Review Sunday – Page 103

February 11, 2015February 7, 2015

Kelly & Natasha review Bridged by Kendra Elliott

TITLE: Bridged
SERIES #: Mason Callahan #2
CHARACTERS: Mason Callahan & Ava McLane
AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot
PUBLICATION DATE: February 10, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After a congressman’s tortured body is found dangling from a Portland bridge, the FBI joins the Oregon State Police to investigate the case—and FBI Special Agent Ava McLane, still recovering from a bullet wound, hunts the twisted killer alongside the man who captured her heart, police detective Mason Callahan.

But once a third body appears and all evidence points to a serial killer, the public furiously clamors for answers—and the couple’s relationship grows fractured under the pressure. Ava and Mason search in the past for clues that predict the future. And when Ava’s mentally ill twin spins out of control, the FBI agent who battles monsters every day wonders if she shares her sister’s self-destructive streak…

In the latest thrilling romantic suspense novel from award-winning author Kendra Elliot, the past and the present violently collide…and the fallout can be deadly.

KELLY’S REVIEW:
Bridged is book 2 in Ms. Elliots Mason Callahan series. After the events of Vanished (bk1)(which you need to read) I was not sure how Ms. Elliot was going to top this story, but she did. Bridged is truly an amazing story.
In Bridged we find Mason & Ava loving life and looking forward to a little down time. But in the Rose City there is no rest for the wicked, which means no rest for the Oregon State Police and the FBI.
There is so much that I want to tell you. But I don’t want to give anything away. But I will tell you that this story just keeps building and building and building with each chapter. Building to the point that you can’t put the book down until you get to the end.
Amazing!!! It truly amazes me how twisted and complicated a suspense romance authors mind works. I can’t wait for the next journey in Mason & Ava’s life, although I do hope that they will get a nice quiet weekend soon. 🙂

NATASHA’S REVIEW:
I am so in love with this series! This story follows Mason and Ava as they try to adjust to life as a couple and chase a whole new brand of serial killer. They are great together and I love getting to see them work together. I do wish that we saw them together more outside of work. I wanted to see how they interacted, why they were so happy together. We got glimpses – but I’d be ok with much more! We mostly saw the supporting work characters of these two in this installment and that’s ok with me. I love Ray! I’m curious about Zander…I wonder what he’ll add to this series moving forward. Such a great read!

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

February 10, 2015February 7, 2015

Kelly reviews Southern Spirits by Angie Fox

TITLE: Southern Spirits
SERIES #: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #1
CHARACTERS: Ellis Wyatt & Verity Long
AUTHOR: Angie Fox
PUBLICATION DATE: January 21, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When out of work graphic designer Verity Long accidentally traps a ghost on her property, she’s saddled with more than a supernatural sidekick—she gains the ability see spirits. It leads to an offer she can’t refuse from the town’s bad boy, the brother of her ex and the last man she should ever partner with.

Ellis Wyatt is in possession of a stunning historic property haunted by some of Sugarland Tennessee’s finest former citizens. Only some of them are growing restless—and destructive. He hires Verity put an end to the disturbances. But soon Verity learns there’s more to the mysterious estate than floating specters, secret passageways, and hidden rooms.

There’s a modern day mystery afoot, one that hinges on a decades-old murder. Verity isn’t above questioning the living, or the dead. But can she discover the truth before the killer finds her?

REVIEW:
Southern Spirits is the first book in Angie Fox’s new Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Series. This is going to be a fun series. And I already can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I really really liked Verity. She is so much fun, sassy and has a pet skunk, named Lucy. Who has a pet skunk? Well a kick butt ghost hunter that is who.
Ellis is yummy too. Although I have to say that I really didn’t like him in the very beginning. He was not very nice to Verily. But he ended up redeeming himself.
Southern Spirits takes you on a fun journey of mystery, ghost hunting, finding oneself and surviving very angry poltergeist.

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

February 9, 2015February 7, 2015

Natasha reviews Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

TITLE: Seeker
SERIES #: Seeker #1
CHARACTERS: Quin, John & Shinobu
AUTHOR: Arwen Elys Dayton
PUBLICATION DATE: February 10, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.
Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin’s new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

REVIEW:
It’s taken me a few days to write this review after finishing the book because I didn’t know where to start. This book held a lot of promise and the characters were likable – but I feel like the story didn’t go anywhere. Quin, John and Shinobu are all training to become Seeker’s and it’s this huge deal that they’ve looked forward to their whole lives, but I still have no idea exactly what a Seeker is. Lots of things happen in the book, but nothing that solidly explains anything. I kept hoping that it would all make sense at the end, but that was not the case. I did hope for a more in-depth understanding of the story however it wasn’t really delivered.

Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 6, 2015February 1, 2015

Kelly reviews Jaguar Pride by Terry Spears

TITLE: Jaguar Pride
SERIES #: Heart of the Jaguar #4
CHARACTERS: Huntley Anderson & Melissa Overton
AUTHOR: Terry Spears
PUBLICATION DATE: February 3, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
JAG Special Forces operatives like Golden Claw agent Melissa Overton and her partner, Huntley Anderson, are trained for the most dangerous missions in the harshest environments. These hardened jaguar shifters can handle any variable, even . . . babies?

When Huntley and Melissa find two jaguar shifter cubs snoozing in their jungle hut while on assignment, they have to keep the cubs and each other safe from ruthless poachers, bringing these partners closer in ways they never expected

REVIEW:
Huntley and Melissa are a great team on missions. They both are fearless, smart and love being wild. Oh and the like each other, only problem they both are dating other people. But that is okay work and pleasure don’t mix well.
I won’t give away anything but when you mix two Jaguars who like each other (A LOT), two baby Jaguar cubs, a lot of spilled milk, poachers and one weaselly bad guy you have a lot of action.
I really liked Huntly & Melissa together. I loved them with the babies too. I can’t wait to see what is next for this series.

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.

February 5, 2015February 1, 2015

Kimberly reviews Rough Justice by Sarah Castille

TITLE: Rough Justice
SERIES #: Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club #1
CHARACTERS: Arianne & Jagger
AUTHOR: Sarah Castille
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/03/15
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
IT TAKES A GOOD, STRONG WOMAN
Raised in a motorcycle gang, tough, beautiful Arianne Hunter has always dreamed of a normal life. But no sooner does she escape her father’s domineering grasp than she wakes up to find herself in a rival gang’s clubhouse—at the mercy of the dangerously sexy Jagger Knight.

TO TAME A MAN WHO’S HELL ON WHEELS.
The alpha leader of the notorious Sinner’s Tribe, Jagger Knight is all muscle, all biker, and all man. But somewhere inside this hard tattooed outlaw, Arianne senses a kindred spirit—and she can’t ignore their tempestuous attraction. Can she beat him at his own game in a revved-up blaze of glory? Or will their passion spark a war that’s the end of the road for them both?

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts
If I had written the review after the first 100 pages it would have been much different than it is right now. The reason? I was ready to put the book on my DNF list and considering I have only a handful on that list you know it would be extreme if I did. But some how I kept telling myself “just a few more chapters and I will decide” and I am glad I did.

The first 100 pages…. They are hard to deal with. I imagine this story is along the lines of Sons Of Anarchy (since I have never seen it I am not sure) but Jagger is a bad guy. Not the bad guy who ends up being good he is a full on bad guy. He and his bikers are not afraid to beat or kill someone. To them it is just another day’s activities. They sell weapons and kidnap people for money (bad people yes but still kidnapping). And I honestly had a hard time with that. I also had a hard time with the wording. The first 100 pages was like the author had taken a list of biker terminology and checked off using all of it… and some over and over. Man, if I had heard about his “cut” (not a vest apparently) one more time I might have screamed. But then it changed.

In the next 180 pages Jagger changed and I found I liked him. Yes he is still a bad guy but the way he was with Arianne and the other bikers shows his heart of gold. Arianne is a good character too. She is tough. She was brought up in a rival biker gang and knows how to handle herself and I was really glad to see that that never changed throughout the book. So many times the woman starts tough, gets the guy, becomes soft and needs to be “saved” but not this one. Wait, yes, she needs to be saved but she does her part in the escaping as much as the saving. I guess you have to read it to understand that sentence.

So by the end of the book I enjoyed it. Yes, I still don’t like the bad guys that they are. I don’t want to condone the violence that the book represents but I enjoyed the story in general. I wouldn’t have thought I would be looking forward to the next in the series but I am. And now I know I need to read through the whole thing but in the long runs the Sinners are worth reading about.

