Kimberly reviews The Wit And Wisdom of Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

TITLE: The Wit And Wisdom of Bridgerton
SERIES #: Bridgerton Collection
CHARACTERS: The Bridgerton Family
AUTHOR: Julia Quinn
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/09/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes a highly designed, colorful collection of quotes, wit, and wisdom from Lady Whistledown and the most memorable characters of the much-loved Bridgerton books, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix.

A collection of the most dramatic, romantic, and memorable quotes from the charming characters of the Bridgerton world, The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton is the perfect gift for fans of the Bridgerton series and the groundbreaking Shondaland/Netflix adaptation. With her signature wink and nod, Lady Whistledown herself will act as readers’ familiar and trusted guide, introducing each character’s most memorable quotes.

Each chapter in the book will highlight a different character from the Bridgerton series and include a new introduction from Lady Whistledown, quotes from the character, and things other characters have said about them over the course of the entire series. Fans will get a 360-degree view of each of their favorite personalities, with new commentary and takeaways from Lady Whistledown.

From Daphne, to Simon, to Penelope, to Colin, fans will enter the Bridgerton world in a completely new way with a fresh and intimate perspective of each character. Readers will relive the twists and turns of the books, taking (or not taking) the advice on love, family, etiquette, and fashion from the most beloved and unforgettable voices from Bridgerton. With an introduction from the creator of the Bridgerton world and #1 NYT Bestselling author Julia Quinn, The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton is a highly designed keepsake and unique addition to the Regency-set series.

REVIEW:

What a fun read. The book is filled with wonderfully delightful quotes from each character and even what other characters had to say about them.

This is a great companion book to the series.

I will say it is hard to say much about this book because it is not a novel. It is a mix of each book in the series. But if you are a fan of the series via books or NetFlix this is a must have.

Personal Note: I can’t even tell you how many shirts I want to have made with some of these quotes!!!

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

TITLE: Bombshell
SERIES #: Hell’s Belles #1
CHARACTERS: Sesily & Caled
AUTHOR: Sarah MacLean
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/24/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

REVIEW:
Ok here is the deal with this story. You can not go in expecting a true historical romance. I will say having read the reviews I was ready for this. It has been a while since I read MacLean so when the new series began I thought “why not?” and picked up the book. Usually I do not read the reviews before reading a book. But I am glad I did in this one. Because I might have been upset as some others have been had I not realized this was more of a contemporary romance wrapped in a historical wrapper.

BUT… I enjoyed the book. It is written very differently than most HR because the women aren’t the typical Victorian ladies we expect. They are some bad-assed women who are out to save women who are in abusive situations. These are modern day vigilantes in long flowing gowns.

I enjoyed the women and I liked Caleb with Sesily. The romance between them is slow moving but worthy of the read.

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

Kimberly reviews The Lady Has A Past by Amanda Quick

TITLE: The Lady Has A Past
SERIES #: Burning Cove #5
CHARACTERS: Lyra & Simon
AUTHOR: Amanda Quick
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/04/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Beauty and glamour meet deception and revenge in this electrifying novel by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick.

Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly goes on a health retreat at an exclusive spa and disappears without another word. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and she is the only one who can track her down. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. The agency brings in a partner and bodyguard for her, but she doesn’t get the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected.

Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and Lyra can’t figure out why he was chosen as her partner. But it soon becomes clear when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn’t the only one in grave danger—Lyra is next.

REVIEW:
I am a huge fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, who writes as Amanda Quick, when she writes historical romance.

Lyra has had a pretty rough time so she does what we all would do… She becomes a PI. When her boss goes missing Lyra knows she needs to use her powers of investigation to find her. Raina’s friend asks/tells Lyra that she will be working with Simon. But Lyra can’t figure out why he is adamant that Simon work with her.

There is a lot going on in this story but Krantz/Quick has a way of writing so you are not overwhelmed but still stay involved in the story.

The characters are very well written and the background characters are well formed as well. Some have returned from previous books in the series.

Another great read from a wonderful author.

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews The Highland Laird by Amy Jarecki

TITLE: The Highland Laird
SERIES #: Lords Of The Highlands #8
CHARACTERS: Emma & Ciar
AUTHOR: Amy Jarecki
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fans of Hannah Howell and Diana Gabaldon will love this Scottish romance that combines a high-stakes action and sizzling romance.

