Review Sunday – Page 56 – Books-n-Kisses

March 29, 2017March 26, 2017

Kelly reviews The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

TITLE: The Night Mark
CHARACTERS: Faye Barlow & Carrick Morgan
AUTHOR: Tiffany Reisz
PUBLICATION DATE: March 28, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She has nothing to live for in the present, but finds there’s something worth dying for in the past…
From Tiffany Reisz, the international bestselling storyteller behind The Bourbon Thief and The Original Sinners series, comes an enthralling new novel about a woman swept away by the tides who awakens to find herself in 1921, reunited with the husband she’s been mourning for four years. Fans of Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon will fall in love with the mystery, romance and beauty of an isolated South Carolina lighthouse, where a power greater than love works its magic.

REVIEW:
Another wonderful story from Ms. Reisz. I absolutely love The Bourbon Thief so I was so excited when I say that Ms. Reisz had another story coming out. While this book is not a continuation of The Bourbon Thief the story does include Bride Island. When I started this book I was not sure what was going to happen. But I really enjoyed Faye/Faith’s time traveling romance. Faye’s journey is one that a lot of people can connect with. So many people wish they could go back in time and change something. But the question should be what are you going to give up in the present to relive the past.
If you enjoy time-traveling stories I think that you will enjoy this story very much. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Reisz has in store for us next.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Harlequin (US & Canada)|MIRA in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 28, 2017March 26, 2017

Kimberly reviews A Small Town Bride by Hope Ramsay

TITLE: A Small Town Bride
SERIES #: Chapel Of Love #2
CHARACTERS: Amy & Dusty
AUTHOR: Hope Ramsay
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Amy Lyndon is tired of being the Poor Little Rich Girl of Shenandoah Falls. In her prominent family, she’s the ordinary one – no Ivy League education and no powerful career. But when her father tries to marry her off, she knows it’s finally time to stand up for herself, despite the consequences. Now that she’s cut off from the family fortune, her first challenge is to fight her attraction to her handsome new boss.

When Amy shows up looking for work with his landscaping crew, Dusty McNeil thinks there’s no way such a pampered princess will ever get her hands dirty. But as Amy proves him wrong and gets down to the nitty gritty, Dusty’s admiration turns to like, then lust – and then love. But can a high-society woman like Amy ever fall for a man like him?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So this is a bit of a typical story. Spoiled little rich girl needs to grow up, daddy kicks her out, she hooks up with the bad boy playboy and they fall in love because they both see that the other is not what the expected. We all know this storyline and yet we still come back to it time after time.

The problem was I didn’t find either character had pulled me in. Amy is written very naive and young. When I started the story I wondered if I had picked up a YA by accident but nope Amy is in her 20’s. She is written as a stereotypical rich girl but even if she is spoiled it doesn’t mean stupid but in this book it goes hand and hand.

Dusty seems a bit mean or maybe un-compassionate at first. I mean Amy is homeless, sleeping in her car, has no money and all he does is tell her the best place to park so she can sleep in her car safely? He also sends mixed messages. But the part that drove me a bit crazy was he kept calling his father “Daddy” but doesn’t even like him. I mean he is a man in his 30’s calling his father “Daddy”. It just seemed weird.

Now all that being said the story is good. It is a cute story and even though neither of the characters really caught on for me they are sweet and I look forward to the next in the series.

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

March 27, 2017March 26, 2017

Kimberly reviews A Perfect Obsession by Heather Graham

TITLE: A Perfect Obsession
SERIES #: New York Confidential #2
CHARACTERS: Craig & Kieran
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Someone is murdering beautiful young women in the New York area and displaying them in mausoleums and underground tombs. The FBI is handling the case, with Special Agent Craig Frasier as lead.

Kieran Finnegan, forensic psychologist and part owner of Finnegan’s, her family’s pub, is consulting on the case. Craig and Kieran are a couple who’ve worked together on more than one occasion. On this occasion, though, Craig fears for the safety of the woman he loves. Because the killer is too close. The body of a young model is found in a catacomb under a two-hundred-year-old church, now deconsecrated and turned into a nightclub. A church directly behind Finnegan’s in lower Manhattan.

As more women are murdered, their bodies discovered in underground locations in New York, it’s clear that the police and the FBI are dealing with a serial killer. Craig and Kieran are desperate to track down the murderer, a man obsessed with female perfection. Obsessed enough to want to “preserve” that beauty by destroying the women who embody it”

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So here is the thing. Graham is one of my favorites. I love the Krewe Of Hunters series soooooo much. And I read the first one in this series and don‘t get me wrong it is a good story and I am happy to read the series but it is not my favorite by Graham.

The problem is there is not much originality to this story. If you are a fan of suspense/romantic suspense nothing in this story will come as a surprise.

Now that being said it is still a good read. Just not as good as Krewe Of Hunters.

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

March 23, 2017March 19, 2017

Kelly reviews Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

TITLE: Born a Crime
AUTHOR: Trevor Noah
NARRATOR: Trevor Noah
PUBLICATION DATE: November 15, 2016
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.

Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother: his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The eighteen personal essays collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.

REVIEW:
This was a very enjoyable book. I really enjoyed having Trevor read this to me also. There is no way I would have ever been able to pronounce the African languages. This is just a wonderful love story to his mother. Trevor’s mom is a freaking rock star. I can’t even imagine my child being as naughty as him.
My favorite part of this book is the magnifying glass and the matches. I laughed so hard (kinda felt bad about it too).
Born a Crime is a wild ride of emotional highs and lows that makes you look at the life you have and be thankful all the potholes that you hit. Because they are just that. A bump in the road. Even if you get a flat you find a way to keep going. Now I don’t think I will try my hand at jumping out of a moving car. But you know sometimes you just have to do it.
If you are looking for a good read you should think about picking up a copy of this book or better yet grab the audio book.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 22, 2017March 19, 2017

Kimberly reviews Don’t Stop Me Now by Colleen Coleman

TITLE: Don’t Stop Me Now
CHARACTERS: Poppy & Tom
AUTHOR: Colleen Coleman
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/22/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A hilarious feel good read about finding your feet when life pulls the rug out from under you.

Poppy Bloom has a Life Plan: PhD in psychology, research job at her university, and a life of domestic bliss with handsome boyfriend Gregory.

But then she finishes her PhD with no job offer, no relationship, and nowhere to live. Being unemployed and living back at her mum’s house in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom was definitely not the plan.

Poppy is back to square one and miserable, so when she runs into childhood friend Leanne she jumps at the opportunity to catch up. The chance to run into Leanne’s gorgeous brother Tom is just a bonus…

Soon Poppy’s scored an internship at a radio station, a boyfriend, and a whole netball team of friends: things are on the up.

But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?

REVIEW:
I have decided that I am not going to request the books that claim to be laugh out loud funny because in all honesty they never seem to be that funny. The story is good. The moral for lack of a better word is good too. Sure we can all come back from the dreams we thought we had and have the reality be even better.

The problem was I really never connected with these characters. I didn’t find it all that funny. I actually felt like it was trying too hard to be funny. I also think I might just not get Brit-lit. That may be my issue with these books!?!?!?

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

March 21, 2017March 19, 2017

Kimberly reviews Bound Together by Christine Feehan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 17, 2017March 12, 2017

Kimberly reviews There’s Something About Cornwall by Daisy James

TITLE: There’s Something About Cornwall
CHARACTERS: Emilie & Matt
AUTHOR: Daisy James
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/08/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A knight in a shining camper van!

Life is far from picture perfect for food photographer, Emilie Roberts. Not only has her slimy ex cheated on her, he’s also stolen her dream assignment to beautiful Venice! Instead, Emilie is heading to the wind-swept Cornish coast…

Emilie doesn’t think it can get any worse – until disaster strikes on the very first day! And there’s only one man to rescue this damsel in distress: extremely hunky surfing instructor, Matt Ashby.

Racing from shoot to shoot in a bright orange vintage camper van, Matt isn’t the conventional knight in shining armour – but can he make all of Emilie’s fairy tale dreams come true?

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts I had the hardest time with this book. First the author has an odd way of writing. There are typical lines that I assume sounded odd because of it being Brit-Lit but there is more. There are a lot of $5 words that could have been written in normal every day verbiage.

Then there is Emilie who I just never found that I liked. Her confidence is really low because of the breakup with her boyfriend but when Matt comes into her life there just seems to be too much about her ex for me. Then there is the background characters which, again, I just didn’t enjoy.

As I said I had the hardest time with this story. There could have been a number of reason but it really just comes down to “it wasn’t my kind of book”.

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

March 16, 2017March 12, 2017

Kelly reviews Quieter Than Killing by Sarah Hillary

TITLE: Quieter Than Killing
SERIES #: DI Marnie Rome #4
CHARACTERS: DI Marnie Rome
AUTHOR: Sarah Hillary
PUBLICATION DATE: March 9, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It’s winter, the nights are dark and freezing, and a series of seemingly random assaults is pulling DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake out onto streets of London. When Marnie’s family home is ransacked, there are signs that the burglary can have only been committed by someone who knows her. Then a child goes missing, yet no-one has reported it. Suddenly, events seem connected, and it’s personal.

Someone out there is playing games. It is time for both Marnie and Noah to face the truth about the creeping, chilling reaches of a troubled upbringing. Keeping quiet can be a means of survival, but the effects can be as terrible as killing.

REVIEW:
Quieter Than Killing takes us on a ride of murder, kidnapping and revenge. DI Rome and DS Jake have new mystery on their hands. At first things don’t seem to fit any kind of normal profile. But as they dig deep and deep the connections start to from. And just when you think you have all the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed you learn something new. So you have to ask yourself…… How far would you go for revenge?

