Category: Kimberly’s Review

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Kimberly reviews The Scorpion’s Tail by Preston & Child

TITLE: The Scorpion’s Tail
SERIES #: Nora Kelly #2
CHARACTERS: Nora & Corrie
AUTHOR: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/12/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Following OLD BONES, the second “happily anticipated” new thriller in Preston & Child’s new series will once again feature Nora Kelly, archaeologist at the Santa Fe Archeological Institute, and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson investigating a new case that requires both their skills (Booklist).

After a shoot-out Swanson is involved in, leaving a senior FBI agent gravely wounded, Corrie finds herself under investigation. Her supervisor assures her she’s not to blame and the black mark on her record will be cleared in short order. But Corrie finds herself shaking her overwhelming guilt.

As a distraction, she takes on a new case involving a fifty-year-old, mummified corpse discovered in a hidden enclave at High Lonesome, a long-abandoned New Mexico ghost town. Quickly out of her depth, she quickly realizes she needs the help of her foe-turned-ally, archaeologist Nora Kelly, who soon uncovers a startling truth: the deceased had been poisoned, and died clutching a priceless artifact from outside High Lonesome.

REVIEW:
This is the 2nd in a new series from Preston/Child. And Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson make excellent partners.

One of the best things about a Preston/Child book is the real life history that they add to their story. In this one we are brought to the desert of New Mexico. When Swanson finds a decades old dead body she asks Dr Kelly, archaeologist, to help.

The story takes some wonderful twists and turns leading the reader on a fact filled and fun ride.

Preston/Child have a magical way of writing together. Their stories, including this one, pull you in from the first couple of pages. And the suspense lasts until you turn the final page.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: The Forever Girl
SERIES #: Wildstone #6
CHARACTERS: Maze, Heather, Walker & Caitlyn
AUTHOR: Jill Shlavis
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/12/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis does it once again with a heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and secrets that have the power to change the course of more than one life.

When Maze returns to Wildstone for the wedding of her estranged bff and the sister of her heart, it’s also a reunion of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a tragedy tore them apart and scattered them wide.

Now as adults together again in the lake house, there are secrets and resentments mixed up in all the amazing childhood memories. Unexpectedly, they instantly fall back into their roles: Maze their reckless leader, Cat the den mother, Heather the beloved baby sister, and Walker, a man of mystery.

Life has changed all four of them in immeasurable ways. Maze and Cat must decide if they can rebuild their friendship, and Maze discovers her long-held attraction to Walker hasn’t faded with the years but has only grown stronger.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis’ for years now and this book is a great example as to why.

This story is about the family you choose or more maybe the one handed to you when the biological family wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Caitlin’s family takes in the others as foster kids. They become “siblings” and inseparable but then things change and everyone goes their own ways.But now Caitlin is getting married and she wants everyone back where they should be… by her side.

There is so much emotion in this story. I am not a crier but a number of times I wanted to. And more than once I laughed or shook my head. The dynamics of these characters is fantastic. I really love each of them.

The Forever Girl takes you on an emotional journey that shows you what is really important. It makes you want to call your best friend/sister and tell her how important she is to you.

A great story by Shalvis and any fan of women’s lit needs to have on your shelves to read again and again.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews All The Colors Of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: All The Colors Of Night
SERIES #: Fogg Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Sierra & North
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Two psychics plunge into a dark world of deadly secrets in this second installment of the Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

North Chastain possesses a paranormal talent that gives him the ability to track down the most dangerous psychic criminals. When his father suddenly falls into a coma, North is convinced it was caused by a deadly artifact traced back to the days of a secret government laboratory known only as the Bluestone Project. North knows his only hope of saving his father is to find the artifact. He is good when it comes to tracking down killers but to locate the relic, he’s going to need help from a psychic who knows the shadowy world of obsessive collectors, deceptive dealers, and ruthless raiders…

With her reputation in ruins after a false accusation, antique expert Sierra Raines is looking for a fresh start. She turns to the murky backwaters of the paranormal artifacts trade, finding and transporting valuable objects with a psychic provenance. When North Chastain approaches her for help, Sierra takes him on as a client, though not without reservations. North represents the mysterious Foundation, the secretive organization established to police the underworld populated by psychic criminals and those, like Sierra, who make a living in the shadows of that world.

