Kimberly’s Review – Page 71

October 19, 2015October 18, 2015

Kimberly reviews If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

TITLE: If You Only Knew
CHARACTERS: Jenny & Rachel
AUTHOR: Kristan Higgins
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/25/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sisterhood in all its drama, hilarity and tears is at the heart of New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins’s thoroughly captivating new novel, featuring the wit and romance that readers have come to expect from the much-loved creator of the Blue Heron series…

Wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate understands the happily-ever-after business, yet somehow she’s still involved in her ex-husband’s life. In fact, Owen’s new wife may—inexplicably—be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing this, well, relationship isn’t helping her move on, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she’ll be able to bask in her sister Rachel’s picture-perfect family life…and hopefully make one of her own.

Her timing couldn’t be more perfect, since Rachel will need her younger sister. Her idyllic marriage has just fallen to pieces in spectacular fashion after she discovers her husband sexting with one of his colleagues. Second chances aren’t in Rachel’s nature, but the desire for an intact family has her rethinking her stance on adultery, much to Jenny’s surprise. Rachel points to their parents’ “perfect” marriage as a shining example, but to protect her sister Jenny may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship—and reveal a secret about their family she’s been keeping since childhood.

During this summer of secrets and lies, temptation and revelation, Jenny and Rachel will rely on each other to find the humor in their personal catastrophes, the joy in their triumphs…and the strength to keep hanging on.

REVIEW:
I had a really hard time with this book. I think it was because it was not a romance which is what I am used to by Higgins. This is more like women’s fiction. It is about sisters more than a romance. Don’t get me wrong there is a bit of romance but it is not what I am used to.

I had a hard time with the format of the story as well. Every other chapter was written in the the first person of each sister which distracted me a bit. There is so many que backs to Owen (Jenny’s ex) that is seems she is pathetic. There is just too much talk of cheating in some form or another. Physical is not the only way to cheat.

I don’t know if this is Higgins’ first try at women’s fiction but it is the first I have read from her and while I can’t wait for the next story from Higgins I just wasn’t thrilled with this one.

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

October 15, 2015October 11, 2015

Kimberly reviews The Girl With No Past by Kathryn Croft

TITLE: The Girl With No Past
CHARACTERS: Lean & Julian
AUTHOR: Kathryn Croft
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Leah Mills lives a life of a fugitive – kept on the run by one terrible day from her past. It is a lonely life, without a social life or friends until – longing for a connection – she meets Julian. For the first time she dares to believe she can live a normal life.

Then, on the fourteenth anniversary of that day, she receives a card. Someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed the life Leah has created.

But is Leah all she seems? Or does she deserve everything she gets?

Everyone has secrets. But some are deadly.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a really interesting thriller. It takes a little while to warm up to Leah. She is the stereotypical librarian. She lives in her books, has little social life, etc. She wants to start having a social life and takes the current way… going online. But of course that doesn’t work out very well. The story takes place now but has a number of flashbacks that explains Leah’s story and why someone is after her.

I enjoyed the story. I thought the psychological part of it was thrilling. While dark it was really interesting. I haven’t read Gone Girl or The Girl On The Train so I don’t know if it compares but all in all I thought this was good and worth the quick read.

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

October 14, 2015October 11, 2015

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Christmas At Evergreen Inn by Donna Alward

TITLE: Christmas At Evergreen Inn
SERIES #: Jewell Cove #4
CHARACTERS: Todd & Lainey
AUTHOR: Donna Alward
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome back to Jewell Cove, where this holiday season, there happens to be no room at the inn…

When a December Nor’easter roars up the eastern seaboard, Jewell Cove cop Todd Ricker spends his day off being a Good Samaritan to stranded holiday travelers. But when the roads close and Todd can’t make his way home, he discovers that the Evergreen Inn is full up. Until another Good Samaritan opens her doors and offers him a place to stay…

Lainey Price is not looking forward to Christmas, but just because she’s not filled with the holiday spirit doesn’t mean she’s going to turn Todd out into the stormy night. Even if it means offering the handsome police officer the couch in her tiny cottage. But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, the two are snowed in for a wintry evening by the fire. With Christmas only a few days away, can Todd convince Lainey to open her heart to the season…and love?

