Category: Review Sunday

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Kimberly’s review of With This Kiss: Part Two by Eloisa James

TITLE: With This Kiss
SERIES #: Part 2
CHARACTERS: Grace & Colin
AUTHOR: Eloise James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/19/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Grace Ryburn has accepted another man’s proposal after the love of her life, Lieutenant Colin Barry, asked for her own sister’s hand in marriage.

But when Colin returns home from the wars, injured in body and spirit, will she be able to turn her back and marry another? Or will she throw away every rule her mother taught her and try to seduce a man who has shown no interest in her kisses?

Author’s Note: Be sure to read Part One first! You need to know the story of how Grace fell in love with Colin . .

REVIEW:
This is the second in a three part story. It, like the first, is a short story of about 50 pages. You must read the first to understand the second. I do not think reading the second without the first will have any meaning. And of course there is a final third part that will hopefully wrap the story up nicely.

This is an almost sad love story. This is sort of the ships that pass in the night story and I really can’t wait to read the last part so I know how it ends.

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

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Kelly’s review of Blurred Expectations by Carrie Ann Ryan

TITLE: Blurred Expectations
SERIES: Redwood Pack Novella #4.5
AUTHOR: Carrie Ann Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: 1.8.13
Characters: Hanna, Josh & Reed
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Hannah Jamenson has babies on the brain. It seems that her sisters-in-law are expanding their family in the blink of an eye, but Hannah feels left behind. Every time that little test reads negative a little part of her dies and she feels like her Healing powers are failing her. Her mates, Josh and Reed, are doing everything they can to help her deal with their trials and losses, but they too feel like there is nothing they can do.

Just when the lines of what they mean to each other go out of focus, an enemy from Josh’s past is back to prove the things that go bump in the night are real and everything they had held dear is now in jeopardy. In order to fight back and find their way, they’ll need to put everything on the line before they lose it all.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 4 and 5 to give you a taste of Reed, Josh, and Hannah. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of the Redwood’s favorite triad.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars Being a novella I will keep this really short.

I really enjoyed this novella. I have not been really feeling the menage story line in a really like time. But I really enjoyed this story by Carrie Ann.

If you are a fan of the Redwood Pack series then you will love Hannah, Josh & Reed’s story

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

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Kelly’s review of Beautiful Scars by Shiloh Walker

TITLE: Beautiful Scars
AUTHOR: Shiloh Walker
PUBLICATION DATE: Jan. 13, 2013
Characters: Marc Archer & Chaili Bennett
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Some scars cut right to the heart.

Three years after her divorce, Chaili Bennett is over her ex. Her only problem now? Of the few men she’s dated since, no one “gets” her. Not like Marc Archer—a man who’s never seen her as more than a friend.

Marc Archer needs a date for a last-minute charity event, and he needs it fast. Not that women aren’t throwing themselves at his world-famous face and body, but sometimes it’s less messy—as in less personal—to use his sister Shera’s escort service.

The last woman on earth Marc expects to see in his sister’s office is Chaili. There’s something different about her, but nothing pleases him more when Shera sets them up. That simple date quickly evolves into much more as they both discover the other fills a deep, secret need they’ve shared with anyone else.

Though Chaili insists one night is all she wants, Marc isn’t walking away now. Not until he discovers what put the shadows in her eyes. And the scars on her soul.

REVIEW:
Another wonderfully emotional story by Shiloh Walker. Every page of this book jumped out at me. Everything from Chaili’s crush on her best friends big brother to the terrible reason her marriage didn’t work out.

Marc is a man who doesn’t trust easy. He has been hurt one too many times by people he thought he could trust. But when his little sisters best friend (who just happens to be one of his close friends too) steps back into his life he will have to learn quickly that trust is giving freely, but if you mess it up once you will have a heck of a time getting it back. Only this time Marc is the one having to earn it back.

Chaili has been through hell the last few years, but she is determined to get back on her feet. But it is proving to be a bit of a challenge. When an opportunity comes up to spend the evening with Marc, Chaili is willing to do just about anything to get close to the only man she has ever truly loved.

Beautiful Scars is a great story of trust, love and learning to overcome your fears. If you are looking for a good read that will leave you wishing there was more. You need to pick up a copy of Beautiful Scars and learn what true love really is.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Covert Seduction by Callie Croix

TITLE: Covert Seduction
CHARACTERS: Reid & Becca
AUTHOR: Callie Croix
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Navy SEAL Reid Galvin is back from hell and eager to find comfort in Becca Anderson’s arms. He knows he hurt her when he cut contact during his deployment, so when his call interrupts her date with another man, he has only himself to blame. But he can’t forget what she means to him—or the sexy email she sent him—and he won’t miss this chance to claim her as his own.