Emma Grant has been sheltered and underestimated her entire life. Her blindness may set her apart, but she’s just as fierce and loyal as any of her clansmen. So when she catches word that her brother’s best friend is in jail, she doesn’t hesitate to race to the brawny Highlander’s rescue.

Laird Ciar MacDougall is on a vital mission for Scotland when he witnesses a murder—and then is blamed for the death and thrown into a Redcoat prison to rot. He never thought he’d be broken out by a slip of a lass and her faithful hound. But now they’re outlaws on the run. And as their enemies circle ever closer, he will have to choose between saving his country or the woman who’s captured his heart.

REVIEW:
Another sweet Scottish romance. But what I loved about this story was that Emma is blind. I loved that she wasn’t a helpless lass that couldn’t do anything because she is blind. And I loved the scenes where she works at teaching a dog to help her even though I doubt seeing eye dogs was a thing back in the day.

Ciar is a sweet guy. Ok, maybe more of a diamond in the rough but still I thought he was sensitive and understanding and perfect for Emma.

I am glad we finally got their story since we have met them both before. But now they have their HEA and it was worth the wait.

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

4 Hearts

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Princess By Christmas by Julia London

TITLE: A Princess By Christmas
SERIES #: A Royal Wedding #3
CHARACTERS: Mareki & Hollis
AUTHOR: Julia London
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s discovered his secret.

Now the trouble really begins…

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband’s gazette into the ton’s sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late… Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup…and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria’s lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt’s cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she’s letting on—and worse, Marek can’t seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who’s determined to find the truth…and a prince of her own.

REVIEW:
Talk about opposites attract… Marek is so quiet and just a nothing and Hollis is so well a bit obnoxious. But that is only in the beginning. Once you get to know the characters they bloomed. I watched both characters grow into each other and I enjoyed them falling in love.

Julia London has a knack for writing romance. She somehow takes characters that and turns them into friends. In this one we learn how the loss of her husband has affected Hollis. And how Marek is feeling when his home country is threatened.

It took a while but I really enjoyed these characters and the story that London weaved around the holiday season.

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

4 Hearts

Sunday Series Presents: Darcy Burke’s The Untouchables Series

TITLE: The Forbidden Duke
SERIES #: The Untouchables #1
CHARACTERS: Eleanor Lockhart & Titus St. John
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 15, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Spinster Miss Eleanor Lockhart is suddenly homeless and employment is her only option. Ruined after succumbing to a scoundrel’s excessive charm nearly a decade ago, she’s lucky to obtain a position as a paid companion and committed to behaving with the utmost propriety. She definitely shouldn’t be in the arms of a man capable of utterly destroying what little remains of her reputation…

Titus St. John, Duke of Kendal, is known as the Forbidden Duke, a mysterious, intimidating figure who enters Society just once each year at his stepmother’s ball. A decade ago, he was a devil-may-care rake until his idle roguery brought about the ruin of Eleanor Lockhart—and his resulting self-imposed isolation. Now she’s back, and she needs his help. But by “saving” her, he may just ruin her life all over again.


*****
TITLE: The Duke of Daring
SERIES #: The Untouchables #2
CHARACTERS: Lucinda Parnesll & Andrew Wentworth
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: July 5, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money, a dismal failure at the Marriage Mart, and she’d just as soon leave Society far behind. Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on joining her, Lucy fears her desire to remain an independent woman is destined to go up on flames.

As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Deception
SERIES #: The Untouchables #3
CHARACTERS: Aquilla Knox & Edward Bishop
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: After five years on the Marriage Mart, Miss Aquilla Knox is ready for spinsterhood until a benefactress steps in to help her secure a husband. Only Aquilla doesn’t actually want to marry—her failure is entirely on purpose. When the earl she’s nicknamed the Duke of Deception sets his sights on her, she refuses to be drawn in by her attraction to him. If there’s one thing she knows it’s that a gentleman is never what he seems.