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

February 4, 2015February 1, 2015

Kelly reviews The Surrender Gate by Christopher Rice

TITLE: The Surrender Gate
SERIES #: Desire Exchange #1
CHARACTERS: Emily Blaine, Jonathan Claiborne & Marcus Dylan
AUTHOR: Christopher Rice
PUBLICATION DATE: February 3, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N {Coming Soon}

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice’s first foray into erotic romance, The Flame, earned accolades from some of the genre’s most beloved authors. “Sensual, passionate and intelligent,” wrote Lexi Blake, “it’s everything an erotic romance should be.” J. Kenner called it “absolutely delicious,” Cherise Sinclair hailed it as “beautifully lyrical” and Loreli James announced, “I look forward to reading more!” Now, Christopher returns you to the world first introduced in The Flame with an all new novel of The Desire Exchange…

Emily Blaine’s life is about to change. Arthur Benoit, the kindly multi-millionaire who has acted as her surrogate father for years, has just told her he’s leaving her his entire estate, and he only has a few months to live. Soon Emily will go from being a restaurant manager with a useless English degree to the one of the richest and most powerful women in New Orleans. There’s just one price. Arthur has written a letter to his estranged son Ryan he hopes will mend the rift between them, and he wants Emily to deliver the letter before it’s too late. But finding Ryan won’t be easy. He’s been missing for years. He was recently linked to a mysterious organization called The Desire Exchange. But is The Desire Exchange just an urban legend? Or are the rumors true? Is it truly a secret club where the wealthy can live out their most private sexual fantasies?

It’s a task Emily can’t undertake alone. But there’s only one man qualified to help her, her gorgeous and confident best friend, Jonathan Claiborne. She’s suspected Jonathan of working as a high-priced escort for months now, and she’s willing to bet that while giving pleasure to some of the most powerful men in New Orleans, Jonathan has uncovered some possible leads to The Desire Exchange—and to Ryan Benoit. But Emily’s attempt to uncover Jonathan’s secret life lands the two of them in hot water. Literally. In order to escape the clutches of one of Jonathan’s most powerful and dangerous clients, they’re forced to act on long buried desires—for each other.

When Emily’s mission turns into an undercover operation, Jonathan insists on going with her. He also insists they continue to explore their impossible, reckless passion for each other. Enter Marcus Dylan, the hard-charging ex-NAVY Seal Arthur has hired to keep Emily safe. But Marcus has been hired for another reason. He, too, has a burning passion for Emily, a passion that might keep Emily from being distracted and confused by a best friend who claims he might be able to go straight just for her. But Marcus is as rough and controlling as Jonathan is sensual and reckless. As Emily searches for a place where the rich turn their fantasies into reality, she will be forced to decide which one of her own long-ignored fantasies should become her reality. But as Emily, Jonathan, and Marcus draw closer to The Desire Exchange itself, they find their destination isn’t just shrouded in mystery, but in magic as well.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Emily is a girl on a mission. Two mission: One to find out what the heck her best friend is up to when he leaves her. But what she finds is not exactly what she expected. And her time as a spy is interrupted with a crash though a skylight. And the second is to find the long lost son of her dad’s best friend. But in order to do that Emily is going to have to cross boundaries she has only ever dreamed of crossing.

I am a little on the fence about this story. It started off very interesting and then trailed off for me a bit then picked up again at the end. I enjoyed reading Emily’s journey into desire and her fantasies. But there was just a little something missing for me in this story. Mr. Rice has another Desire Exchange novella coming out later in the year, I look forward to reading it.

If you are looking for a hot steamy read that will take you on a journey of finding your hearts desire and making fantasy become reality. You should pick up a copy of The Surrender Gate.

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

February 3, 2015February 1, 2015

Kimberly reviews Hunger’s Mate part 4 by A.C. Arthur

TITLE: Hunger’s Mate Part 4
SERIES #: Shadow Shifters #5
CHARACTERS: Jewel & Ezra
AUTHOR: A.C. Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/03/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Part Four and the breathtaking conclusion to A.C. Arthur’s HUNGER’S MATE (Shadow Shifters)! Jewel has always had her own agenda. But when Ezra discovers how far she’s gone—sleeping with the enemy to achieve her means—he has no choice but to ask himself: Can he trust her with his own secrets? Instinct tells him that he must be near her. She is the one who can satisfy his hunger. But will his passion for her mean the destruction of him and his kind? How far will one Shadow Shifter go as he follows his own heart?

REVIEW:
This is the fourth and final installment of this story. So as I said on the first installment I am not a fan of the new way some authors are taking one story and making them be released in parts so I was very happy that I was able to get all four installments at once and was able to read them as a full story. I know that the author puts out the installments and then the full story comes out. Of course it is up to each individual and their preference but I would wait until all parts are complete.