North and Sierra soon find themselves at the scene of The Incident that occurred decades ago in Fogg Lake. The town and its residents were forever changed by the disaster in the nearby Bluestone Project labs. The pair unearth shocking truths about what happened that fateful night, but they are playing with fire—someone in town knows what they’ve discovered and will do anything to make sure the secrets stay buried.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts As with all of JAK’s books I loved this book. I somehow managed to miss the first in the series but while I will be catching up and reading book one this can be a stand alone.

This book has a bit of paranormal and a good amount of romance. North’s father is dying. Sierra’s job is to find psychic relics and North needs Sierra to find the relic that may save his father.

I loved the main characters. Sierra and North are really interesting characters alone but put them together and they are terrific. As JAK normally does she writes Sierra as a strong independent woman who isn’t looking for a man but when North falls in her lap she is smart enough to know the connection means something. I love how JAK writes women!

North is a good guy too. Not that there isn’t conflict and it is all peaches and cream because it isn’t but the couple works perfectly.

I really enjoyed the story. It was one that I wanted to rush through to read every word but also didn’t want to read too fast because the story would end.

JAK is one of the best and this book is just proof.

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

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Kimberly reviews Chaos by Iris Johansen

TITLE: Chaos
CHARACTERS: Alisa Flynn
AUTHOR: Iris Johansen
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author introduces CIA agent Alisa Flynn, who is willing to go rogue if it means catching the most heartless band of criminals she’s ever encountered.

When CIA agent Alisa Flynn flaunts the rules by breaking into a mansion in the middle of the night, she skillfully circumvents alarms and outwits guards only to find herself standing in billionaire Gabe Korgan’s study . . . busted by Korgan himself. This could cost her her job unless, in a split second, she can turn the tables and try to convince him to join her on the most important mission of her life.

In a ripped-from-the-headlines plot, schoolgirls in Africa have been kidnapped, and Alisa knows that Korgan has the courage, financial means, and high-tech weaponry to help rescue them. With so many innocent lives hanging in the balance, what she doesn’t reveal is that one of those schoolgirls is like a little sister to her. But when the truth gets out, the stakes grow even higher.

Calling in additional assistance from renowned horse whisperer Margaret Douglas, Alisa and Gabe lay their plans, only to see them descend into chaos as the line between right and wrong wavers before them like a mirage. Every path is strewn with pitfalls, each likely to get them — or the hostages — killed. But with the help of a brave team and a horse with the heart of a warrior, they might just get out of this alive.

REVIEW:
As a fan of the Eve Duncan series I was excited about starting a new series from Johansen and I was not disappointed.

I found Alisa Flynn and Gabe Korgan to be great characters. They have a fun and intense blooming relationship. I enjoyed the background characters as well.

The suspense was typical of Johansen’s writing. It keeps you wondering the whole time and it is not a guarantee that who you think it is really is correct.

A great introduction to a new series that I can’t wait to read more of.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal by Heather MCollum

TITLE: The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal
SERIES #: The Brothers Of Wolf Isle #1
CHARACTERS: Adam & Lark
AUTHOR: Heather MCollum
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/19/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A lass begging to marry him might top the list of “oddest things to happen,” but Chief Adam Macquarie is desperate. And no matter how much he hates to do it, he’s not above lying to get what he wants. Starting with the fact that he just omitted the truth about the situation back at his home—where there are no women and only a handful of other people. Because he has a secret need for a wife himself, one she won’t be too happy about when she finds out.

Lark Montgomerie is thrilled the brawny chief agrees to save her from her drunken father’s machinations of wedding her off to the first fool that agrees. He’s easy on the eyes and no one can be worse than her current options. Now a new life awaits her, on an exciting Scottish isle no less, and nothing will dampen her spirits. That is, until she arrives in her new homeland and realizes more than a few things are amiss…

REVIEW:
This is a new series from Heather McCollum. I love her Highlander novels so I was excited to begin a new series which I assume will be about the brothers.

In this one, Adam is desperate for a wife and since the Isle has no women any longer he leaves the Isle to find one. Lark is desperate to get away from her father who wants her out of his house so the situation seems perfect to marry the Chief and rule with him. But things are not what they seem.

I truly enjoy the way McCollum writes. I enjoy the romance, intimacy and humor that she puts into each novel. And this is no different. I really liked the brothers and can’t wait to read each of their stories.