Edward Bishop, Earl of Sutton, has a reputation for courting young misses and dropping them without a second thought. This has earned him a reputation for deceit, a description he can’t refute because he does in fact, harbor secrets and will do anything—deceive anyone—to ensure they don’t come to light. As he comes to know the charming Miss Knox, his resolve is tested. However, trust comes at a price and Ned won’t pay with his heart.

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Desire

SERIES #: The Untouchables #4
CHARACTERS: Ivy Breckenridge & Sebastian Westgate
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 28, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ten years ago Ivy Breckenridge’s life was ruined. She had to reinvent herself, and now, after painstakingly making her own way in the world, she’s nearly forgotten the dreams of home and family she’d once nurtured. Until one man peers into her soul and awakens every one of her hidden desires. But no matter how good he makes her feel, she can’t trust him-alone by choice is better than alone by necessity. With a notorious reputation for training married women in the art of passion, Sebastian Westgate, Duke of Clare, is reviled by some and celebrated by others. He doesn’t allow anyone close enough to see past his charming exterior. When Ivy uncovers the man beneath, the seducer is suddenly the seduced. Enraptured by her mind and spirit, he wants more but revealing his darkest secrets is a price he won’t pay.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Defiance
SERIES #: The Untouchables #5
CHARACTERS: JOanna Shaw & Bran Crowther
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: June 27, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Difficult and defiant as a child, Bran Crowther, Earl of Knighton left England as a young man to pursue independence and adventure. He never expected to inherit the title and when duty calls him home, he still finds Society’s codes constricting and others’ expectations oppressive. Nevertheless, he needs a wife to be a mother to his young daughter, preferably a woman of intelligence and warmth who is, above all, immune to his idiosyncrasies—and to falling in love.

Widow Joanna Shaw isn’t interested in a second marriage, not after the loveless, passionless union she endured. She’d much rather dote on her young niece and nephew since they will likely be the only children in her life…until she meets a precocious girl, in desperate need of a mother. But her father, the so-called Duke of Defiance, is as peculiar as he is handsome, and Jo won’t take another risk with her heart. Their rules, however, are made to be broken, even when the consequences could destroy them both.

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Danger

SERIES #: The Untouchables #6 
CHARACTERS: Emmaline Townsend & Lionel Maitland

AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: September 26, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After killing his opponent in a duel, Lionel Maitland, Marquess of Axbridge, is known as the Duke of Danger. Tortured by guilt, he shields himself with a devil-may-care attitude. However, when he kills another man in another duel, he’s beyond redemption, even though it wasn’t his fault. He refuses to smear a dead man’s name, especially when he’s left behind a blameless widow who doesn’t deserve an even bigger scandal.

Widowed and destitute, Lady Emmaline Townsend must marry the man of her parents’ choosing or beg unsympathetic relatives for support. The only way out is to ask for help from the one man she’s sworn to hate, the man who owes her anything she asks, the man who killed her husband. They strike a devil’s bargain in which passion simmers just beneath the surface. But her dead husband’s transgressions come back to haunt them and threaten their chance at love.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Ice
SERIES #: The Untouchables #7
CHARACTERS: Violet Pendleton & Nicholas Bateman
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: December 26, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Everyone Nicholas Bateman ever loved has died. Except Violet Caulfield, which must mean he never loved her. Nine years after she threw him over to marry a viscount, Nick is a widowed duke who prefers isolation. When a friend convinces him to leave his lair of self-imposed solitude, he considers taking another wife, provided she agrees to his terms: no emotional attachment of any kind.

Now widowed, Lady Violet Pendleton hopes for a second chance with the man she’s always loved. But she isn’t prepared for the desolation in his soul or the animosity he still bears toward her. Despite those obstacles, it’s clear their passion hasn’t dimmed. However, the heat between them isn’t enough to melt the Duke of Ice, and this time Violet may find herself the jilted party. Can love, once so tragically lost, finally be found?

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Ruin
SERIES #: The Untouchables #8 
CHARACTERS: Diana Kingman & Simon Hastings
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 27, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With her betrothal to a duke in tatters and scandal imminent, Diana Kingman has two choices: live in certain ignominy or flee into obscurity. Diana wants solitude. She never wished to wed in the first place. However, her father will stop at nothing to betroth her to one of the finest titles in the realm…no matter how loathsome the bearer. Escape is Diana’s only option, and she’ll pay any price to achieve freedom.