Now about the story itself. I really enjoyed this story. I liked Ezra and Jewel together but this was mostly Ezra’s story. I know it was supposed to be Jewel’s too but we really got more of his story than hers. The story is well written and interesting. The story had a lot of action and the romance was sweet. Any fan of the genre will enjoy the story and while I have not read the first couple books in the series I have read this one and the one directly before it and can understand what is going on just fine but I would say you would not be disappointed if you started from book one and enjoy the entire collection.

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

February 3, 2015February 1, 2015

Natasha reviews Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock

TITLE: Twisted Innocence
SERIES #: The Moonlighters Series #3
CHARACTERS: Holly Creed & Creed Kershaw
AUTHOR: Terri Blackstock
PUBLICATION DATE: 2/3/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When Holly s secrets backfire, is the mess too big to unravel?
Holly Cramer has worked hard to keep the identity of her daughter s father a secret, shamed and embarrassed by the one-night stand. But when the police knock on her door searching for Creed Kershaw, she realizes his identity isn t as hidden as she thought. The fact that Creed is a person of interest in a recent drug-related murder only increases her humiliation.
When Holly s and Creed s paths cross, Holly is unsure whether to be terrified of him or trust him. His tenderness with their daughter makes her want to believe his story that he had nothing to do with the murder. Then she discovers that Creed has a connection to Leonard Miller who killed both her sister’s fiancé and her brother-in-law, and kidnapped her nephews and things only become more complicated.
Will Creed lead them to the man who has plagued her family, or become another of his victims?”

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I accidentally began reading this book without realizing it was already a part of a series. Thankfully, the author gives you enough background information that allows this to read easily as a standalone book. Another thing I didn’t realize what that this book is considered Christian fiction – not a big deal, just not something I was expecting. Holly is a good lead character whose past mistakes lead her life into a series of unexpected and challenging situations. I appreciated her need to better her life because of her child and felt she was an easy character to relate to. Creed was also a great character. His life really took a turn for the worse and threw him into a heap of trouble that makes his patch collide with Holly’s. I enjoyed the supporting characters a lot and found the whole group very entertaining. Enjoyable read.

Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction and Netgalley. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

January 30, 2015January 24, 2015

Kimberly reviews For Keeps by Rachel Lacey

TITLE: For Keeps
SERIES #: Love To The Rescue #2
CHARACTERS: Main Characters
AUTHOR: Rachel Lacey
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/27/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A SUMMER FLING . . . OR SOMETHING MORE?
Merry Atwater would do just about anything to save her dog rescue – even if it means working with the most stubborn man on the planet. It’s hard to avoid the sparks that fly with TJ Jameson, the ruggedly sexy cowboy in charge of the children’s camp where she’s just taken an animal therapy job. But commitment is not Merry’s style, and TJ clearly wants more than just a roll in the hay.

TJ Jameson isn’t looking for anything complicated-just a peaceful life on his family’s ranch with a wife and kids. “No-strings” Merry Atwater doesn’t fit that bill, no matter how irresistible she is. But when he sees how Merry gets through to his autistic nephew and the other kids at Camp Blue Sky, TJ’s a goner. If he doesn’t give in to the now, he might just lose his shot at forever . . .

REVIEW:
This is a sweet story about finding love in unexpected places. Merry doesn’t want to fall in love and have a family but she does want to rescue every dog she sees especially boxers. TJ wants nothing more than to settle down and have a true love like his parents with some cowgirl/farm girl. But when a camp for special needs kids brings them together somehow they just click.

I enjoyed this story. It got a little wordy at times but the story is really good. I enjoyed the special needs kids and how they all had different abilities and yet were able to do things like train dogs. I think the author did a great job with Noah and his autism. It might sound like this book would have a heavy storyline when I mention special needs kids and rescuing animals but it doesn’t. It is sweet and a pure romance.

Any fan of the romance genre will enjoy it and if you love dogs and kids you will enjoy it even more.

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

January 29, 2015January 24, 2015

Kimberly reviews Full Tilt by Rick Mofina

TITLE: Full Tilt
CHARACTERS: Kate
AUTHOR: Rick Mofina
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/27/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A LIFE-AND-DEATH RACE AGAINST TIME

Deep in the woods of upstate New York a woman flees a blazing barn. She is burned beyond recognition, and her dying words point police to a labyrinth of “confinement rooms”-rooms designed to hold human beings captive-where they make other chilling discoveries.

