS: Ethan Hayes & Juliet Mason
AUTHOR: Elle Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: April 1, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Her job is to stay hidden.
Too bad he can’t take his eyes off her.

Soldier-for-hire Ethan Hayes is the youngest member of an elite mercenary team. While he may be affectionately nicknamed the rookie, the skills Ethan honed as a Marine make him seriously dangerous. But when a sudden distress call puts him in close quarters with a rival, he finds more than his field skills being put to the test.

Juliet Mason stands out as the master thief in a covert group of assassins and spies. Her latest mission is personal—and it’s gone horribly wrong. Juliet may prefer to work alone, but when the rookie comes to her aid in snowy Eastern Europe, she can’t deny they make a good team. But even up against a powerful enemy, their most challenging task yet may be fighting the passion between them..

REVIEW:
3.5 HEARTS The best way to explain Ethan & Juliet is like a tornado meeting a hurricane. While each can be very destructive independently together they will be unstoppable. But somewhere along the way the storms calm and all that is left is each other.
This was a fast pace book. There was no waiting for the action to start. I will say that I think my one of my favorite parts is Ethan’s rules on dating (hehe) Juliet never expected that :D.
If you are a fan of Elle’s Killer Instinct series you will love Ethan & Juliet’s story. Oh and Jack gives us a bit of a surprise at the end of this book (sneaky guy 🙂 ). Looking forward to the next book in this series.

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.

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Kelly reviews Sweetest Surrender by Katie Reus

sweetest SurrenderTITLE: Sweetest Surrender
SERIES #: The Serafina: Sin City #3
CHARACTERS: Vadim & Angel
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: March 30, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A woman on the run…

Angel has been on her own for two years, moving from place to place to outrun her past. With no family and few friends to lean on, she’s managed to keep her secrets and stay safe. But when her past suddenly catches up to her, she has a choice to make. Run or stay and claim her life once more.

He’ll stop at nothing to protect her…

Vadim has never let anyone close to him—until Angel. From the first time he met her, everything changed. As a private consultant for Wyatt Christiansen, he’s good with computers and he’s got connections to unearth people’s deepest, darkest secrets. When Angel’s life is threatened Vadim steps in and uses all his resources to end the threat once and for all. As the danger closes in, he lies to her in an effort to protect her, not realizing that even once the threat is eliminated, he might lose her anyway.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts

This was a quick read about 150 pages. There may have not been a ton of suspense in this story it was a good story. I really loved Vadim. I mean really who doesn’t love man who one is hot, two has an accent and three scares the living bejesus out of everyone but you. Well that pretty much sums up Vadim. He is a total badass but yet so sweet and gentle when needed. And that is everything Angel needs.
Angel is a sweet girl who was dealt some very bad cards. To many deaths in her short life and trusting the wrong person at the wrong time has made the last two years a living nightmare for her. But with Vadim by her side she might be able to face the demons from the past.

Over all I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to what is next in The Serafina: Sin City series.

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

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Kimberly reviews Love Charms: A Paranormal Boxed Set by Various Authors

love charmsTITLE: Love Charms: A Paranormal Boxed Set
CHARACTERS: Various
AUTHOR: Various
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/04/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Blinded by Magic: A Witch Romance by Ava Catori: Raven’s weakness is mortal men. She’s fallen hard for Derek. There’s just one problem, he doesn’t know she’s a witch. Can he accept her truth or will their relationship crumble?
Blind Date by Selena Kitt: Selena Kitt’s Blind Date ventures into the strange and surreal realm of magical realism in a hot Valentine’s Day romance that takes on the classic Greek myth of Eros and Psyche.
Breathless by Cerys du Lys: Sadie and Evan live in different worlds. Brought together by fate, and held there by hope, can they bridge the gap dividing humanity, or will long held fears and prejudice force them apart forever?
The Passion Cure by Deanna Roy: Jet is a Nix, an outcast enchantress with zero power. To conjure a love spell to save her family, she seduces a handsome enchanter who is willing to break the rules, and possibly, her heart.
Marked by Charisma M. Cole: Jade Murray is a witch that can communicate with the dead. After a summoning goes awry, two murders rock the human and supernatural world. One thing connects the gruesome acts: Jade.
The Warlord’s Concubine by J.E. & M. Keep: As a servant to the princess for much of her life, Mirella sees the conquest of the land as an opportunity to elevate herself.
A Demon and His Witch by Eve Langlais: Remy’s seen a lot during his tenure in Lucifer’s guard, but nothing can prepare him for the witch with the acerbic tongue–and voluptuous figure. Can he convince her to love him and not kill him?
Psychic Appeal by Michelle McCleod: Psychic Sofia Parker has fallen in love, a problem because her new relationship drives the lovesick ghost of her ex-boyfriend to come back from the dead…anyway he can.
Memoir of a Reluctant Shaman by Ty Nolan: When his love spell goes wrong, our hero is exiled to be fully initiated as a Shaman in this spicy tale of New Orleans Voodoo and Native American magic.
Vampire Lords of Blacknall: Trinity by Shirl Anders: Only a creature of the night can save her. Lady Beth Winslow never stays home at night. She fears her stepbrother. Then a monster stalks her in the dark woods and she cannot tell beast from savior.