REVIEW:
This is a cute holiday novella. Only about 80 pages so a quick read. The story is set at Christmas but not much is Christmas related more winter related but even that is ok. Here is the thing. I think the synopsis is a bit deceiving. I had the feeling that Lainey and Todd had never met. Todd was just a good samaritan there to help out and Lainey an innkeeper. But the two have known each other all their lives. I think that makes a big difference when starting the story.

Once I understood the dynamics of the relationship it was fine and I really enjoyed it. Like I said it was quick and a light read. Good to have around for short spans of reading time this holiday season.

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

October 13, 2015October 11, 2015

Kimberly reviews Murder Mystery by Gene Thompson

TITLE: Murder Mystery
CHARACTERS: Dade Cooley
AUTHOR: Gene Thompson
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When wealthy art collector Miriam Welles is crushed to death by her own Rolls Royce, the police call it a tragic accident.

But her lawyer Dade Cooley arrives on the scene in Los Angeles and quickly determines that, though the Rolls was empty, there was definitely a driving force behind Miriam’s untimely demise.

He takes on the role of detective with glee as the plot thickens.

Two more residents come to an unfortunate end, and Dade is convinced that murder is the cause of all these suspicious deaths.

When a special painting is stolen, the list of suspects grows until Dade discovers the unlikely perpetrator behind the killings.

Was it greed or love that killed the beauty?

‘Murder Mystery’ is a classic mystery story from a master story-teller.

REVIEW:
This was a good little mystery. The thing was it was very dated. Apparently this is a re-release and nothing was changed in it to bring some of it up to date. It is a funny who-dun-it that is a light read.

Good for being as dated as it is.

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

October 9, 2015October 5, 2015

Kimberly reviews Vendetta by Lisa Harris

TITLE: Vendetta
SERIES #: The Nikki Boyd Files #1
CHARACTERS: Nikki Boyd
AUTHOR: Lisa Harris
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the first in a new series from an author I have not read before. The synopsis pretty much tells it all so I don’t need to repeat it. It is pretty typical as well. Lady becomes cop because her sister went missing a decade ago and not another girl is missing and she takes it personal. Typical, like I said.

I’m am 60/40 on this book. I would say 50/50 but it did keep my interest and make me want to finish it so I will give it that push over the edge. The characters are good and well written. The history of Nikki is solid and again she kept my attention. I was waiting for something about the book that would be different than others… something about Nikki that we didn’t know that gave us that “Oh now I get it” moment but it never came. I also never felt much of a connection, except the loss of a loved one, between Nikki and Tyler.

I guess this would fall under the inspirational suspense more than anything else. And while interesting it just really didn’t do it for me. I can imagine some will love this series. I am just not one of them.

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

October 9, 2015October 5, 2015

Kimberly reviews Fever by Jamie K. Schmidt

TITLE: Fever
SERIES #: Club Inferno #3
CHARACTERS: Colleen & Chase
AUTHOR: Jamie K. Schmidt
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/17/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You will savor a visit to Club Inferno, the erotic playground where glitz and glamour mix with leather and whips.

Deep in the shadows of her exclusive fashion resort, Couture, Colleen Bryant presides over a much more intimate world: Club Inferno. The successful businesswoman and sex instructor has built an empire that caters to the BDSM elite, but now she finds herself longing for something a bit more ordinary: a man to love. She’s not sure how to find someone who will accept what she does for a living—or the kinks that drive her wild—until her old flame, ex-pro football player Chase Fairwood, comes back in her life.

There’s no woman as hot, sexy, or exciting as Colleen—and Chase knows it. He also knows he’s man enough to play her games, and to give as good as he gets. His return to Club Inferno reignites Colleen’s scorching demands, along with a new determination to test his resolve. Soon he’s competing against a rival Dom to brand Colleen as his own. But Chase has a secret weapon: the burning desire to offer his body—and his heart—in sweet surrender.

REVIEW:
3.25 Hearts Well I am on the fence of this one but leaning more towards liking it which is why I gave it the tip over from down the 3 star middle.