Another wonderful story by Ms. Hillary. Just when I thought that Marnie’s life couldn’t get more complicated Quieter Than Killing brings out some very troubling issues. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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

March 15, 2017March 12, 2017

Kimberly reviews The Beachside Sweet Shop by Karen Clarke

TITLE: The Beachside Sweet Shop
CHARACTERS: Marnie, Josh, Beth & Celia
AUTHOR: Karen Clarke
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/02/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Chocolate fudge, butterscotch and raspberry bonbons… treat yourself to some sugary treats, a big slice of friendship and a sprinkling of romance at The Beachside Sweet Shop.

When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help.

Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop.

Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate.

And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional…Will both the sweet shop and love flourish?

REVIEW:
2.75 Heart I had the hardest time with this book. First it just didn’t have the lightheartedness that I expected from the description. There is way too much about Marnie wanting to keep the place for her grandfather. Beth and her hubby are not really very interesting to me either. Marnie spends way too much time thinking of Alex and Josh seems too young for Marnie in attitude not years.

This was just not my cup of tea.

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

March 14, 2017March 12, 2017

Natasha reviews Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

TITLE: Never Let You Go
CHARACTERS: Lindsey, Sophie and Andrew
AUTHOR: Chevy Stevens
PUBLICATION DATE: March 14, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life.

Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?

With Never Let You Go, Chevy Stevens delivers a chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense as it explores the darkest heart of love and obsession.

REVIEW:
I have to be honest, I am not typically a fan of domestic violence novels. However, I will read Chevy Stevens darn grocery list so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. I have to say; from the beginning, I was invested. I assumed it would follow the typical battered wife storyline and that the whole story would be fairly predictable. I was pleasantly surprised. The story switches perspective between Lindsey and her daughter Sophie. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this way. Like all of Chevy’s characters, these characters are uniquely written in a way that makes you truly care for each of them.

I read the book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. I kept assuming the ending was going to be so obvious, but it wasn’t! Such a good read! If you’re looking for some good entertainment I highly recommend giving this book a go.

Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 13, 2017March 12, 2017

Kelly reviews Eleventh Grave in Moonlight by Darynda Jones

TITLE: Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
SERIES #: Charley Davidson #11
CHARACTERS: Charley & Reyes
AUTHOR: Darynda Jones
NARRATOR: Lorelei King
RUN TIME: 9 Hours & 18 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: January 24, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, missing people, errant wives, philandering business owners, and oh yeah…demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people. As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead. In this eleventh installment, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover, maybe Charley can find a way to have her happily ever after after all.

REVIEW:
Why Charley!!! Why on earth did you do that. Why did you let him…… Uggggg I can’t believe I have to wait until October to see how Charley gets herself out of this miss.

Eleventh Grave will take you on a wild ride and of course Charley is driving so you know things are going to get crazy. So much happens in this book that is leading us to the end of this beloved series. We do get some questions answered. But we get a lot more questions that need to be addressed. Ugg, I am not even sure how to tell you without spoiling the book for you.

But be prepared, you will laugh, you will cry, you will die a little inside and you will scream at Charley (a lot)!!!!! I really can’t wait to see what happens next. To see how this gets fixed. I want to know so bad but at the same time I am dreading the ending.

Ms. King does an amazing job as always. She brings Charley, Reyes, Cookie and all of them to life. I am so thankful that I started this series on audio!! I will be sad when it is done. I am going to have to start looking for a new series narrated by Ms. King.

Until next time!!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased an audio copy of this book to review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 10, 2017March 5, 2017

Kimberly reviews Flash Of Fury by Lea Griffith

TITLE: Flash of Fury
SERIES #: Endgame Ops #1
CHARACTERS: King & Allie
AUTHOR: Lea Griffith
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/07/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Their spark is immediate

Kingston McNally lost men when someone betrayed his team, and now he’s out for retribution. His quest for the enemy’s courier leads him to Cameroon and Allie Redding, a petite Peace Corps volunteer as stubborn as she is brave. Their attraction is immediate, but Allie has secrets of her own…and she’s not giving them up easily.

But their secrets could burn them both

Allie’s life has been spent hiding in plain sight, but she’s had enough of her cloak-and-dagger existence. On her way home, her plane is hijacked-and King saves her life. But that doesn’t mean she owes him anything…even if he is the most damnably sexy man she’s ever laid eyes on. He’s got black ops and secrets written all over him, and trust is a two-way street.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I really enjoyed this book. King is damn hot if you ask me. His character is strong, a natural leader, dominate and yet can turn that around for the woman who grabs his heart… which is exactly what Allie does.

There are a LOT of twist and turns to this story. There is also a lot of fighting, running and sexual tension.
And a bit of repetitive storyline.

The story does have a bit of a feel that we have missed something. I actually wondered if I had missed the first in the series but checked and this is the first one. But even though it has that feel it does answer all the questions that the reader does have.

I really really really enjoyed this book. The only reason the number wasn’t higher is the repetitiveness. There is a lot of action and sometimes I just kind of felt like “won’t these two ever get a break?”. And some thoughts and storyline is repeated a bit too many times. But again reading this book is worth it every repeated letter.

I can’t wait until the next one. And the funny part is I don’t even care who’s story it is because all of the guys at Endgame Ops are just the kind of guys I love reading about!!!

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