REVIEW:
Why I request these box sets I really do not know. When you have so many stories the average person will love some and hate others and that is what happened with this box set, of course. Just about the time I liked a story the next one was just ok for me. And of course there were the ones I didn’t like at all. It would be a nice set to have for when you need a quick story to read but reading them back to back just didn’t do it for me.

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

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Kimberly reviews Playing To Win by Shelley Munro

Playing to WinTITLE: Playing To Win
CHARACTERS: Kate & Lane
AUTHOR: Shelley Munro
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Professional rugby player Lane Gerrard is used to women throwing themselves at him, but a scurrilous tabloid article naming him as father of a child sends his temper soaring. The woman he confronts doesn’t fit the blackmailer profile. Kate Alexander is attractive with an enchanting innocence, enticing. A total stranger. Her feistiness draws his unwilling admiration, but the child…he is the image of Lane.Kate can’t deny her son’s similarity to the sexy man at her door but no way will she hand him over without a fight. Kate doesn’t possess money but she can shower her son with love. With public speculation rife, Kate reluctantly works with Lane to discover the truth. They grow closer as distrust slowly turns to mutual fascination, but the tabloid articles bring out a stalker. Mild pranks escalate into danger, and suddenly Lane realizes Kate is a woman he could love. With Kate and her son, he could have a family. Now, with his heart on the line, this is one game he’s playing to win.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I liked this story. It lets you know that sometimes things happen for a reason. As I got ready to write the review I see that it is a reprint which now makes sense. Some things in the story seemed dated but I wasn’t sure why. Now I know.

This is a typical sweet romance. It has a man who isn’t looking for love, a woman who thinks her life is complete, a boy who has been through enough already and a little bit of suspense. It is a relatively quick read. It is well written even though slightly dated but still enjoyable.

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

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Kimberly reviews Love In The Shadows by Barbara Wallace

Love in the ShadowsTITLE: Love In The Shadows
CHARACTERS: Jenny & Nick
AUTHOR: Barbara Wallace
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can a feisty four-legged matchmaker help four best friends find the romance of their dreams?

Jenny is a woman on a mission – she’ll even resort to dognapping to make her point! But can she teach a reclusive, emotionally-wounded tycoon that love heals all things?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the fourth is the “series” of short stories, each story is only about 60 pages long. I am not sure if it is really a series since each book is from a different author but it does involve the same people and the same dog. This is the best of the series. I enjoyed the couple very much. Their feelings are palpable from the pages. The hurt and insecurity. The story is sweet and completes the series very well.

Each book from this series is great to have on the e-reader for a quick read between books.

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

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Kimberly reviews Waking The Dead by Heather Graham

waking the deadTITLE: Waking The Dead
SERIES #: Cafferty & Quinn #2
CHARACTERS: Danni & Michael
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/25/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They say a painting can have a life of its own…

In the case of Ghosts in the Mind by Henry Sebastian Hubert, that’s more than just an expression. This painting is reputed to come to life—and to bring death. The artist was a friend of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley, joining them in Switzerland during 1816, “the year without a summer.” That was when they all explored themes of horror and depravity in their art….

Now, almost two hundred years later, the painting appears in New Orleans. Wherever it goes, death seems to follow.

Danielle Cafferty and Michael Quinn, occasional partners in solving crime, are quickly drawn into the case. They begin to make connections between that summer in Switzerland and this spring in Louisiana. Danni, the owner of an eccentric antiques shop, and Quinn, a private detective, have discovered that they have separate but complementary talents when it comes to investigating unusual situations.

Trying to blend their personal relationship with the professional lives they’ve stumbled into, they learn how much they need each other. Especially as they confront this work of art—and evil. The people in the portrait might be dead, but something seems to wake them and free them to commit bloody crimes. Cafferty and Quinn must discover what that is. And they have to destroy it—before it destroys them.