It’s been weeks since Becca heard from the man she thought she was involved with. So when Reid wants to take up where they left off as if nothing happened, she refuses. Then he rescues her from a first date gone very wrong, and she realizes she’s not quite ready to let him go.

Reid and Becca have a lot to talk about, but since she’s not listening, he’s going to have to regain her trust another way—by bringing her most erotic fantasies to life. Making her surrender to pleasure just might be his most important mission.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is an enjoyable short story. Reid is a SEAL (aren’t they all?) who was in a relationship with Becca until he was sent on a mission. She did not hear from him for 6 weeks and while they both missed the other there was no communication which caused a problem for Becca. Reid comes home and wants to rekindle the fire. Becca had sent him a erotic love letter and Reid wants to fulfill her desires if Becca will give him the chance.

There is a bit of a romantic suspense in this story but not much. A little bit more would have been nice. I did not consider this erotica. Yes there was some sex scenes showing Reid in control but this is not D/s sex scenes.

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

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Kimberly’s review of The Valentine’s Arrangement by Kelsie Leverich

TITLE: The Valentine’s Arrangement
SERIES #: Heroes For The Holidays #1
CHARACTERS: Ronnie & Kale
AUTHOR: Kelsie Leverich
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ronnie Clark, an edgy tattoo artist with hopes of high tailing it out of the forsaken Military town she followed her now ex-fiancé to, is counting down the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore. After her fiancé slept with a female soldier while deployed, she has vowed never to fall in love again, especially with a soldier.

Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his deployment to finish leading his soldiers on their mission. The last thing he wants is a relationship, but casual sex, that’s a different story. And when he meets the renowned tattoo artist Ronnie Clark, a snarky, blunt, takes no prisoners kind of woman, that seems to be all he can think about.

But when Kale realizes he has met his match with a bombshell woman who is hell bent against love, will just sex be enough? And if it’s not, will he be able to convince Ronnie that the proverbial hearts and flowers aren’t so bad after all, even if he is a soldier?

REVIEW:
Did I like this book? I am 50/50 on that answer. I liked the storyline. I thought that Kale was adorable. I couldn’t stand Ronnie. And the language just went overboard.

I am not exactly sure why Kale would be attracted to Ronnie at all. I am not talking about the fact she is tough and independent but the fact that she is rude and crass. She has nothing that makes you want to like her. I just wanted to wash her mouth out with soap. There is not one page that does not have crude language over and over. And while I realize she is trying to prove she is strong she really just proves she is just unappealing.

Now Kale is worth reading about. And the story as I said was really good… well the storyline. It had a lot of potential and Kale would have been a great hero for a story with a woman that the reader actually cared about.

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

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Guest Reviewer Misty reviews The Dark Lady by Maire Claremont

TITLE: The Dark Lady
SERIES #: Mad Passion #1
CHARACTERS: Eva & Ian
AUTHOR: Máire Claremont
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/16/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The Victorian era was full of majestic beauty and scandalous secrets—a time when corsets were the least of a woman’s restrictions, and men could kill or be killed in the name of honor…

Lord Ian Blake has returned from India a broken man. Years ago, he pledged to Lady Eva Carin—his childhood companion and first love—that he would bring her husband back alive. His failure haunts him. But even his jaded soul can’t anticipate the shocking sight of beautiful, independent Eva confined in a madhouse.

Locked in an asylum, forgotten by society, Eva is adrift in both body and mind. For Ian to break her free, they must cross a powerful enemy—and prove her sanity to England’s unforgiving aristocracy. But the biggest danger of all may come when the secrets of Eva’s tragic past are finally unlocked.

REVIEW:
A Beautifully Dark Delight
I have been anxiously awaiting Máire Claremont’s debut from the moment I first spied the cover. The lush art work led me to believe that the contents inside would certainly be even better. The Dark lady had me from page one and kept me entranced right through the final pages. The writing is solid. The Dark Lady’s hero and heroine are equally matched in strengths and tragedies. The story weaves its way through the dark side of Victorian England, a side which is often forgotten. Claremont draws readers into the dark recesses of an often cruel era where those who have power often abused such power. From a country side madhouse to the beautiful ballrooms of London this book takes readers on ride that so few historical romances do.
They had been friends since early childhood but destiny and duty fell in their paths. Lady Eva Carin has not only lost her husband but soon after suffers a much greater loss than that, the loss of her infant son in an accident of her own making. Her brother-in-law Thomas, the new Lord Carin sees fit to commit Eva to an asylum of which she has endured many cruelties including a regular dosing of laudanum and many pain filled beatings. Lord Ian Blake has returned from India haunted by the events that led to the former Lord’s death and dreads coming face to face with Eva, but he knows he owes her the truth about what really happened to her husband. Ian is stunned to learn that she’s been committed, but upon entering the halls of the asylum that she has been placed in, he becomes livid and enraged. The only thing that stops him from committing murder is the thought of never being able to see Eva again. This sets off a chain of events that puts them both in danger as they each try to overcome the torments that life has thrown at them.
I was drawn into the story from beginning and my heart went out to Eva and Ian. The story telling is lush and simply draws you into the period. There are many strong secondary characters that will make you want to come back for a second helping. Beautifully crafted, and has been written in a fashion that believable for its time period. For a novel that has an overall darkness to it, the light soon begins to filter in.
Easily a Five Star