In Manhattan, Kate Page, a single mom and reporter with a newswire service, receives a heart-stopping call from a detective on the case. A guardian angel charm found at the scene fits the description of the one belonging to Kate’s sister, Vanessa, who washed away after a car crash in a mountain river twenty years ago.

Kate has spent much of her life searching for the truth behind her little sister’s disappearance. Now, a manhunt for a killer who’s kept a collection of victims prisoner for years without detection becomes her final chance to either mourn Vanessa’s death-or save her life.

REVIEW:
If you are a fan of the suspense genre than Rick Mofina is an author you should have on your list to read. This mystery was engrossing and hard to put down. Kate was first introduced in the last book and we catch up with her again in this story. I could explain the story but the synopsis does a really good job.

I really enjoy Kate. She is a strong single mom and someone you would want to be friends with.

Again if you are a fan of mystery then this book will spark your interest. If you are a fan of Mofina’s you will enjoy this story and if you haven’t read him before then you will want to go back and get all of his books and start from the beginning.

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

January 28, 2015January 24, 2015

Kimberly reviews Hunger’s Mate Part 3 by A.C. Arthur

TITLE: Hunger’s Mate Part 3
SERIES #: Shadow Shifters #5
CHARACTERS: Jewel & Ezra
AUTHOR: A.C. Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/27/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The desire—and danger—heats up to a scorching degree in HUNGER’S MATE: Part Three (Shadow Shifters) from popular romance author A.C. Arthur.Jewel has plotted and schemed for months, hiding her knowledge of a top-secret operation—and keeping Ezra guessing. And hungry for more…Captivated by her passion, skill, and courage, Ezra wants to help Jewel on her mission. But can she be trusted? Is his desire for her worth the risk?

REVIEW:
This is the third installment of the story. In this one we get a better idea of what has happened with Jewel which we had not had in the last two. There is a bit more action in this one as well. It really ends up setting up the fourth and final installment of this book.

You can not read this story without having read the first couple installments because it is all one book but it is worth going back and making sure you read the story. Because this is the shortest of the installments I can’t really say too much without giving the story away. On to the last installment.

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

January 27, 2015January 24, 2015

Kelly & Kimberly review Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid

TITLE: Fire Me Up
SERIES #: Pine Mountain #4
CHARACTERS: Adrian Holt & Teagan O’Malley
AUTHOR: Kimberly Kincaid
PUBLICATION DATE: January 27, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
If You Can’t Stand The Heat…

Teagan O’Malley can handle a crisis. She’s a paramedic, it’s her job. But she never expected to land in the kitchen of her father’s pub, with no notice, no cash, and no room for error. The kitchen is not her favorite place. Lucky for her, she just scraped a bad-boy chef off the pavement after a motorcycle accident—and something about him says he can turn up the heat in more ways than one.

Adrian Holt has had a rough few years, and he’s not eager to get tangled up in anything more complicated than a good risotto. But with a broken arm and a head full of bad memories, he needs a challenge to keep him sane. Teagan’s dare-me attitude and smoldering mess of a bar are just what the doctor ordered. And the two of them together might cook up some even better medicine

KELLY’S REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I really enjoy my visits to Pine Mountain. I am really glad that Adrian finally got his own story. I have been wondering about him from the start of this series. He has been all tall, dark, protective and secretive. But all that comes to a crashing halt when he is hurt in an accident. Poor Adrian finds himself on leave from his job. And that last thing that Adrian needs is free time. Thank goodness for fate and Teagan.
Teagan is one tough cookie. Until you add in sleep deprivation, wine and one very yummy chef, then she is a like putty in his hands 🙂 Besides every girl needs a hero right? Even if said hero is a pain in the butt. Well a pain that can cook and set Teagan on fire.
These two were fun to read. There were times that the story was just a tad bit slow for me. But over all I loved it. I hope that we will get to see Adrian & Teagan in future books.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Another great trip to Pine Mountain even though we didn’t get to see much of the town this time. We met Adrian in the previous book and for that matter we met Teagan as well… Funny we even met them together and I think we knew then that they would have a great chemistry and they do. I enjoyed the story but I will say there is a lot of backstory with not only these two but the others as well. I guess that is the authors way of bringing us back because we want to know what Brennan has hidden in his closet. But Adrian was hiding his past, Teagan was hiding hers, Tagan’s dad has his, Brennan his and so on…. I mean how many secrets could one bar hold?

Some of the writing was repeated a bit too many times and the sex scenes a bit dull but all in all the story is sweet and a nice read.

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