Another great book by McCollum!

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

TITLE: The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder
CHARACTERS: Brynn Wilder
AUTHOR: Wendy Webb
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.

But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.

In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

REVIEW:
I am going straight down the middle for this review. I think this book had a lot of potential. The book has a bit of everything, romance, paranormal, suspense, and more but the writing is what didn’t have the umph that the book could have had.

The story was pretty easy to figure out but then a twist would be put into it with an understanding of why. A couple of the twists have me wondering what it was even about. Seems we got more questions than answers in this book but the biggest question was “Why add that at all?”.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people and again had so much potential.

I wish the author had taken a little more time and hadn’t felt like she needed to throw everything including the kitchen sink into one book.

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

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Kimberly reviews Dead Girl Walking by Roberta Gately

TITLE: Dead Girl Walking
CHARACTERS: Jessie & Sam
AUTHOR: Roberta Gately
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/24/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“He came for her. She’s been shot,” says a desperate voice, as footsteps echo down an alley. “She’s dying.”
“Oh no, oh no, he’s coming back. Please, come quickly––” And then a click, and the drone of a dial tone.

The beautiful young woman on the stretcher could be on her honeymoon. Chestnut hair tumbles around a pretty face, rose petals tangled in the loose strands. But the bandage around her forehead tells a different tale, as Emergency Room Nurse Jessie Novak desperately battles to keep her alive. Jessie’s thoughts are racing—who shot this beautiful young woman and more importantly, why?

Ann Hart’s life hangs by a thread, and Jessie cannot bear to see this beautiful young woman die without justice being done. Being a nurse is like hunting for clues, and Jessie is sure she can find the person who hurt Ann. She also asks her friend Detective Sam Dallas for help digging into Ann’s past. But then Jessie receives a gift that sends shivers up her spine: a huge bouquet of blood-red roses, just like the ones in Ann’s hair…

As the first snowflakes start to fall, another body turns up. Jessie is sure that she’s in danger too—since the roses, someone has been watching her… Sam is reluctant to see the link but Jessie knows she must find the culprit before he strikes again. He is stalking her through the frozen streets and he doesn’t want his fun to stop. Can Jessie turn the tables on the killer, or is she just a dead girl walking?

A totally addictive mystery novel that will leave you gasping for breath and have your heart thumping! Fans of Lisa Regan, Gregg Olsen and Tess Gerritsen will be completely hooked.

REVIEW:
This book just didn’t do it for me. I never ended up like Jessie and while I appreciated her tenacity to get to the answers the way she goes about it is, well, unlikable. I hated the way she was with Sam. Apparently Sam needs to give her every minute detail about what he finds out but she claims Hippa every time anything is asked of her.

She gets involved with another cop even though she is attracted to Sam and I, honestly, have no idea why. This other officer and the love triangle bring nothing to this story.

The storyline was obvious to me and it was no surprise that I figured out everything pretty early in the book.

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

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Kimberly reviews Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre

TITLE: Every Last Secret
CHARACTERS: Cat & Neena
AUTHOR: A.R. Torre
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Here is the thing about this book. There is no good characters and yet they are all fun to read. Cat has it all and Neena wants it.

I found the characters well written and while I could see every last scene before it happened it was still a good read. As I said I really never cared about any of the characters so it made it easy to sit back and watch the train wreck happen.

I am not sure I have read this author before, I do not believe I have, so I was pleasantly surprised at the well written story.

Worth reading the next from this author.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher

TITLE: The Wrong Family
CHARACTERS: Juno & Winnie
AUTHOR: Tarryn Fisher
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Wives comes another twisted psychological thriller guaranteed to turn your world upside down.

Have you ever been wrong about someone?

Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.

Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.

Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…

She shouldn’t get involved.

She really shouldn’t.

But this could be her chance to make a few things right.

Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.

From the wickedly dark mind of bestselling author Tarryn Fisher, The Wrong Family is a taut new thriller that’s riddled with twists in all the right places.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I do not recall reading this author before but the synopsis seemed interesting. I wasn’t wrong.

Cool thing is the main character is an older woman who moves into the house of the “perfect” family. But things are not always as we think and this “perfect” family is hiding something dark but when Juno finds out she has to make things right.