Disclaimer: The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.


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Kimberly’s review of The Importance Of Being Wicked by Victoria Alexander

TITLE: The Importance Of Being Wicked
SERIES #: Millworth Manor #2
CHARACTERS: Miranda & Win
AUTHOR: Victoria Alexander
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this dazzling new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander welcomes you to Millworth Manor, a delightful English country estate where love is always perfectly at home…
For Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, finding a prospective bride always seemed easy. Perhaps too easy. With three broken engagements to his name, Win is the subject of endless gossip. Yet his current mission is quite noble: to hire a company to repair his family’s fire-damaged country house. Nothing disreputable in that—until the firm’s representative turns out to be a very desirable widow.

Lady Miranda Garrett expected a man of Win’s reputation to be flirtatious, even charming. But the awkward truth is that she finds him thoroughly irresistible. While Miranda resides at Millworth to oversee the work, Win occupies her days, her dreams…and soon, her bed. For the first time, the wicked Win has fallen in love. And what began as a scandalous proposition may yet become a very different proposal…

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Victoria Alexander’s for a while now but I don’t think this will be one of my favorites which is weird because I enjoyed the first book and the novella about Win’s engagements so much. The problem was I didn’t feel a connection between Win and Miranda. Win did not seem to be light-hearted man he was in the first 1 ½ books.

While the story was good in general and I think would have been better if we had not met Win before in the previous books. He was such a great background that I was thrilled his story was coming out but maybe I just had my hopes too high for his story.

I didn’t like the way Miranda deceived Win so much either. I know the times were different and women did not work back then but it just seemed there were so many opportunities for her to fess up and she didn’t.

With all that being said no Alexander book is bad. She is a phenomenal author who adds humor to the straight laced historical times. You can never go wrong reading a Alexander novel.

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

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Kimberly’s review of With This Kiss: Part One by Eloisa James

TITLE: With This Kiss
SERIES #: Part 1
CHARACTERS: Grace & Colin
AUTHOR: Eloise James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/12/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Grace Ryburn, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, has fallen wildly in love with Colin Barry, a dashing young lieutenant serving his country in the Royal Navy. When he returns home to exuberant celebrations, will he even notice the quiet wallflower he grew up with … or will he fall for Grace’s sparkling, gorgeous sister?

REVIEW:
This is a very short three part story. The first part being only about 50 pages. This is certainly only the beginning of the story. In this story we learn of the love Grace has for Colin and that it has been going on for years.

It is actually kind of a sad story. I feel so sad for Grace. She is living in the shadow of her younger sister. I look forward to reading the next part since this was certainly left unfinished. But it is good and you will want to find out how it happens.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Irresistible Knight by Tierney O’Malley

TITLE: Irresistible Knight
SERIES #: Knight Brothers #2
CHARACTERS: Bors & Taylor
AUTHOR: Tierney O’Malley
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/15/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s a rich wary violinist. He’s an FBI agent always hanging out behind alleys and dirty dumpsters. Together, can they make a beautiful symphony or break each other’s heart?

Sleep deprived, Bors Knight thanked his stars when he decided to help the vanilla scented Taylor Monte Carlo cross the street. She’s in need of a place to stay and his ticket to finally nail the man he wants to throw in jail. Not one to let go of a good opportunity, he offers her his newly built home. Taylor, however, has made matters complicated. She occupies his room, covers his windowsill with her rock collection, disturbs his quiet morning with beautiful music, and then… crawls inside his heart.

Taylor wants only one thing—keep her father from ending up in jail. Her problem is solved when she meets the funny and delicious looking hunk Bors whose father happens to be a judge. He offers to share his home, his secret cove, and show her blinding and all-consuming passion she has never known. In a very short time, she has learned to trust Bors with her secrets. All was good until a man holding a gun, Hollywood style, blows his cover—an FBI agent bent on sending her father to jail.

In love, Taylor finds herself between two men she can’t live without. But who should she chose?