REVIEW:
I read the first in this series and was not to thrilled by it but because I love Graham’s Krewe Of Hunters/Harrison Investigation series I thought I would give this series another try. I just really do not enjoy these characters. They have no true connection. While the story is interesting and the historical background that Graham weaves into her stories is interesting something is just off.

I am also not a fan of continuing stories. I enjoy past series characters coming by as background characters but I do not want the main characters to remain the same (ok maybe a series here or there but not usually) and especially with these two because they have no spark. It is as if they are forced and even they are not sure they should be together.

I need to remember to not pick up this series but there would be no stopping me from the next in the Krewe series.

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

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Kimberly reviews Fated Mates by Various Authors

fated matesTITLE: Fated Mates: The Alpha Shifter Boxed Set
CHARACTERS: Varies
AUTHOR: Varies
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/04/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All American Wolf by Adriana Hunter: If Serena’s not careful she may lose her heart to Brody Sullivan – the dangerously possessive stranger who is willing to break every one of her rules.
Charming the Alpha by Liliana Rhodes: Hannah Crane’s ordinary life changes after she meets Alpha wolf Caleb. As the center of a centuries old curse, is Hannah a wolf charmer or Caleb’s fated mate?
Change For Me by Lynn Red: Motorcycle riding, tattooed bad boy alpha werewolf fights to save his mate from his terrifying rival. Steamy, seductive, sensual werewolf romance.
Bear King’s Curves: A BBW Werebear Shifter Romance by A.T. Mitchell: Curvy Lyla’s bad attitude toward bears is about to change. Destiny blind Nick is the Alpha to do it, no matter how much passion, mystery, and danger it means…
Delicate Freakin Flower by Eve Langlais: Can a pair of hunky shapeshifting jocks convince a not-so delicate freakn’ flower that they can handle her thorns—and her passion?
The Alpha’s Mate by Michelle Fox: Chloe Weiss has finally met the mate of her dreams, but jealousy in the pack and a murderer on the loose make for a dangerous ‘happily ever after.’
Romancing the Wolf (BBW/Werewolf Romance) by Skye Eagleday: The romantic adventures of two curvy sisters and one hot pack: Can the werewolves survive Bree and her sassy sister?
Protecting the Pack by Tabitha Conall: In a world where werewolves mate in threes, the mating lust pulls one triad together while overwhelming obstacles pull them apart, possibly forever.
Witchy Wolf by Alexis Dare: A brutal attack alters Chloe’s life. As her world crumbles, biker Gabe steps in to pick up the pieces. Can he save her from the danger lurking in the shadows?
A Change To Bear (Last of the Shapeshifters) by A.E. Grace: Liam, shapeshifter, is on the run. Hunted by a man who will hurt anyone he cares for, it’s why he can’t fall in love. Until he meets a curvy Terry Spencer…
Curves for the Lone Alpha by Molly Prince: When Carrie is dumped before a weekend away, her decision to go alone puts her on a collision course with James. A packless alpha who hunts rogue shifters.
The Alpha Claims A Mate by Georgette St. Clair: Curvy Ginger Colby accidentally insulted the Alpha of the local pack when she rejected him at the local honky tonk-and now he’s seeking delicious, sexy revenge.

REVIEW:
I was going to review each story individually but I found myself writing the same things over and over so I decided I would write a general review. Some stories are better than others and some are worse. I guess that is to be expected. The problem is that even the best of the stories was great just good. If you enjoy short stories of shifters then certainly give this boxed set a chance but it just wasn’t my idea of great.

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

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Kimberly reviews Love & Other Cosmic Nonsense by A.D. Marrow

love cosmic nonsenseTITLE: Love and Other Cosmic Nonsense
CHARACTERS: Maggie & Evan
AUTHOR: A.D. Marrow
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/24/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Breaking it off with her long-time non-magical boyfriend, Evan, was for his own good. At least that’s what Maggie Owen tells herself. After all, a witch and a human can have no future together. Her vision told her so. But now it seems the universe is exacting revenge for upsetting the balance of what “should be” and her heart is telling her she was wrong.

Evan Jackson can’t believe his bad luck. It’s been a year since Maggie broke his heart, and now his business partner has hired her as their new receptionist. Fine, they need the help. But no way will he let her get close again. He can’t take another heartbreak from the woman he still dreams about, even if it feels like there’s still a magical pull between them.

Being in the same building with Evan is a start, but it’s going to take more than Maggie’s special talents and a wink to get the hard-hearted bad-boy to see that love is really more than just cosmic nonsense and set the universe back into balance.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a very cute short story about a witchy woman and the man she tries to protect by leaving him until they meet again. The characters are sweet and connect well. The background characters are great too. Great short story to have between reads for a light read with a touch of magic.

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

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