Universally blamed for the death of his wife and unborn child, Simon Hastings doesn’t dispute his guilt over an accident he cannot even remember. He hasn’t had a drink since, nor a moment’s peace. Determined to be a better man, Simon rescues a young woman in need—only to be accused of kidnapping. They must marry to save him from prison. But how can a man haunted by the love he lost and a woman afraid to get too close find happiness together?

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Lies
SERIES #: The Untouchables #9
CHARACTERS: Verity Beaumont & Rufus Beaumant
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 29, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Verity Beaumont has suffered domineering men most of her life, first with her father and then with her husband. Free from both men, she has finally found peace. Even meeting a kind and hard-working gentleman who just might be the perfect father her young son so desperately needs. But as she dares look to the future, her carefully ordered world is shattered when her dead husband returns.

Imprisoned in America during the war, Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn, wants nothing more than to return to his native England. He longs for comfort and safety away from the horrors of battle, only the life he returns to is not the life he left. He must convince his wife that their marriage is worth fighting for, that he’s not the man he was. But when the truth about what happened to him leaks out, he must prove that not everything about him, especially his love for her, is a lie

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Seduction
SERIES #: The Untouchables #10
CHARACTERS: Lavinia Gillingham & William Beckett
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: August 21, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Lavinia Gillingham prefers rocks and dirt to marriage. Her passion is science, and she’s determined to marry if—and only if—she finds a man who supports her interests and intellect. So far, she’s managed to avoid attention on the Marriage Mart, but when the Duke of Seduction pens anonymous letters singing her praises, she suddenly become the toast of the ton and matrimony seems imminent.

William Beckett, Marquess of Northam possesses the reputation of a rake, but is secretly a romantic. Spurned at sixteen, he doesn’t expect to feel the sting of Cupid’s bow a second time, and yet he’s able to woo the coldest of hearts with the anonymous words he publishes. As the Duke of Seduction, he uses his skill to help Lavinia, never anticipating she has no desire for assistance. While Lavinia is pursued by several suitors, Beck is the one who is seduced when he learns that love can strike twice.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Kisses
SERIES #: The Untouchables #11
CHARACTERS: Frances Snowden & David Langley
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: November 27, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Frances Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her boring life by her sister who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbor, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.

David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Distraction

SERIES #: The Untouchables #12
CHARACTERS: Sarah Colton & Felix Havers
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: February 26, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After witnessing how love embittered his uncle and broke his father, Felix Havers, Earl of Ware vows never to love. He conceals his emotions behind a wall of wit and charm, and is celebrated as the master of entertainment—parties, picnics, races. When his best friend’s wallflower sister needs to find a husband, he promises to make her the toast of London… without losing his heart.

Miss Sarah Colton has given up on the pursuit of marriage. When her parents learn she intends to open a millinery shop, they give her an ultimatum: choose a husband or they’ll do it for her. She accepts Felix’s help, never imagining their scheme will ignite a mutual attraction neither of them dare indulge. But when tragedy strikes, can they heal each other or will the demons of Felix’s past consume them both?

 

 

 

About the author:
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Group at https://www.darcyburke.com/join-my-reader-group/. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit.

Learn more about Darcy here: Facebook Page | Darcy’s Duchesses Historical Group | Burke’s Book Lovers Contemporary Group | Twitter | Instagram| Pinterest | Goodreads | Contemporary Crushes (Facebook Group) | BookBub

 

 

 

*****

Kelly reviews A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris

TITLE: A Longer Fall
SERIES #: Gunnie Rose #2
CHARACTERS: Lizbeth Rose
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
NARRATOR: Eva Kaminsky
PUBLICATION DATE: January 14, 2020
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
NUMBER ONE ‘NEW YORK TIMES’ BEST-SELLING AUTHOR CHARLAINE HARRIS RETURNS WITH THE SECOND OF THE GUNNIE ROSE SERIES, IN WHICH LIZBETH IS HIRED ONTO A NEW CREW, TRANSPORTING A CRATE INTO DIXIE, THE SELF-EXILED SOUTHEAST TERRITORY OF THE FORMER UNITED STATES. WHAT THE CRATE CONTAINS IS SOMETHING SO POWERFUL, THAT FORCES FROM ACROSS THE THREE TERRITORIES WANT TO POSSESS IT.
In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.
Number one ‘New York Times’ best-selling author Charlaine Harries (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight Texas Trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

REVIEW:
A Longer Fall is the second installment of Charlaine Harris’ Gunnie Rose series.