So I have liked the other two in the series and liked them. I enjoy the camaraderie that the people of Couture have and enjoy the way this club is set up. There is just more to it than a sex club so it is a bit different than other BDSM series. But the problem comes with Colleen and Chase. We have known both of them since book one and it was no surprise to have them come back together since they were together already and seemed to have the chemistry still.

But…. Chase is not the kind of guy I think of as a sub. Sure he is a ex-football player and a big guy and I am absolutely positive that guys like this are out in the world but I am not sure they would be the kind of guy I was into. Actually I know they wouldn’t be but then again I would never pull of the part of Colleen.

So I had a hard time enjoying the guy as a sub and not the Dom. It seems off to me. And while I enjoyed the rest of the story it was hard to get past that. I guess I will stay away from books with Dominatrix and sub and stick with Dom and sub in the future.

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

October 8, 2015October 5, 2015

Kimberly reviews The Risk by Skye Jordan

TITLE: The Risk
SERIES #: Xtreme Heroes #1
CHARACTERS: Julia & Noah
AUTHOR: Skye Jordan
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/16/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Former Olympian turned physical therapist to the elite Julia Bailey knows all about pushing the limits. But when a sexual harassment suit costs her a dream job—not to mention her reputation—she takes on the biggest risk of her life. Rehabilitating the X Games’ most notorious bad boy might be just what she needs to secure the funds for her own treatment center. Problem is, the only kind of recovery her new client is interested in is under-the-covers freestyle—gear optional.

Daredevil snowboarder Noah Hunt is a rock star—on and off the slopes. A recent accident might have him down, but he’s far from out. He doesn’t care what the sexy therapist with the sweet curves says. He’s got sponsors to impress and trophies to collect, and taking things slow and steady just ain’t his style. A little dirty talk and a sizzling night later, Julia learns just how fast and hard he likes to play. Too bad for him, his heart goes all in, and one wrong move could cost him more than just his career.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts So this is a new series for Jordan. I love her Renegades series. I mean seriously I end up with a new book-boyfriend every time one of the books from that series comes out. So here is what I think happened with this book….

I wanted it to match the Renegades but it didn’t and I was disappointed. Now I know that is not fair. Each book should have its own expectations and not base it on an old series but come on we all do it. I wanted to end up with a new book-boyfriend and when I didn’t I was a little heartbroken. BUT…. that being said I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the story and I mostly enjoyed the characters.

Julia well she would be the friend that would drive me crazy but we would still be friends. Noah well actually I can imagine setting him up with my friend (you know the one who drives me crazy) but I wouldn’t want him for my own.

But give this new series and try. Just don’t go in thinking this is a Renegades book because you will be disappointed.

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

October 7, 2015October 5, 2015

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly & Kimberly review A Silver Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

TITLE: A Silver Wolf Christmas
SERIES #: Heart Of The Wolf #17
CHARACTERS: C.J. Silver & Laurel MacTire
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fans of shapeshifter romance will be thrilled to spend Christmas with the Silver Town werewolf pack…

C.J. Silver is eager to help the new she-wolves in town renovate the old hotel in time for the holidays, especially if it means spending time under the mistletoe with the alluring Laurel MacTire.

The bustle in the long abandoned hotel attracts the attention of human ghosthunters out to prove the place haunted, but the bigger problem is keeping them from discovering the werewolves in Silver Town. CJ and Laurel have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Working together is a surprisingly hot holiday treat for two attractive and clever wolf shifters

KELLY’S REVIEW:
3 Hearts I enjoyed this story. I liked that it was set at Christmas time, yet didn’t have a huge “it’s a Christmas story” vibe. I really enjoyed C.J. and Laurel’s relationship. It was nice to see them grow as people and as a couple throughout this book. I enjoyed the ghostly elements of the story too.
I really liked the new wolfs we meet too. I am hoping that means more stories in the future :).
All and all this was another really good read by Ms. Spears

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts I enjoyed this story. It is set at Christmas but I wouldn’t exactly say it is a holiday story. But it is still an enjoyable shifting story with a bit of a different kind of paranormal and a bit of suspense.