REVIEW:
While I was reading the book I was really not sure how I felt about it. I enjoyed the story and the characters but the writing was a little crude. I read the book in one evening and stayed up later than I should have so I did not write the review right away and as I was falling asleep I realized how much I really did enjoy this story. It was very interesting and kept my attention. Bors is a great guy. I loved how alpha and intense he was but yet so loving and playful. I actually missed that I was not going to be reading more about him. Taylor is interesting too. She has the life that some women dream, of living in a mansion with everything she ever wanted but she was a prisoner in the mansion and escaped but not for the reason the reader thinks at first. And she is so cute standing up to Bors. They really are an adorable couple. And Bors family is just too wonderful.

Now the bad part. There is so much crude language that it was distracting. I mean I know a big FBI agent is not going to be running around saying “Oh fudge” but it seemed almost every other word was crude. Even the author must have realized since she wrote a curse jar into the story.

I have not read the first in this series but I will be looking for it and will most certainly pick up the next one. Hmmm I wonder which sibling that book will be about?

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

4 Hearts
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Kelly’s review of Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

TITLE: Wild Invitation
Psy-Changleing #0.5, #3.5, #9.5 & #10.5
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLICATION DATE: March 3, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In Beat of Temptation , innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?

In Stroke of Enticement , a wary young teacher, skeptical about love, arouses the man—and the animal—in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true.

Plus 2 NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED NOVELLAS

In Declaration of Courtship , Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”

In Texture of Intimacy , SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys—and unexpected challenges—of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence.

REVIEW:
3 out of 4 is not bad right?
I really enjoyed 3 out of 4 of these novellas. One just didn’t grab me like I would have liked it too. It was still a good story. But not as much as the others.

Nalini is a fabulous story teller and anyone who is a fan of her Psy-Changeling series will love all four of these novella’s. I have to be honest I have not read this series. I have read a few of the books but not in order at all. But even with that I really didn’t feel lost at all with this book. While each novella’s main characters may have been in other books I really didn’t feel lost until the last story. It seems like there was a lot of history and some very important things must have happened before this novella.

But all in all I enjoyed this book. And yes I do plan on going back and reading the series.

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

4 Hearts
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Kelly’s review of Free Fall by Catherine Mann

TITLE: Free Fall
CHARACTERS: Jose “Cuervo” James & Sarah Carlson
AUTHOR: Catherine Mann
PUBLICATION DATE: March 5th, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Pararescueman Jose “Cuervo” James can’t imagine committing to anything other than his job. But when he parachutes deep into East Africa to rescue wounded Interpol agent Sarah Carson—a woman from his past—he finds himself ensnared in more ways than he can count. Racing through the jungle to stop separatists from attacking the U.S. embassy, Jose and Sarah must call upon their training to survive. Could this be their second chance at passion…or will the rebels end their future before it begins?

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars Free Fall is book four in Catherine Mann’s Elite Forces series. I have not read the first two books in this series but I did read book three (and liked it). I like the Catherine’s style of writing. She tells really good stories and I really like the characters in this series. And I love that the new guy’s nickname is FANG. You will have to read to know why.

All that being said there were parts and pieces of this book that confused me a little. There seemed to be a whole lot going on and I was left with a few questions. Maybe these will be addressed in a later book. I am not sure. But all in all this was a good book and I am glad that I read.

If you are a fan of Catherine and her Elite Force series I think that you will really enjoy Jose’s story. For the newbies don’t be afraid to pick up this book and read. Free Fall can easily be read as a stand-alone book

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

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Kimberly’s review of Falling For The Lawyer by Anna Clifton

TITLE: Falling For The Lawyer
CHARACTERS: Alex & JP
AUTHOR: Anna Clifton
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/01/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Alex Farrer has just one resolution: don’t get sacked by the new boss that day. Enter one knight to rescue her from a run‐in with a pile of mud. But will upending Alex’s entire life be the next job on her knight’s ‘to‐do’ list, whether she likes it or not?
Legal eagle JP McKenzie has just one resolution: never get involved with a woman who won’t stand up for herself. That is until a muddy Alex Farrer lands in his life with a crushingly big mountain of family expectation in tow. So what else is a modern‐day knight to do?

REVIEW:
I am just not sure about this story. It is a short story (about 100 pages) and I have to say that I could not stop reading it. The problem is I am just not sure what I liked about it. I am not sure what JP sees in Alex once he gets to know her. Alex is slightly irritating for most of the book in that she is so meek. But yet I really couldn’t pull away from the story.

Usually I do not like when one of the main characters starts out with a significant other already but in this book it seemed to work. I think it is a book that anyone that likes romance books will enjoy.

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