Kelly’s Review – Page 22

March 15, 2016March 13, 2016

Kelly reviews Phoenix Reborn by JD Tyler

TITLE: Phoenix Reborn
SERIES #: Alpha Pack #7.5
CHARACTERS: Phoenix “Nix” Monroe & Noah Brooks
AUTHOR: JD Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: March 15, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wolf shifter and Firewalker Phoenix “Nix” Monroe has finally met his ultimate Bondmate—Alpha Pack nurse Noah Brooks. Unable to accept his own sexual identity, Nix rejects Noah despite the intense attraction he feels towards him.

By the time Nix realizes he has cast aside the love of his life, it may be too late to save Noah from a terrifying enemy…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I am so happy that Nix & Noah finally go their story. It has been a long time coming. Noah is the bubbly nurse that everyone loves and wants to see happy. Nix is trying to get back to who he was before captured. But in order to be happy Nix is going to have to face a lot of demons from his past and embrace his future with the the mate he never really knew he wanted.
I am enjoyed Nix & Noah’s story a lot. It will be interesting to see how these two grow as the series goes on.

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 11, 2016March 6, 2016

Kelly reviews True Spies by Shana Galen

TITLE: True Spies
SERIES #: Lord & Lady Spy #2
CHARACTERS: Baron & Lady Keating
AUTHOR: Shana Galen
PUBLICATION DATE: September 3, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He’s Getting Tired of Deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him, and his wife has given up on him.

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue…

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew.

REVIEW:
Winslow has been keeping secrets from his family. Secrets that he must keep. But when his wife starts pulling away, Winn has but one choice and tell her the truth. Elinor’s response is not at all what Winn had expected.

This was my first book in this series. I enjoyed the story and the characters but it didn’t wow me. I so want to go back and read book one because I really enjoyed the characters that will be in the book. Also Blue, his story should be fun.

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

March 10, 2016March 6, 2016

Kelly reviews Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

TITLE: Midnight Secrets
SERIES #: Wildfire #1
CHARACTERS: Zach Tanner & Savannah Wilde
AUTHOR: Ella Grace
PUBLICATION DATE: April 30 , 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For fans of Cherry Adair and Karen Robards, a thrilling new romantic suspense novel from Ella Grace…

AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, THE HEAT BEGINS

On a hot southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Until Midnight calls them home.

Savannah is the first one back, when a grueling case in Nashville leads the young prosecutor to seek shelter in the quiet of the once grand Wilde mansion. But when she finds letters casting doubt on her family’s dark, shameful past, she realizes that peace in Midnight is a shallow façade and sinister secrets lurk beneath the surface. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy, is now the new police chief and still has a wild hold over her. Zach can feel it, too, but he hurt Savannah once. As teenagers, they broke every rule together. Now it’s his job to keep her safe, even though he isn’t sure who her enemies are—or which ones might be his own.

REVIEW:
Midnight Secrets is the first book in Ella Grace’s Wildfire trilogy. When I started the book and read the prologue I had a lot of hope for this story. This is nothing like starting a story with a set of murders. But from there the story kinda stalled for me. I understand that we needed Savannah & Zach’s history. But I got a little bored. When Savannah comes back to town she and Zach circle each other and circle each other. It took a while for them to finally sit down and hash out the past. While I end up really enjoying the final showdown parts and pieces of the book were just okay.

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

March 9, 2016March 6, 2016

Kelly reviews The Road by Cormac McCarthy

TITLE: The Road
CHARACTERS: A father and son
AUTHOR: Cormac McCarthy
PUBLICATION DATE: September 26, 2006
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece.

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

REVIEW:
I picked up this book after a friend suggested it to me after I suggested to him The Passage by Justin Cronin. The Road is a dark tale told of a father and son trying to survive. The story is told in snapshots. It is almost like we are following them take short videos of the events that are happening around them. There were parts of this book that were beyond disturbing and parts that were heart warming. I am really on the fence about my like/dislike for this book. I wanted more. More about the world. More about the why the world is what it is. More about the boy and his father.
It was a very interesting take on a post apocalyptic world.