In the beginning I had a bit of a problem with this book. CJ seemed like a teenager with his first crush. He was written very young but as the book moved forward he seemed to change into a man and not a teen. I liked Laurel right off. She is the alpha of her three sisters and seems really mature which is why I couldn’t see her and CJ together at first.

We learn that the girls are in town for more than renovating the old hotel and it begins to feel a little like a ghost story. Is there is a ghost wolf? A haunted hotel? And what happened to the previous owners and the girls aunt?

After I got more into the book I enjoyed it more. The beginning was a bit rough and I did have a bit of a problem with how quickly to the reader the romance happened. It seemed like one day they were interested in each other but distant and the next they were dating and then mated. It just seemed fast to me. But as the book moved on the romance became more real to them I enjoyed it more. The suspense part was an added enjoyment. As I said I don’t know that I would call this a Christmas story even though it is brought up a few times but as a fan of paranormal romance you will enjoy it no matter what time of year it is.

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.

October 7, 2015October 5, 2015

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Wish Upon A Christmas Cake by Darcie Boleyn

TITLE: Wish Upon A Christmas Cake
CHARACTERS: Katie & Sam
AUTHOR: Darcie Boleyn
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/02/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The most wonderful time of the year?

Katie Warham has just one wish this year…to have the best Christmas ever!

If only she could lock herself away in a cloud of flour and sugar at her cosy little tearoom, Crumbtious Cakes, instead of spending the festive season trapped with her judgemental mother, crazy Aunt Gina and loved-up celebrity brother Carl…

But Katie never expected her ex-boyfriend, widower Sam – and his two adorable children – to turn up on her doorstep. She didn’t think that any man could tempt her under the mistletoe this year, but Sam might just prove the exception! And as the snow begins to fall and Katie puts the final touches to her famous Christmas cake, she begins to wonder, could her Christmas wish actually come true?

This holiday season, snuggle up by a roaring fire with a mulled wine and enjoy Darcie Boleyn’s festive winter warmer!

REVIEW:
I had a bit of a hard time with this story. First it was set in first person and that, for me, takes away from the story. I never felt a connection between Katie and Sam. Katie is just a bit uptight to me. I never really enjoyed reading her and since it was first person it was hard to move beyond her and enjoy the story.

Katie has been pining over Sam for years and compared every guy since to him. Sure we all have “the one that got away” but it seems to me she is the one who let him go so why is she upset? I don’t know. While this story had a lot of the Christmas spirit in it for some reason it just didn’t work for me.

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

October 6, 2015October 5, 2015

Kelly & Kimberly review All I Want by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: All I Want
SERIES #: Animal Magnetism #7
CHARACTERS: Parker James & Zoe Stone
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: October 6, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the “awesomely, incredibly talented”* New York Times bestselling author of Still the One, comes a sexy new Animal Magnetism novel set in Sunshine, Idaho, where the sky is the limit when it comes to love.
Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.
Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts How to make a good first impression: Kiss the next person that walks up to your door.
I think Zoe needs to not take advice from her sister Darcy. Or maybe she should take more advice from her.
This was a fun book. I loved Parker. He is all rough and tough but a sucker for big eyes, tears and little animals. He is also sneaky, handy and really easy on the eyes. Therefore it make him the perfect person for Zoe.
Zoe “I got this” Stone is one tough nut to crack. She does make things a little hard on Parker (but for good reason). But these two together were great. *wink, wink*
I loved Oreo and Bonnie and Clyde.
As always Jill writes a story that leaves me wanting to read more about her characters. I am so happy that Zoe finally found her match. I can’t wait to see what Jill has in store for us next!!!

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I loved this story. We met Zoe a few books back that gave us some insight into who Zoe is. Zoe is strong and independent. She loves her siblings with her heart. Her family, home and job are her whole life and mostly she is fine with that. But when Wyatt and Darcy fall in love Zoe is left with empty nest syndrome in her own way so in this story she decides to find love… oh ok maybe just lust… either will work.

