Review Sunday – Page 30 – Books-n-Kisses

May 23, 2019May 22, 2019

Kelly reviews No Country for Old Gnomes by Delilah Dawson & Kevin Hearne

TITLE: No Country for Old Gnomes
SERIES #: Tale of Pell #2
AUTHOR: Delilah Dawson & Kevin Hearne
NARRATOR: Luke Daniels
PUBLICATION DATE: April 16, 2019
RUN TIME: 14 Hours & 7 Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Go big or go gnome. The New York Times bestselling authors of Kill the Farm Boy return to the world of Pell, the irreverent fantasy universe that recalls Monty Python and Terry Pratchett.

The Skyr is a rich, verdant land claimed by both halflings and gnomes. For centuries, the halflings have worked to undermine gnomish power structures and seize total control–through legal means, certainly, but more insidiously through their extensive organized crime network. Now, threatened with being pushed out entirely, the gnomes are desperate and ready to fight back. Gustave the Goat King faces his first test as a leader: Can he bring peace to a fraught region or will a civil war consume the entire kingdom?

REVIEW:
Another excellent installment of the Tales of Pell. No Country for Old Gnomes takes us on a grand adventure that starts with the Gnomes of Pell are being attacked by a group of halflings. It will take a group of unlikely friends to set everything right.

The amazingly talented Luke Daniels narrates this book for us again. Luke does an amazing job of bringing the Tales of Pell characters to life.

This was a great book that introduces us to a group of new characters and we get to see some of our old friends. I really enjoyed the Gnomes, Halfings, Dwarfs and the Gryphon. There are a lot of wonderfully fun characters.

Very much looking forward to The Tales of Pell book 3, The Princess Beard { https://amzn.to/2Ek5Ual} (released October 8th)

Audio Sample:

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and audio review copy from Random House Audio in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

May 22, 2019May 21, 2019

Kelly reviews Wolfhunter River by Rachel Cain

TITLE: Wolfhunter River
SERIES #: Stillhouse Lake #3
CHARACTERS: Gwen Proctor
AUTHOR: Rachel Cain
PUBLICATION DATE: April 23, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audiobook | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She can’t ignore a cry for help. But in this remote hunting town, it’s open season.
Gwen Proctor escaped her serial-killer husband and saved her family. What she can’t seem to outrun is his notoriety. Or the sick internet vigilantes still seeking to avenge his crimes. For Gwen, hiding isn’t an option. Not when her only mission is to create a normal life for her kids.
But now, a threatened woman has reached out. Marlene Crockett, from the remote town of Wolfhunter, is panicked for herself and her daughter. When Gwen arrives in the small, isolated rural community, Marlene is already dead—her own daughter blamed for the murder. Except that’s not the person Marlene feared at all. And Gwen isn’t leaving until she finds out who that was.
But it may already be too late. A trap has been set. And it’s poised to snap shut on everyone Gwen loves. Her stalkers are closing in. And in a town as dark as Wolfhunter, it’s so easy for them to hide…

REVIEW:
Wolfhunter River is the third installment in the Stillhouse lake series. I would recommend reading these books in order as there is a lot of history that gets brought up in the books. I really enjoyed the first two books but this third book was a little slow for me. It wasn’t until about 3/4 of the way done that I felt the story picked up and was exciting. I am not sure if I will pick up the next book in this series. I will have to wait to see what the blurb is about and go from there.

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

Audio Sample:

May 16, 2019May 13, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver

TITLE: The Never Game
SERIES #: Colter Shaw #1
CHARACTERS: Colter Shaw
AUTHOR: Jeffery Deaver
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the bestselling and award-winning master of suspense, the first novel in a thrilling new series, introducing Colter Shaw.

“You have been abandoned.”

A young woman has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father has hired Colter Shaw to find her. The son of a survivalist family, Shaw is an expert tracker. Now he makes a living as a “reward seeker,” traveling the country to help police solve crimes and private citizens locate missing persons. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts him into the dark heart of America’s tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry.

“Escape if you can.”

When another victim is kidnapped, the clues point to one video game with a troubled past–The Whispering Man. In that game, the player has to survive after being abandoned in an inhospitable setting with five random objects. Is a madman bringing the game to life?

“Or die with dignity.”

Shaw finds himself caught in a cat-and-mouse game, risking his own life to save the victims even as he pursues the kidnapper across both Silicon Valley and the dark ‘net. Encountering eccentric game designers, trigger-happy gamers and ruthless tech titans, he soon learns that he isn’t the only one on the hunt: someone is on his trail and closing fast.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the first in a new series by Jeffery Deaver. I have been a fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series so I couldn’t grab this new series fast enough.

Here is the thing. I think I am going to like the series but as with any first book in a new series there was a lot of having to explain each new character and their background and the reason why Shaw is in the middle of the suspense.