A Longer Fall picks up a few months after the end of An Easy Death. We catch up with Lizbeth Rose (aka Gunnie Rose) and her new crew of Gunnies. We find them on a train headed to Dixie with a package. Dixie is not a place the Lizbeth would normally want to be but the package needs to be delivered. What should have been an easy sit on the box and deliver turns out to be not so lucky for the Lucky Crew. A train derailment leads Lizbeth and her crew facing enemy after enemy. But in the midst of all the chaos a familiar face emerges. One Lizbeth never thought she would ever see again.

Eva Kaminsky does a great job again bring these characters to life. I really enjoyed having her read this story to me. I do hope that she stays on for the rest of this series.

I really enjoyed this book and I am already looking forward to the next installment in this series. Lizbeth is a great character and I enjoy watching her grow as a person. I have high hopes for what might come next in this series.

Note: I would recommend reading this series in order. I think you could read book two without book one but there is a lot of history that you will miss if you don’t.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, Edelweiss & Gallery / Saga Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews The Viking’s Witch by Kelli A Wilkins

vikings witchTITLE: The Viking’s Witch
CHARACTERS: Rothgar & Odaria
AUTHOR: Kelli A Wilkins
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/01/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Scotland, 803 A.D.

About to be burned at the stake by her fellow villagers, Odaria does what any betrayed witch facing certain death would do. She calls down a curse. Within seconds, rampaging Norsemen raid the village, capturing everyone except her.

But her reprieve is short-lived, and Odaria lands in the clutches of the Norse leader Rothgar. Can she remain true to herself and fight her growing attraction to this domineering man, or will she fall under his influence and be used for his ambitions?

After Rothgar witnesses Odaria’s powers firsthand, he strikes a bargain with her. The raven-haired beauty will use her magical abilities to help him with his quest in exchange for safe passage off the isle. But can this cunning woman be trusted, or is she using him to exact vengeance on her village?

Together they must fight bloodthirsty villagers, battle a mutinous band of Norsemen, find a missing Norse ship, and learn to trust each other . . . before time is up.

REVIEW:
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR FEATURED TOMORROW!

3.75 Hearts This book is a bit different. At least in my opinion. The author contacted me to review the story which I was happy to do since it sounded out of the norm.

In this story Odaria is a witch who is ready to be burned at the stake. She is saved by a Viking who is looking for a Prince. Once she is in the nest of the Viking’s she is expected to use her powers to get Rothgar what he wants.

I liked that this was not a love at first sight kind of love. There is a lot of conflict between the two but the sexual chemistry is hot and can not be denied.

As I said this story was a bit different than I am used to. I am not one that reads the Pirate bodice ripper novels. But I found myself liking this story.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Highland Captive by Alyson McLayne

highland captiveTITLE: Highland Captive
SERIES #: The Sons Of Gregor MacLeod #4
CHARACTERS: Gavin & Deidre
AUTHOR: Alyson McLayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/30/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She wasn’t just his son’s savior.
She may be his as well…

Laird Gavin MacKinnon is a changed man―and not for the better. Ever since his young son, Ewan, disappeared two years ago, Gavin has grown callous and bitter. Scouring the countryside, his search leads him to a mysterious woman who maintains the boy is hers. He decides to take them both and ask questions later.

Deidre MacIntyre will go with the brooding laird if it will keep her son safe. Gavin has to admit that the beautiful lass has a bond with Ewan, and things aren’t adding up. When Deidre’s clan comes to claim her under threat of war, Gavin has a choice to make: fight for her or let her go.

REVIEW:
I have been waiting and waiting for Gavin’s story. It seems Gavin has been withdrawn since his son was taken away and we have wondered we he was in each story of the series.

Now we meet Ewan and the woman he calls “mother”. And it doesn’t take too long for Gavin to realize he is not given either up.

I had a hard time with Deidre when she was first introduced but she grew on me. And seeing Gavin differently and with his son was wonderful.