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

March 4, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Six Years by Harlan Coben

TITLE: Six Years
CHARACTERS: Jake Fisher
AUTHOR: Harlan Coben
PUBLICATION DATE: March 19, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Harlan Coben, the master of domestic suspense, returns with a standalone thriller in the vein of #1 bestsellers Hold Tight, Caught and Stay Close that explores the depth and passion of a lost love . . . and the secrets and lies at its heart.
Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd. But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for . . . but she is not Natalie.
Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life—a time he has never gotten over—is turned completely inside out. As Jake searches for the truth, his picture-perfect memories of Natalie begin to unravel. Mutual friends of the couple either can’t be found or don’t remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years. Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart—and who lied to him—soon puts his very life at risk as it dawns on him that the man he has become may be based on carefully constructed fiction.
Harlan Coben once again delivers a shocking page-turner that deftly explores the power of past love and the secrets and lies that such love can hide.

REVIEW:
What just happened….. That is pretty much what I felt the whole way through this book. There is so much that goes on and so much to process, but I never felt lost. I did enjoy Jake’s journey to find his lost love. But honestly after the first time someone tried to kill me I think I would have quit. Jake is one determined man. He may be a little stupid but he is determine.
This was my first Harlan Coben book and I can see why so many people enjoy his stories. He has a way of sucking you into the events on the page and makes you stay up to late reading to solve the mystery. I am really sad that I waited so long to read this story. But happy that I finally did. I am looking forward to reading another of Mr. Coben’s stories soon.

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

March 3, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

TITLE: Alice in Zombieland
SERIES #: White Rabbit Chronicles #1
CHARACTERS: Alice Bell & Cole Holland
AUTHOR: Gena Showalter
NARRATOR: Natalie Gold
RUN TIME: 13 Hours & 6 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2012
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies

REVIEW:
I am ashamed to admit that I have been eyeing this series since it came out in 2012 and I am just now getting to read (listening to) it. Please don’t ask my way I waited to so long. All I got is that I get to read (listen to) all four books in a row (see there was a method behind my madness).
Where to begin? Where to begin? Alice Bell has always thought that her dad was just crazy. Seeing monsters in the dark. Being afraid of the dark. And teaching Alice how to fight. But what Alice didn’t know was that her life was forever going to change and she is about to learn that everything her father saw and believed is true.
I don’t want to give you more then that. You need to discover the truth for yourself. I loved Alice. She is feisty, determined, loyal and about to change the world. I can’t wait to see what happens next to her. Cole Holland. How to tell you about Cole. Think one badass, zombie-killing, dark, serious, determine and totally and utterly in love with Alice. So Cole is pretty much awesome!!!!! I am a little scared to see what Ms. Showalter makes Alice and Cole go through, but I trust it will all work out.
Let’s talk Kat. No not a meow, meow kitty. Kat, Alice’s new best friend. I want a Kat that will follow me around and tell me how awesome she is and how lucky I am to have her as a friend. Kat is just awesome. She lended so much comic relief to this story. Oh and her love story with Frosty is sweet and firey!!!!!
I really can’t wait to get started on book to Through the Zombie Glass!!!!
Ms. Gold does a really nice job bring Ms. Showalter’s words to life. I enjoyed listening to her tell me this story. My only issue is that there was not enough differentially between the male voices and the female voices.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 2, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

TITLE: The Passenger
CHARACTERS: Tanya Dubois
AUTHOR: Lisa Lutz
PUBLICATION DATE: March 1, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz’s latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: you’ll want to buckle up for the ride!

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it…

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?

With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless.

REVIEW:
Can I just say WOW? Okay then, WOW!!!! What a crazy and wild story. This was my first Lisa Lutz story and it was amazing. The journey that we go on with Tanya Dubois is a one filled with so many twists and turns. As I kept turning the pages I was not sure what was going to be next for Tanya. I was shocked by many things in this story. Blue for example was amazing, a little scary (okay a lot scary) but I loved this character. And of Dominic, loved him!!! I wanted more of him, but this was Tanya’s journey. I don’t want to tell you to much because that would ruin the journey for you. But know this, this was a great story of a girl trying to figure out just who she really is. And the ending left my jaw on the ground.
Seriously, You need to pick up this book!!!!

