Category: Kimberly’s Review

TITLE: This Time Around
CHARACTERS: Allie & Jack
AUTHOR: Tawna Fenske
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/04/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Allie Ross is not living the life she once dreamed. Her law career ended before it ever started, her parents landed in jail for running a Ponzi scheme, and she just inherited her grandmother’s B&B—which is nice, even if it is full of extra-toed cats. As for her love life…she’d rather not talk about it.

When Jack Carpenter reaches out to reconnect with Allie, the girl who broke his heart in college, his plan is to impress her with the adult he’s become. Sure, he was a deadbeat then, but life has forced him to grow up. And it’s a relief to find out that things didn’t necessarily go the way Allie expected either.

As Allie and Jack get reacquainted, they rediscover the things they loved—and hated—about each other. But who they are now isn’t who they were then, and secrets—old and new—will test whether they have a future together, or if the past is destined to repeat itself.

REVIEW:
Second chance at love at it’s finest. How many times have you thought about having a second chance with your first love. And the image is perfect. Well not so much for Jack and Allie. May not be perfect but it is funny. I guess if you can’t have one you should have the other.

I enjoyed this book very much. I can only remember reading one other book from Tawna years ago and I don’t remember why I haven’t picked up anymore until this one but it reminds me that I need to go back and grab a few.

Need a fun read that will lighten up your day? This is it.

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

TITLE: Holding Fire
SERIES #: Alpha Security #2
CHARACTERS: Elle & Trey
AUTHOR: April Hunt
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

Alpha Security operative Trey Hanson is ready to settle down. When he meets a gorgeous blonde in a bar, and the connection between them is off the charts, he thinks he’s finally found the one. But after their night together ends in a hail of gunfire and she disappears in the chaos, Trey’s reasons for tracking her down are personal . . . until he learns she’s his next assignment.

Elle Monroe never expected to see Trey again. The night they shared was incredible, but the last thing she’s looking for is a relationship. Now that it’s clear she’s being targeted, though, she has no choice but to trust this man she barely knows with her life. And Trey’s not just determined to keep her safe . . . he’s determined to win her heart.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I did not read the first in the series but all in all I don’t think you need to but it may work best to have read it so you have the back story.

Trey is alllllll alpha. If you are not into books where the guy takes control to keep the damsel in distress safe then this is not the story for you. Trey is full on protector who really is a good guy who will do anything to protect the woman he is starting to fall for.

The bit of a change in this book is Elle is the “broken” one. She came from the bad home, she doesn’t want to fall in love, she is the one who to be independent and not depend on anyone ever again. Which is all honesty is usually the man’s perspective in books anymore. So the change was appreciated.

This book is truly enjoyable. I wouldn’t say it was a beach read but it is sure a cuddle up on the couch read with adventure, hot sex and characters who are well formed and enjoyable to read about.

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

TITLE: Embracing Love
SERIES #: Once Broken #1
CHARACTERS: Kenzie & Remy
AUTHOR: Alison Mello
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
McKenzie McCormick moved back home for one reason only, and falling for a soldier isn’t it…
Fort Stewart is only a few miles away, which means her hometown has its fair share of soldiers. But Kenzie chooses to steer clear of them, as she still struggles to cope with the grief of losing her father to war. All she wants to do is help her aunt take care of her ill grandmother—until a gorgeous green-eyed Army Captain moves back into town.
The last thing Captain Remington Bennett expects to find is a pretty brunette while out on his morning run…
Intrigued by the woman he passes almost every morning, Remy is determined to get to know the brown-eyed beauty. Kenzie is reluctant to get too close, but his persistence in pursuing her slowly breaks down her defenses, turning what started out as nothing more than a nod and a shy smile into something neither of them could have predicted.
War has already taken too much from her, and Kenzie can’t afford to lose her heart to a soldier…
Even though the mutual attraction becomes too strong to ignore, Kenzie keeps fighting her feelings for the handsome Captain. But when Remy is called out on a mission and she’s faced with the possibility he might not come back, Kenzie realizes she may have let her only chance at love slip through her fingers.
Now that Kenzie is finally ready to embrace love with the kind of man she has spent her entire life avoiding, it might just be too late…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Ok so this is going to sound like I didn’t like this book because I have a lot to say about it but here is the thing. I did enjoy it. It is not often a story can make tears roll down my cheeks so when this one did I knew I had become invested. So while this may sound like I have a lot of complaints I feel more like this is constructive criticism than anything else.

It took me a little while to get used to the way the author writes. The sentences are very clipped, like “When we arrive, I pull her seat out for her. She sits.” Also in the beginning the sex scenes seem out of the blue. Almost like someone told her to add scenes for more impact. The scenes are also repetitive.

I actually looked to see if this was the author’s first book but it is not. She has had a number of other ones but by the end of the book I was much more familiar with her way of writing and it seemed to be easier to read. And while the sec scenes don’t really improve all that much they just are part of the story and easily read through.

Now I want to say again…. I ended up really liking this story. The background characters are what really make this story. Remy’s family and Kenzie’s Nana are wonderful. I would recommend this story to pretty much anyone and would also say don’t judge a book by its first (or second) chapter.

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

TITLE: Crazy For You
SERIES #: Risking It All #2
CHARACTERS: Emma & Ryan
AUTHOR: Rachel Lacey
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
SHE’S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE

Emma Rush can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven’s resident bad boy is just so freakin’ hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma’s over being a “good girl,” she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.

Before Emma’s brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything–including himself. When her brother doesn’t come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he’s still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can’t stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts This story is adorable. We met both of these characters in the first book of the series, Run To You. Emma and Ryan have known each other since childhood. She was his best friends little sister. But until now Ryan never saw her as anything else…. Until now.

In the book it says Ryan is a sheep in wolf’s clothing and I think it is a perfect description. Ryan wants to give Emma the world, even if that includes their romance copying the pages of a romance novel. Emma just wants to live her life. She has always been the quiet little good girl but her life has changed and she just wants some adventure and Ryan in the perfect one to help her out.

I love this bunch of friends. I would want to be a part of this group and have these guys be big brothers and the girls be best friends. I enjoyed the addition of Ryan’s little brother Trent as well.

This is a great book. Perfect beach read or curl up on the couch and relax read. Can’t wait for Jessica and Mark’s story.

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

TITLE: Bound Together
SERIES #: Sea Haven/Sisters Of The Heart #6
CHARACTERS: Viktor & Blythe
AUTHOR: Christine Feehan
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/21/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For five years, Viktor Prakenskii has put his life on hold in order to take down the world’s most feared motorcycle club from the inside. But carrying out the insane violence and seeing the club’s exploitation of the innocent has brought his traumatic past roaring back. And there’s only one cure: to see the wife he left behind…

Blythe Daniels thought she’d never see Viktor again after he murdered her stepfather and left without a word. She rebuilt her life without him, becoming a personal trainer and physical therapist…becoming strong enough for others to lean on. But when Viktor comes back to Sea Haven, he’ll make Blythe question everything she thought she knew about good and evil—and the dark desires of the heart…

REVIEW:
Wow what a way to end the series. Christine Feehan is one of the all time best at story telling as far as I am concerned. We finally get Viktor’s story. I really believe the series was wrapped up and brought it all together.

This is a story of a second chance at love and understanding.

I do hope that Feehan figures out a way to bring some of the background characters into another series eventually. Some were great characters.

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