I look forward to the new in the series so I can get a better feel for how the series will play out.

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

May 15, 2019May 13, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Night Window by Dean Koontz

TITLE: The Night Window
SERIES #: Jane Hawk #5
CHARACTERS: Jane Hawk
AUTHOR: Dean Koontz
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz brings Jane Hawk’s one-woman war to an explosive climax as the rogue FBI agent wages her final battle against a terrifying conspiracy–for vengeance, for justice, and for humanity’s freedom.

Groundbreaking, wholly involving, eerily prescient and terrifyingly topical, Dean Koontz’s Jane Hawk series sets a new standard for contemporary thrillers. Since her sensational debut in The Silent Corner, readers have been riveted by Jane Hawk’s resolute quest to take down the influential architects of an accelerating operation to control every level of society via an army of mind-altered citizens. At first, only Jane stood against the “Arcadian” conspirators, but slowly others have emerged to stand with her, even as there are troubling signs that the “adjusted” people are beginning to spin viciously out of control. Now, in the thrilling, climactic showdown that will decide America’s future, Jane will require all her resources–and more–as she confronts those at the malevolent, impregnable center of power.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts In the beginning part of the book I thought “same old, same old”. There seemed to be a lot of the same from the other four books in the series. But then I realized it was the last in the series and it made a bit more sense.

The series ended really well. Koontz has a certain way of writing that you either like or don’t. And I am one that fits into the like. There have been books that I haven’t liked, just as with any author, but I felt that Koontz came back to himself in this series.

It was a pleasure reading it and I can’t wait for the next series to begin.

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

May 14, 2019May 13, 2019

Kimberly reviews Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis

TITLE: Forever and Ever, Amen
CHARACTERS: Randy Travis
AUTHOR: Randy Travis
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The long-awaited, deeply personal story of one of American music’s greatest icons, a remarkable tale of the utmost heights of fame and success, the deepest lows of life’s sorrows, and a miraculous return from the brink of death—told as only Randy Travis can.

Beloved around the world, Randy Travis has sold more than 25 million albums in both country and gospel and is considered one of the finest performers of his generation, admired by superstars across the musical landscape, from Garth Brooks to Mick Jagger.

From a working-class background in North Carolina to a job as a cook and club singer in Nashville to his “overnight success” with his smash 1986 album Storms of Life–which launched the neotraditional movement in country music–Randy’s first three decades are a true rags-to-riches story.

But in 2009, this seemingly charmed life began a downward spiral. His marriage dissolved, he discovered that his finances had unraveled, and his struggles with anger led to alcohol abuse, public embarrassment, and even police arrest in 2012.

Then, just as he was putting his life back together, Randy suffered a devastating viral cardiomyopathy that led to a massive stroke which he was not expected to survive. Yet he not only survived but also learned to walk again and in 2016 accepted his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame by singing the hymn that explains his life today: “Amazing Grace.”

Filled with never-before-told stories, Forever and Ever, Amen is a riveting tale of unfathomable success, great joy, deep pain, and redemption that can come only from above.

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Randy Travis since the 80’s when he turned country music back to what it once was.

Randy Travis gave us back that Hank Williams, Sr. feel and country music changed into the 90’s and even now.

I enjoyed reading his story. Many things I already knew but hearing it first hand seemed different. And I enjoyed the stories that I had never heard. It gave me a new perspective on the legend.

Any fan of country music and especially Randy Travis should pick up this story. It will be a great read for any fan.

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

May 8, 2019May 5, 2019

Kimberly reviews Tightrope by Amanda Quick

TITLE: Tightrope
SERIES #: Burning Cove #3
CHARACTERS: Amalie & Matthias
AUTHOR: Amanda Quick
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/07/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the Author’s website: An unconventional woman and a man shrouded in mystery walk a tightrope of desire as they race against a killer to find a machine that could change the world.

Former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn moved to Burning Cove to reinvent herself, but things are not going well. After spending her entire inheritance on a mansion with the intention of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast, she learns too late that the villa is said to be cursed. When the first guest, Dr. Norman Pickwell, is murdered by his robot invention during a sold-out demonstration, rumors circulate that the curse is real.

In the chaotic aftermath of the spectacle, Amalie watches as a stranger from the audience disappears behind the curtain. When Matthias Jones reappears, he is slipping a gun into a concealed holster. It looks like the gossip that is swirling around him is true—Matthias evidently does have connections to the criminal underworld.

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Love the setting of 1930’s Los Angeles/Hollywood era. Amalie worked as a trapeze artist until she almost died and then decided on getting a B&B in the area. Problem is it comes with a history of murder and when a new murder happens there is a lot of speculation.

Matthias comes into the picture but lets say it is not love at first sight. But as with all romantic suspense the romance does play a part.