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

March 1, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews A Covert Affair by Katie Reus

TITLE: A Covert Affair
SERIES #: Deadly Ops #5
CHARACTERS: Nathan Ortiz & Amelia Rios
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: March 1, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The explosively passionate new Deadly Ops novel from Katie Reus, the New York Times bestselling author of Edge of Danger.

After being wounded in action, NSA agent Nathan Ortiz comes home to Miami, eager to return to duty. But he doesn’t expect his newest mission to lead him straight to the one woman he loved, lost, and has never gotten over.

A beautiful, successful restaurateur, Amelia Rios enjoys giving back to her community, especially to struggling women. Then a woman she recently hired stops showing up for work, and, unfortunately, she isn’t the first to go missing.

Soon Amelia finds herself thrust into a shadowy, dark world, working side by side with Nathan, the only man she’s ever loved. They must confront old feelings as they battle a ruthless enemy preying on the poor and weak. The heat simmering between Nathan and Amelia could mean a second chance for them—but first they have to survive.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Another good installment in Ms. Reus’ Deadly Ops series. I am not sure that this has been my favorite book to date. But I really enjoyed Nathan and Amelia story.
I really enjoyed that A Covert Affair was a second chance romance story for Nathan. We have seen Nathan many time over the last four books. It was great to finally get a closer look at him. Amelia is great. She is tough and determined to be and do better in life. Which she has, but when Nathan walks back into her life things start to go south.
I am looking forward to what is next in this series.

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

February 29, 2016February 28, 2016

Kelly reviews Bearly Accidental by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Bearly Accidental
SERIES #: Accidentals #12
CHARACTERS: Cormac, Teddy and the OOPS Crew
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: February 13, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At the request of their friend Antonia (Accidentally Ever After), Wanda, Marty and Nina find themselves trekking up a snowy mountainside, in search of Toni’s brother. Wanted by the mob, Cormac Vitali is hiding out in the Colorado Wilderness, where the ladies from OOPS finally catch up to him…freshly tranq’d by a bounty hunter.

Bear shifter Teddy Gribanov realized Cormac was her life mate about five minutes after shooting his big muscly bod with her trusty dart gun. She’d be shocked by that revelation, if she wasn’t too busy getting stabbed, shot, and hunted down by a crooked cop and the Russian mob. Oh, and her psycho ex, freshly sprung from the pokey, and hell bent on making Teddy pay for putting him there.

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it—and when it’s least convenient. Join Wanda, Marty and Nina, manservant Archibald, sweet zombie Carl, and demon Darnell as they hatch a plan to bring down everyone standing in the way of Teddy and Cormac’s accidental happily ever after.

REVIEW:
Another very fun adventure with the ladies of OOPS. This time around the are on a bear hunt and end up with a few grumpy bears on there hands. And of course a few bad guys that are determined to end them all. But like all Accidental stories Nina, Wanda and Marty figure out a way to save the day with grand fanfare and hopefully minimal injuries.
Well….. minimal might not be true in this one. Shot… I almost gave you too much…..
I have really enjoyed this series and can not wait to see what is next for the ladies of OOPS and the crew they call family.

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

February 26, 2016February 20, 2016

Kelly reviews A Midnight Dance by Lila DiPasqua

TITLE: A Midnight Dance
SERIES #: Fiery Tales #3
CHARACTERS: Jules deMoutier & Sabine Laurent
AUTHOR: Lila DiPasqua
PUBLICATION DATE: August 2, 2011
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince…and make him pay.

Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father’s prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming—the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.

That was before the loss of her sister and her family’s fall from grace—a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father’s death, she’s inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine’s eccentric friends—the balance of her father’s acting troupe—she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake—and make away with a fortune.

Resisting Jules’s skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince

REVIEW:
In A Midnight Dance we meet Sabine Laurent, who is in dire straits. Sabine is a woman on a mission to save her family. But in order to do that she must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to gain the trust of those she plans to deceive. But as with all good plans not all goes right. The last person Sabine ever expected to find in this camp is the one man she blames for the fall of her family. Jules deMoutier.