There is a lot happening in this book. There are so many twists and turns that you can’t help reading past your bedtime.

This is a hard back to review. Mainly because if the reviewer says something it is going to ruin some part of the story.

A very good read for any fan of the genre of suspense.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Walking The Edge by Sue Ward Drake

TITLE: Walking The Edge
SERIES #: Danger In The Big Easy #1
CHARACTERS: Mitch & Cath
AUTHOR: Sue Ward Drake
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
On the knife edge of danger in the streets of New Orleans, these rugged men call the Big Easy home, and they’ll do whatever it takes to protect their own

Ex-army ranger Mitch Guidry never should have let his brothers talk him into joining them in the Big Easy. Particularly when they have him going head-to-head with the very last thing he needs: a feisty redhead who has more opinions than even his hard-headed brothers. Loyal and overprotective to a fault, Catherine Hurley will do everything she can to stop Mitch from finding her fugitive brother…and yet, he can’t get enough of her.

Cath should be furious with the overbearing ex-ranger who shows up on her doorstep looking for her brother. Sure, Mitch Guidry is hotter than a Louisiana summer and pushes every one of her buttons, but he’s also an immediate threat to her family, and family is everything to Cath. Unfortunately, the only way to save her brother is to stick to Mitch like glue. But sharing close quarters with him while they search for her missing brother together proves to be more than a little challenging…particularly when it comes to protecting her heart.

Sue Ward Drake takes you on a wild ride through the steamy streets of New Orleans in this action-packed, sexy romantic suspense!

REVIEW:
I am on the fence on this one. I think the story was good. I LOVED that there were characters who were deaf but while a hurtile it was not a disability. It gave the characters some different definition than other suspense.

The problem was the writing. I had a hard time with it and had to figure out a lot of things than normal. I spent a good amount of time looking back on something or other because it was not what was originally said/described.

I think this book had a lot of potential but just needed a little more time.

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

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Kimberly reviews Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd

TITLE: Wrong Alibi
SERIES #: Murder In Alaska #1
CHARACTERS: Evelyn Jones
AUTHOR: Christina Dodd
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
WRONG JOB
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Jones lands a job in small-town Alaska, working for a man in his isolated mountain home. But her bright hopes for the future are shattered when Donald White disappears, leaving her to face charges of theft, embezzlement—and a brutal double murder. Her protestations of innocence count for nothing. Convicted, she faces life in prison…until fate sends her on the run.

WRONG NAME
Evelyn’s escape leaves her scarred and in hiding, isolated from her family, working under an alias at a wilderness camp. Bent on vengeance, intent on recovering her life, she bides her time, patiently searching for the man who took everything from her.

WRONG ALIBI
At last, the day comes. Donald White has returned. Evelyn emerges from hiding; the fugitive becomes the hunter. But in her mind, she hears the whisper of other forces at work. Now Evelyn must untangle the threads of evidence before she’s once again found with blood on her hands: the blood of her own family…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a new series from Christina Dodd. I haven’t picked her books up in a bit so decided this was the time to try her writing again.

This was a bit different than what I used to read by Dodd which is a nice change.

I found the characters interesting to read. I enjoyed the dynamic of a number of characters that you wouldn’t think would be allies. There were some surprises as the story progressed which is always an interesting thing.

There were a big number of too far-fetched ideas in the book as well. Some things were just not logical and should have been reined in.

All in all I thought the story was good.

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

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

TITLE: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas
CHARACTERS: The Goss Family
AUTHOR: W. Bruce Cameron
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/20/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The perfect, feel-good holiday gift from W. Bruce Cameron, the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the A Dog’s Purpose series

The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together.

Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a beautiful, poignant, delightful tale of what can happen when family members open their hearts to new possibilities. You’ll find love and tears and laughter—the ideal holiday read.

REVIEW:
What a sweet story. Simply put a new puppy is all a family needs to fix their problems. Ok maybe not but I keep telling my husband that…

The Goss family are like so many of us. Life is hard but when the holidays arrive everything seems to be worse. The family is dealing with everyday difficulties when a true emergency hits the family leaving everyone at loose ends. But in comes a ball of fluff that makes everything better and brings out the love the family has for each other.

A very sweet read for the holiday season to remind us that it is the little things that make life and the holidays special.

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

4 Hearts