I am a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick but this is not one of my favorites. It can be read as a stand alone but you might want to read the previous two just to understand the background characters a bit better. I never seemed to connect with Amalie and Matthias just wasn’t the alpha I go for. But that being said it is still a good read. Just not one of my favorites.

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

May 6, 2019May 5, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Last At-Bat of Shoeless Joe by Granville Wyche Burgess

TITLE: The Last At-Bat of Shoeless Joe
CHARACTERS: Shoeless Joe Jackson
AUTHOR: Granville Wyche Burgess
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/01/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
1951. Greenville, South Carolina.

Jimmy Roberts is the best hitter in this little mill town, and maybe in the whole Textile Baseball League.

He’s got major league potential, and then some.

But to get there, he’ll need a miracle. Or maybe the help of a local drunk and liquor store owner … who just happens to go by the name of “Shoeless Joe.”

“Granville Wyche Burgess is such an amazing talent.” — Patzi Gil, nationally syndicated radio host, Joy on Paper

“In Granville Wyche Burgess’ new novel, Shoeless Joe Jackson of Black Sox fame comes alive in a most ingenious way. He becomes involved in a struggle between good and evil, and in the end you root for him to become the hero he might have become had dark forces not ended his baseball career. If you love baseball, you’ll love this book. If you love books with satisfying endings, you’ll give Joe (and Granville) a standing ovation.” — Peter Golenbock, New York Times bestselling author of Dynasty, The Bronx Zoo (with Sparkly Lyle), Number 1 (with Billy Martin) and Idiot (with Johnny Damon)

“Joseph Jefferson ‘Shoeless Joe’ Jackson passed away in December 1951, three decades after he was laid low by the Black Sox scandal. But the mystique of Shoeless Joe has never left us…. [H]e is now the subject of a remarkable new novel by Granville Wyche Burgess. With a grand slam plot wrapped in lyrical and whimsical prose, Burgess gives us the grit and glory of old time baseball, poignantly reviving the spirit of a fallen hero.” — Raymond Arsenault, author of Freedom Riders, The Sound of Freedom, and Arthur Ashe, A Life

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I had never heard of Shoeless Joe until I watched Field Of Dreams. Whether it was his story or Ray Liotta I will never know but I became a fan of Joe Jackson that very day. Then of course I went and watched Eight Men Out (which had come out before Field Of Dreams) and thought I knew the story. But now I have a different take on what happened.

Some of this is fact and some fiction. Sort of like the Titanic movie. The part of the ship and its passengers were real except Rose and Jack. Will the story of Joe Jackson seems to be real while the story of Jimmy Rogers is fiction.

Jimmy’s story is really good but the parts of Shoeless Joe was what kept me wanting to read this book. Wonderfully written and engrossing. Hope someone sees it and makes it into a movie (hint hint).

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

May 3, 2019April 28, 2019

Kimberly reviews Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine

TITLE: Wolfhunter River
SERIES #: Stillhouse Lake #3
CHARACTERS: Gwen & Marlene
AUTHOR: Rachel Caine
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/23/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She can’t ignore a cry for help. But in this remote hunting town, it’s open season.

Gwen Proctor escaped her serial-killer husband and saved her family. What she can’t seem to outrun is his notoriety. Or the sick internet vigilantes still seeking to avenge his crimes. For Gwen, hiding isn’t an option. Not when her only mission is to create a normal life for her kids.

But now, a threatened woman has reached out. Marlene Crockett, from the remote town of Wolfhunter, is panicked for herself and her daughter. When Gwen arrives in the small, isolated rural community, Marlene is already dead—her own daughter blamed for the murder. Except that’s not the person Marlene feared at all. And Gwen isn’t leaving until she finds out who that was.

But it may already be too late. A trap has been set. And it’s poised to snap shut on everyone Gwen loves. Her stalkers are closing in. And in a town as dark as Wolfhunter, it’s so easy for them to hide…

REVIEW:
3.5 This is the third in the series and as is becoming my habit I didn’t realize it before I requested it. And I really feel like you needed to read the other two before reading this one. While I was able to finish it I was a bit unsure of some issues that I am sure were part of the other two books.

I will be honest and say I am just not sure if I will go back and read the other two books. Having not read this author before I am not sure if it was the writing that left me kind of blah or if it was because this book felt like a quick way of getting the set up for the next novel.

This did seem to take me a while to read. I felt like I was forcing myself to continue. Again I think it is because the other two in the series have not been read.