Loved this series and this story especially.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews The Wicked Viscount by Heather McCollum

wicked viscountTITLE: The Wicked Viscount
SERIES #: The Campbells #3
CHARACTERS: Cat & Nathaniel
AUTHOR: Heather McCollum
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/27/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
1685, Scottish Highlands

Cat Campbell knows all about Nathaniel Worthington, fifth Viscount of Lincolnshire. The determined Englishman is never far from Finlarig Castle, where his sisters train women to do more than read and write. And thanks to the fiery kiss they shared nearly a year ago he is never far from her thoughts. No one ever trained her how to forget an irresistible man.

Nathaniel knows he should keep his distance from the fierce Scottish lass, but when an urgent letter from Queen Catherine calls Cat to London, he can’t resist volunteering to escort her. The tension between the two has simmered for months, but the long journey in close quarters creates a raging wildfire that could burn them both.

Secrets of their past and the treachery lurking at court put both their future together and their very lives at risk.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This historical romance comes after a first kiss that should never have happened but once it did neither Cat nor Nathaniel can forget about it.

But he can not be interested in Cat since Nathaniel needs to marry someone from a nobel home or lose everything.

I can’t say that this book was out of the norm because it wasn’t. Very typical of the genre. But the writing was well done and the story was enjoyable.

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

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Kimberly reviews How To Forgive A Highlander by Michelle McLean

how to forgive a highlanderTITLE: How To Forgive A Highlander
SERIES #: The MacGregor Lairds #4
CHARACTERS: William & Rose
AUTHOR: Michelle McLean
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/08/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
William MacGregor will lie, spy, and happily die to protect his clan from their greatest enemy. But when he kidnaps the wrong woman, he triggers the very events he’d been working so hard to prevent. And puts everyone in danger.

Rose Thatcher will do anything to protect her lady and return them both safely to English soil. But the damn Highlander who snatched her off the docks has done nothing but get in her way. She’d love to ditch the bastard, but if they want to save their respective loved ones, they are going to have to stay together.

Somewhere along the grueling journey to Scotland, their constant bickering turns into something more. Something worth fighting for. But how can an English lady’s maid, who longs for the safe, comfortable life she had in London, find love with a Highlander who can’t wait to wipe England’s dust off his feet? If they can’t defeat the enemy they accidentally led home, they might not live long enough to find out.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts For me this was a quick read of only 200+ pages but I found it enjoyable.

What a calamity of errors. When William spies a woman standing at the dock as he saw Philip off he thinks she may be a spy so he decides he better find out. Of course she is not but now he has set her in peril so he must protect her no matter what.

A cute read of bumpy roads on the way to love.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Tightrope by Amanda Quick

tightropeTITLE: Tightrope
SERIES #: Burning Cove #3
CHARACTERS: Amalie & Matthias
AUTHOR: Amanda Quick
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/07/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the Author’s website: An unconventional woman and a man shrouded in mystery walk a tightrope of desire as they race against a killer to find a machine that could change the world.

Former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn moved to Burning Cove to reinvent herself, but things are not going well. After spending her entire inheritance on a mansion with the intention of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast, she learns too late that the villa is said to be cursed. When the first guest, Dr. Norman Pickwell, is murdered by his robot invention during a sold-out demonstration, rumors circulate that the curse is real.

In the chaotic aftermath of the spectacle, Amalie watches as a stranger from the audience disappears behind the curtain. When Matthias Jones reappears, he is slipping a gun into a concealed holster. It looks like the gossip that is swirling around him is true—Matthias evidently does have connections to the criminal underworld.

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Love the setting of 1930’s Los Angeles/Hollywood era. Amalie worked as a trapeze artist until she almost died and then decided on getting a B&B in the area. Problem is it comes with a history of murder and when a new murder happens there is a lot of speculation.

Matthias comes into the picture but lets say it is not love at first sight. But as with all romantic suspense the romance does play a part.

I am a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick but this is not one of my favorites. It can be read as a stand alone but you might want to read the previous two just to understand the background characters a bit better. I never seemed to connect with Amalie and Matthias just wasn’t the alpha I go for. But that being said it is still a good read. Just not one of my favorites.

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

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