Jules deMoutier has been stripped of everything, his money, his title, and his pride. But after 5 long years he is so close to getting everything back. Back to the way his life should be. But Jules never planned for one small blond woman to come into his camp and steal his treasure out from under his nose.

Sabine is a great heroine. She is smart, funny, determined and really doesn’t take people’s crap very well. Her only weakness seems to be her heart. Sabine cares too much sometimes.
Jules, aahhh, sweet, handsome, suborn, wouldn’t know when a woman is lying to him Jules.. Jules is HOT… He his Dream…. He really is a prince charming under all that holier than thou attitude.
OH, Lila is wicked good. There was not one moment that I didn’t love this story. Lila doesn’t wait very long for there to be a very hot forest sex scene *wiggle eyebrows* Lila does a great job of taking the Cinderella story and telling it in a way I would have never thought about. This is truly a riches to rags to riches story.

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

February 23, 2016February 20, 2016

Kelly reviews Stone Cold Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

TITLE: Stone Cold Cowboy
SERIES #: Montana Men #4
CHARACTERS: Rory Kendrick & Sadie Higgins
AUTHOR: Jennifer Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: February 23, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With their hearts’ desires on the line, nothing can stop the Montana Men

Sadie Higgins has a bad habit of bailing her brother out of trouble. But when he rustles a herd of cattle from the tough, honorable Kendrick brothers, it’s Sadie who’s in for it. Because the cowboy tracking them down is big, silent, and forbidding as hell.

Rory Kendrick is on the hunt to find out who’s been stealing from him. When he stumbles upon Sadie in the woods, he barely recognizes the quiet, vulnerable beauty who has always taken his breath away. His mission shifts in an instant: He will do anything it takes to keep her safe . . . and make her his.

Sadie has always protected her family—no matter the price. But when Rory ropes her heart, she’s forced to take a look at her life and make a dangerous choice—one that could cost, or gain, her everything.

REVIEW:
WOW!!!
The start of Stone Cold Cowboy starts of and a very heartbreaking way. Sadie finds herself in a situation that only a miracle will get her out of.
I really enjoyed this book. Sadie is a trooper. Sadie is willing to do anything for those she loves including giving up her own happiness for them. But this last time with her brother was to much for even Sadie to handle. Thankfully she has a very stubborn cowboy in her corner.
Rory Kendrick is one tough cowboy who is about get his world turned upside down by a one Sadie Higgins and her family. Rory had two choices. Turn his back or Cowboy up.
I can’t wait to see what Ms. Ryan has in store for us next.

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

February 22, 2016February 20, 2016

Kelly reviews Hunted By Darkness by Katie Reus

TITLE: Hunted by Darkness
SERIES #: Darkness #4
CHARACTERS: Bo & Nyx
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: Feb 9, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From two different worlds…

Now that she’s escaped her oppressive family, Nyx is enjoying her new life and friends—even if most of her friends don’t know who or what she is. As a rare demigod, she’s just learning how powerful she truly is, but family drama turns her world upside down, throwing the one man she cares about into danger.

He wasn’t supposed to fall for her…

Nyx is nothing like the females half-demon Bo Broussard has been with. Sweet and innocent, she’s not even remotely his type. But the moment she walks into his bar, he knows he’s not letting her go. Unfortunately someone from her past thinks they can force her into an arranged marriage.

He’s not letting her go…

Someone is targeting one of them, and Bo doesn’t know why. When they’re thrown into a hell realm together, he and Nyx will need to band together if they want to survive the perils of that world. No matter who was behind the attack, his choice is clear. Defend Nyx at all cost and make her his forever.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts As always Ms. Reus writes a story that draws you in and makes you love her characters. I have been hoping for Bo and Nyx to break out of the I like you but not going to do anything about it faze. And finally they get with the program only for Bo to be a dumbass.

I enjoyed Hunted by Darkness. I really enjoyed the journey that Bo and Nyx were forced to go on. And I am looking forward to seeing how these two grow as the series goes on.

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