In walks Parker, literally. Parker is good friends with Wyatt and Zoe offers him a place to stay while he is in town for vacation but Parker is there for more than that. But what he ends up with is everything he never knew he wanted.

Parker is perfect for Zoe. Somehow he clicks into her weird way of living and figures a way around her idiosyncrasies. He feels an immediate need to right her world for her and I love the way he goes about it. I fell a little in love with Parker within the first chapter of meeting him and fell deeper with every chapter after that. The only thing I would have changed about the book is having Zoe going on more blind dates and having Parker comment on all of them. His sense of humor is great and would have been great if he made comments about each of them but that being said this book is almost perfect.

And Oreo is a delight and when Bonnie and Clyde join the mix the Animal Magnetism kicks it up a notch.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 6, 2015October 5, 2015

Kimberly reviews Sinner’s Steel by Sarah Castille

TITLE: Sinner’s Steel
SERIES #: Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club #3
CHARACTERS: Main Characters
AUTHOR: Sarah Castille
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HE’S HELL ON WHEELS.
Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome, Zane “Tracker” Colter is the strong, silent type of tattooed muscle biker who drives women wild. But as a master of strategy for the outlaw MC club, Sinner’s Tribe, he doesn’t have time to play around with groupies and biker chicks-especially when he can’t stop thinking about Evie, the girl who got away…

SHE’S PLAYING WITH FIRE.
Evie’s been in love with Zane ever since they were children-until he broke her heart and disappeared. Now he’s back in her life, bigger and badder than ever. Zane is stunned by how beautiful and confident Evie’s become, using her artistic talent to customize motorcycles. He wants her so bad, he’d ride through fire to win her back. There’s one problem: Evie is dating his deadliest rival-the leader of the Black Jacks-and if Evie and Zane hook up, there’ll be hell to pay…

REVIEW:
I am truly on the fence with this book. It was good but I had a hard time with the characters. First I really do not like how violent this MC is. And I know books like this are becoming more popular, I guess from shows like Sons of Anarchy, but I just don’t want the darkness of unneeded violence. Fans of romance all like the hot guy on a motorcycle but they usually have a good heart and while I guess Zane does too his use of violence is just too much for me.

I also never really felt the connection between Evie and Zane. Zane is this big bad biker dude and yet when it comes to Evie he turns 16 again. And Evie has kept a secret from him for years, even though she supposedly couldn’t find him, and he just says ok?

It is just not my cup of tea.

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

October 2, 2015September 27, 2015

Kimberly reviews Every Second by Rick Mofina

TITLE: Every Second
SERIES #: Kate Page #3
CHARACTERS: Kate Page
AUTHOR: Rick Mofina
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Terror claws into the lives of an American family…

On a quiet night in their tranquil suburban home, the Fulton family awakens to a nightmare. Four armed men force bank manager Dan Fulton to steal a quarter million dollars from his branch—strapping remote-detonation bombs on him, his wife, Lori, and their young son.

A relentless reporter discovers an agonizing secret…

The FBI moves swiftly with a major investigation while Kate Page, a reporter with a newswire service, digs deep into the story. In the wake of the Fulton family’s abduction, questions emerge, including one of the most troubling: is the case linked to Lori Fulton’s tragic past?

Time ticks down on a chilling plan…

Working as fast as they can, Kate and the investigators inch closer to a devastating truth—it’s not only the Fultons’ lives at stake, but thousands of others…and every second counts in the race to save them.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts We have seen stories like this in the headlines. Luckily not often but we have seen them. High end bank employee’s family is threatened and the banker is told to go to the bank and get money or the family dies. It is like it is ripped from the headlines. But there is more to the story then just that.

Rick Mofina is really great at drawing you into the suspense of his thrillers. But there is always more to his stories then just the obvious. In this case the wife’s past has a little bit to do with what is happening too.

This is the third in the Kate Page series and she is tenacious and once she sinks her teeth into something she doesn’t let it go. With this story she is pulled in almost immediately. And she is going to find out all she can to help this family.

I enjoy the novels of Mofina. His stories have a little bit of everything. Suspense, thrills, a bit of a scare and so much more.

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