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

May 2, 2019April 28, 2019

Kimberly reviews Hide And Seek by Mary Burton

TITLE: Hide and Seek
SERIES #: Criminal Profiler #1
CHARACTERS: Macy & Mike
AUTHOR: Mary Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/23/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s hunting. He’s watching.
Special Agent Macy Crow is a survivor. After a vicious hit-and-run nearly kills her, she gets right back to work, and now she’s gunning for a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. As an audition, she offers to investigate the recently discovered bones of Tobi Turner, a high school girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.
While investigating with local sheriff Mike Nevada, a former colleague and onetime lover, Macy discovers a link between Tobi’s case and several others that occurred around the same time as her disappearance. As Macy interviews victims and examines old cases, she uncovers a sinister picture of a stalker who graduated to sexual assault—and then murder.
Macy and Nevada race to put this monster behind bars before he can come out of hiding. But the murderer’s had years to hone his skills, and soon Macy herself becomes a target. She’s no stranger to pain and terror, but will Macy’s first profiling case be her last?

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts Another great story from Burton. This is a new series from Burton so if you have not read any of her books yet this is a great one to start with.

Mike and Macy have a budding romance. Actually I should say a second chance at love. Having known each other before they kind of jump into the romance but it really is written well.

The suspense pretty much starts from page one. Tobi went missing 15 years ago but the remains are just discovered. The suspense kept me guessing. I had an idea but every time I thought I had it something changed my mind.

As I said… Another great story from Mary Burton!

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

April 30, 2019April 28, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

TITLE: The Invited
CHARACTERS: Helen & Nate
AUTHOR: Jennifer McMahon
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/30/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times best-selling author of THE WINTER PEOPLE, returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don’t simply move into a haunted house, they start building one from scratch, without knowing it, until it’s too late…

In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home – wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks — she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie’s descendants, three generations of “Breckenridge women,” each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.

REVIEW:
This story is a little bit of everything when it comes to ghost story. There is a bit of mystery, a bit of suspense, a bit of old world and a bit of witchcraft.

I found this to be a quick read and one I really enjoyed. The ghost story of Hattie is interesting but it switches back and forth between old and current day and I enjoyed the mystery of the haunted land and the mystery of Olive’s missing mom.

The thing I didn’t really get is how someone builds a haunted house. Yes on haunted land but it seems the house becomes haunted too. Maybe I read too much into that, I am not sure.

But I think if you give the story a couple of chapters to catch your attention it really will. And it will keep your attention until the end.

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

April 29, 2019April 28, 2019

Kimberly reviews Pirate’s Pleasure by Lisa Kessler

TITLE: Pirate’s Pleasure
SERIES #: Sentinels Of Savannah #3
CHARACTERS: John & Harmony
AUTHOR: Lisa Kessler
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/22/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No one steals from this pirate…

John Smyth has survived mutinous pirate crews, wars, and the passage of centuries by keeping his life as he did his ships, organized and well stocked. But when his crew is tasked with stealing Pandora’s Box for the government, it opens a door to destruction, and her name is Harmony Andrews.

Harmony is a risk-taking investment broker by day, and a thief by night. As a member of the underground Digi Robins crew, she steals relics to sell on the dark web and donates the money to people without insurance who need life-saving medical treatments. After taking a box from the docks in Savannah, she finds herself being hunted on multiple fronts, but she never expects the chaos trailing her to lead directly to her boss, the sexy, infuriating John Smyth.

The fearless thief has tangled with the wrong pirate, but he will be forced to choose: will he keep his heart safe at port, or follow it into the storm of pleasure.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the third in the series but I didn’t realize that when I requested it from NetGalley. While it can be read as a stand alone you can tell that you are missing some information from the previous books.

I have read this author off and on for years and to be honest have never been into the whole pirate thing but since I knew the author I thought I would give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed.

I felt the story was a little slow in the beginning and it took me a bit to understand that the series is about immortal pirates and the women they fall for. Seems an odd combination. But once the romance relaly got started it was an enjoyable read.

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

April 25, 2019April 23, 2019

Kimberly reviews The Husbands by T.J. Brearton

TITLE: The Husbands
CHARACTERS: Kelly Roth
AUTHOR: T.J. Brearton
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/17/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A BREATHTAKING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF SHOCKING TWISTS AND TURNS

He kills their wives. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. “Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.

Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal headshots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.

Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.

But is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this a cover for their own guilt? Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?

If you like Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Kendra Elliot, or JD Robb you will enjoy this compelling new mystery novel.

The book is set in New York State, an area the author brings to life with compelling detail based on his local knowledge.

ALSO BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR T.J. BREARTON HABIT SURVIVORS DAYBREAK BLACK SOUL DEAD GONE TRUTH OR DEAD GONE DARK WEB DARK KILLS

REVIEW:
3.25 Hearts So I am on the fence a bit on this novel. The psychological thriller side is interesting and kept me interested. The problem was the characters. I never really connected with any of them even the heroine, Kelly Roth. I found her strong and smart but any more of her personality was unexplained.

This is a heavy book, if you ask me. This is not a light read but one that makes you think about the human mind of the victim and the killer.

I was pretty sure I knew who it was a number of times but was still interested in how the mind works of the characters and the author.

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